FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2012
CONTACT
Hillary John or Jim Dau (AARP), 202-434-2531
Marideth Post (Zynga), 415-847-3100
SOCIAL GAMING LEADER ZYNGA SUPPORTS DRIVE TO END HUNGER
FarmVille players can raise money for Drive to End Hunger; FarmVille to appear on No. 24 Chevrolet in Bristol.
BRISTOL, TN – Zynga, the world's leading provider of social game services, is joining Drive to End Hunger with two exciting new initiatives that advance the fight against older adult hunger.
For a limited time, players of Zynga’s FarmVille game will be able to boost their scores and improve their harvests while helping the nearly 9 million older Americans who face the risk of hunger. FarmVille, one of the most popular social networking games on Facebook, gives players the opportunity to build and grow their own virtual farms, while connecting with friends and family. Players advance by successfully growing and harvesting crops and raising livestock.
Beginning today through September 7, FarmVille players can purchase exclusive, limited edition Drive to End Hunger in-game virtual goods to enhance their farming experience while giving back. Items include:
* A Drive to End Hunger Tractor driven by a classic FarmVille pig that imagines he is racing toward the checkered flag like four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, Jeff Gordon.
* A Drive to End Hunger Grocery Tree that magically grows bountiful bags of food for farmers and their customers.
Players will be able to keep and use the exclusive Drive to End Hunger tractor and grocery tree after the promotion ends September 7. Zynga and Facebook will donate all proceeds from the sale of these in-game virtual goods to AARP Foundation in support of Drive to End Hunger.
“I love driving the No. 24 Chevrolet, but the Drive to End Hunger tractor in FarmVille seems like a fun ride, too,” said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet. “It’s always great when someone can have fun while helping out people in need.”
“We are thrilled to join Drive to End Hunger and Jeff Gordon to bring the issue of hunger among older adults to FarmVille players,” said Ken Weber, Executive Director of Zynga.org. “Through Zynga.org, Zynga players have contributed millions of dollars through their favorite games to benefit organizations working to help those in need.”
Zynga is also working with AARP on the fight against older adult hunger by engaging as a pass-through sponsor of Gordon and the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. This weekend in Bristol, FarmVille characters will be featured on the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet.
“At its heart, Drive to End Hunger is about connecting people to solutions and each other, so AARP and AARP Foundation are excited to team up with Zynga, a leader in social gaming, to help benefit the 9 million older Americans who face the threat of hunger,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, President, AARP Foundation.
The collaboration with Zynga marks another NASCAR first for Drive to End Hunger, which became the sport’s first primary cause-based sponsorship beginning in the 2011 season. Since AARP and AARP Foundation launched Drive to End Hunger, the initiative has donated more than 12.9 million meals and driven corporate and individual donor commitments with an expected value of $16.9 million.
For more information, please visit www.drivetoendhunger.org or http://company.zynga.com/about/press-room/company-blog.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is the charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.
About Zynga Inc.
Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ: ZNGA) is the world's leading provider of social game services with more than 305 million monthly active users playing its games, which include FarmVille, Words With Friends, Matching With Friends, Scramble With Friends, The Ville, Bubble Safari, Ruby Blast, Draw Something, Zynga Slingo, CastleVille, CityVille, Hidden Chronicles, Zynga Poker, Zynga Bingo, Zynga Slots, Empires & Allies, The Pioneer Trail, and Mafia Wars. Zynga's games are available on a number of global platforms, including Facebook, Zynga.com, Google+, Tencent, Apple iOS and Google Android. Through Zynga.org, Zynga players have raised more than $10 million for world social causes. Zynga is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif.
For additional information, please follow us on Twitter.com/zynga.
