Taste of the Nation's 20th Anniversary Launches in New York City

SHARE OUR STRENGTH'S TASTE OF THE NATION^® PRESENTED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Washington, DC (January 14, 2008) - This March, Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation^®, presented by American Express^®, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with events in more than 55 cities across the United States and Canada. Applauded as the first-ever culinary benefit in the nation and the model for successful fundraisers throughout the country, Taste of the Nation has raised more than $70 million, and has grown significantly over the last 20 years, bringing together thousands of chefs from across the country and Canada to help end childhood hunger. The 20th season begins Monday, March 24, 2008, in Washington DC.

In recognition of the 20th anniversary, a spectacular selection of the nation’s finest chefs will lead the celebration. These chefs, longtime members of Share Our Strength’s family, have personal attachments to the organization and the event since their foundations.

David Burke, one of leading pioneers in American cuisine, will serve as the anniversary’s national spokesperson. Burke is proprietor of several nationally acclaimed restaurants throughout the United States, and author of Cooking with David Burke and David Burke’s American Classics. In 2006, he served as honorary chair of Taste of the Nation in Chicago. “I am honored to be the national spokesperson for the 20th anniversary celebration,” said Burke. “As the only national culinary benefit dedicated to ending childhood hunger, Taste of the Nation unites the most creative culinary minds behind a critical issue affecting our country’s children everyday.”

National television personality, cookbook author and proprietor of Border Grill and Ciudad in Los Angeles, Mary Sue Milliken is also a longtime supporter and current board member. As one of the original Taste of the Nation chefs, Milliken commends Share Our Strength^® for its landmark approach to motivate the culinary community’s passion behind this cause. “Our job is to feed people everyday, and knowing that millions of children suffer from hunger daily-we want to do something about it. Through Taste of the Nation, we have the opportunity to raise awareness of the seriousness of the issue and engage people to take action to end it.”

Milliken will be joined by Frank Brigsten of Brigsten’s in New Orleans; Floyd Cardoz of Tabla in New York; RJ Cooper of Vidalia in Washington, DC; Traci Des Jardins of Jardinière and Acme Chop House in San Francisco; Pano I Karatassos of Kyma and Buckhead Life Restaurant Group in Atlanta; Stephen Pyles of Stephan Pyles Restaurant in Dallas; and Allen Susser of Chef Allen’s in Miami.

Taste of the Nation officially launched in April 1988 in 27 cities across the nation simultaneously with hundreds of chefs donating their culinary talents and time to support Share Our Strength’s efforts. It not only introduced a new platform of fund-raising, but a new form of edutainment to the public, initiating an innovative way of educating individuals on the seriousness of the childhood hunger in their own communities and connecting them to organizations dedicated to ending it.

“The 20th anniversary of Taste of the Nation represents a significant milestone and achievement for us,” said Bill Shore, Executive Director of Share Our Strength. “The generosity of our thousands of supporters throughout the country has been invaluable to our mission since our foundation. Their ongoing support has helped us significantly in our efforts of ensuring that the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger are provided with nutritious food they need to grow, live and thrive.”

To learn more about Taste of the Nation’s 20th anniversary celebration, or to purchase tickets for Taste of the Nation, go to www.tasteofthenation.org. Reservations can also be made by calling 1.877.26TASTE.