University of Minnesota Receives $1 Million Commitment from The Schwan Food Company and Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation

Commitment focuses on scholarships, advanced food education and
research, a new Nutrition Center, Gopher Athletics and leadership
development

BLOOMINGTON, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Schwan Food Company and Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation
announced today a $1 million investment in University of Minnesota
academics, nutritional programming and facilities, Gopher Athletics and
leadership development programs for women. The donation is being made
collectively over the next three years by The Schwan Food Company and
Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation.

“We are excited and proud at The Schwan Food Company to deepen our
relationship with the University of Minnesota,” said Dimitrios Smyrnios,
CEO of The Schwan Food Company and chairman of Schwan’s Corporate Giving
Foundation. “This investment reinforces our commitment to advancing
healthier communities and promoting youth education and leadership
development within our home state of Minnesota.”

The monetary commitment is largely philanthropic but also includes a
sponsorship. The agreement includes support from Schwan’s Corporate
Giving Foundation for undergraduate scholarships in the College of Food,
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, nutritional and food-safety
research programs for students working toward their PhDs, a Nutrition
Center within the athletic department’s Center of Excellence, Women
Invested in Leadership and Learning, and a corporate sponsorship of
men’s and women’s Gopher Athletics.

“We’re very happy that The Schwan Food Company and the Foundation have
chosen to support our undergraduate and graduate students in such a
significant way,” said Brian Buhr, dean of the College of Food,
Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. “Targeting these
scholarships toward students studying food science, food safety and
engineering will help ensure Minnesota continues to play a leading role
in an ample, sustainable, safe food supply.”

As a part of the commitment, Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation will
support the University of Minnesota athletic department’s efforts to
build a Nutrition Center within its new Center of Excellence. A
ground-breaking is slated for later this year.

“We are deeply grateful for The Schwan Food Company and the Foundation
for the generous investment in support of Gopher Athletics and our 725
student athletes,” said Beth Goetz, University of Minnesota interim
athletics director. “The foundation’s commitment to our Nutrition Center
and our Women Invested in Leadership and Learning (W.I.L.L.) program
will prepare generations of young women and men for a lifetime of
leadership and healthy living. We are fortunate to have great partners
like The Schwan Food Company that care deeply about our University and
the state of Minnesota.”

About The Schwan Food Company
The Schwan Food Company is a
privately held business that manufactures and markets fine frozen foods
through home-delivery, retail-grocery and food-service channels. Its
many popular brands include Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Bon
Appétit® and Freschetta® pizza, Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards®
desserts, Pagoda® snacks and appetizers, and Schwan’s®
fine frozen foods. Based in Minnesota for 63 years, the company’s
subsidiaries employ 14,000 people in the United States. To learn more
about Schwan, visit us at www.theschwanfoodcompany.com.

About Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation
Schwan’s
Corporate Giving Foundation, a private charitable organization, was
established in 2000 and is made possible by support from The Schwan Food
Company. The foundation strives to improve the quality of life in
communities where Schwan employees live and work. It focuses on
exceptional efforts to end hunger, promote youth education and
leadership development, and provide essential services that advance
healthier communities.

About the University of Minnesota
Founded in 1851, the
University of Minnesota is ranked among the nation’s top public research
universities. As a land-grant institution, the U of M is committed to
engaging Minnesota, national and global communities to advance
interdisciplinary knowledge; enhance students’ academic, civic, career,
social and personal development; and apply intellectual and human
capital to serve the public good.

Contacts

The Schwan Food Company:
Chuck Blomberg, 507-537-8550
chuck.blomberg@schwans.com
or
University
of Minnesota Foundation:
Sarah Youngerman, 651-485-7171