During an event with Jeffrey M. Ettinger, Hormel Foods chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer, and David Coker, Fisher House Foundation president, the Hormel Cure 81 ham brand donated $50,000 and food for Easter meals to help families who are spending the Easter holiday at Fisher Houses across the country.

At the Fisher House location in Minneapolis, Minn., Ettinger presented the Foundation with a check and spoke about the Easter meal donation program. Beginning Thursday, meals including Hormel Cure 81 hams and Hormel Country Crock sides will be served to more than 1,000 military family members celebrating the Easter holiday at Fisher House comfort homes.

"In celebration of Hormel Cure 81 ham's 50th anniversary, we are honored to continue our support the Fisher House Foundation by providing a $50,000 donation, as well as thousands of Easter meals to help Veterans and their families," said Steve J. Venenga, vice president of meat products marketing. "We know that the dinner table provides a great gathering place that allows families to build connections and find comfort, so an Easter meal seemed a beneficial gift."

"The generous donation will help to support our mission of providing a home away from home for military families to be close to a loved one while they are hospitalized for an illness, disease or injury," said David Coker, president, Fisher House Foundation. "This donation will go toward helping us expand our mission. Sharing a meal is at the heart of our homes, the meal donation will be especially welcome during the Easter holiday."

The Hormel Cure 81 brand launched an online giving campaign for Fisher House on their Facebook page, for their community to participate in the donation. People were able to log on to pledge their support through the month of March, contributing to the $50,000 donation. Supporters were also able to write thank you notes to those who serve. The "thank you" notes were compiled into books and presented to the Minneapolis and new San Antonio, Texas Fisher House locations.

The 38 houses that opted into the meal donation are in the following cities: Augusta, Ga.; Seattle, Wash.; Silver Spring, Md.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Palo Alto, Calif.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Andrews AFB, Md.; Bay Pines, Fla.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; Cincinnati, Ohio; Travis AFB, Calif.; Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; El Paso, Texas; West Palm Beach, Fla.; Fort Hood, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Elmendorf AFB, Ark.; Albany, N.Y.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Lackland AFB, Texas; St. Louis, Mo.; Washington, DC; Minneapolis, Minn.; San Antonio, Texas; Miami, Fla; West Roxbury, Mass.; Portsmouth, Va.; Keesler AFB, Miss.; Richmond, Va.; Tampa, Fla.; Aurora, Colo.; Hines, Ill.

Source: Hormel Foods Corp.