USA Network, Feeding America partner to rally fans around combating hunger

Drive to put food on the table for the holidays runs online through mid-December; USA to match monetary contributions to Feeding America

With the holiday season approaching, USA Network is teaming up with Feeding America, rallying USA fans across the country to help put food on the table this holiday season for less-fortunate families across America. The initiative kicked off Monday in conjunction with USA's "Modern Family Fan Appreciation Day" live table read with the entire cast in Los Angeles. The pledge drive will run online through National Family Week and into mid-December.

To participate in this cause, fans will be encouraged to go to modernfamily.usanetwork.com (http://www.usanetwork.com/modernfamily) to take at least one of three simple steps to support Feeding America, including "liking" their local food bank on Facebook, volunteering at their local food bank, or donating to Feeding America, where $1 provides nine meals.

USA Network will match the monetary donations up to $30,000. The network will drive awareness of the effort on-air during National Family Week in November.

"Forty-nine million Americans lack the means to get enough nutritious food on a regular basis. This 'Modern Family' event is a great platform to help shed light on this enormous problem and encourage people to join Feeding America's efforts to address it," said Toby Graff, senior vice president of public affairs for USA Network. "The ongoing online pledge drive will help guarantee that many more American families will have food on their holiday tables."

"We are both delighted and honored to be chosen by USA Network as its charity partner," said Leah Ray, vice president of corporate partnerships at Feeding America. "Given that one in five children faces hunger in our country, receiving support from everyday modern families can help provide food to families in need."

Feeding America is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the U.S. Together, they provides food to more than 37 million people through 61,000 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people it serves; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.

The No. 1 network in all of basic cable for an unprecedented seven straight years, USA Network is seen in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com.