RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY HOST 4TH ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE

RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY HOST 4TH ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

ORLANDO, Fla. – NOVEMBER 9, 2012 – With Thanksgiving just around the corner, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is again collecting food to help stock Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF)’s pantry shelves. During this difficult economy and as the holidays approach, the agency’s need for food donations continues to increase.

For one day only, Thursday, November 15 between 7-9 a.m., Ringling Bros. is again offering Central Florida consumers the opportunity to support their community and donate non-perishable, unexpired food items in exchange for ticket vouchers to Built To Amaze!, the all-new 143rd Edition of The Greatest Show On Earth®. A donation of 10 food items entitles each consumer to one ticket voucher, with a limit of four vouchers (40 food items donated) per household. Vouchers can be redeemed at the Amway Center box office for the Thursday, January 10, 7:30 p.m. opening night performance. Ticket vouchers are available to those who donate on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last. Free ticket vouchers apply to opening night, promenade level only.

Ringling Bros. and SHFBCF are making it easy with drive-through service! No need to find a parking space or carry heavy grocery bags – consumers can even stay in their PJ’s! They can simply drive to the Blue Lot at the Amway Center (located off Hughey Ave, parallel to I-4, just past Hughey and Church), stay in their cars, and volunteers will meet them and exchange ticket vouchers for donations, right through car windows.

Consumers can return to the Amway Center box office between Nov. 16 (when tickets go on sale to the general public) and January 12 to redeem vouchers for tickets. The Amway Center box office is located on Church Street. Short-term (15 minutes) parking is available in front of the box office on Church Street except during events. The Amway Center box office does not take ticket orders over the phone. Operating hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and three (3) hours prior to any event.

Ringling Bros. has raised more than 10,000 pounds of food for SHFBCF since 2009. Hundreds of Central Floridians have participated — from dads in gym shorts to moms in PJs to young professionals on their way to work. “This format works very well for us to collect a significant amount of donations in just two hours,” said Sasha Hausman, development manager for SHFBCF. “We are again encouraging members of our community to participate, and grateful to Feld Entertainment for their partnership.”

SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 500 agencies that feed the hungry throughout Central Florida. SHFBCF accepts nonperishable food donations including boxed cereal, stuffing, canned meat, fruit, cranberry sauce, gravy and vegetables. The agency’s most needed items include nonfat dry milk, peanut butter, baby food, and canned tuna, meat, vegetables and fruit.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® is proud to present Built To Amaze! at Amway Center January 10-13. Drama, surprise and wonder build the excitement so BIG that it could only be The Greatest Show On Earth®. Tickets for Thursday and Friday performances are: $85 (Circus Celebrity), $65 (Front Row), $35 (VIP), $27, $22 and $15. Tickets for Saturday and Sunday performances are: $100 (Circus Celebrity), $70 (Front Row), $40 (VIP), $27, $22 and $15. Ticketmaster service charges and facility fees not included. All seats are reserved, and tickets go on sale November 16 at 10:00 a.m. Tickets are available at www.ringling.com or www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling 800-745-3000, or at the Amway Center box office (phone: 407-440-7900). For group ticket sales and information, call 866-248-8740.

 

About Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

SHFBCF is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 500 local nonprofit feeding programs throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed more than 36 million pounds of grocery products – the equivalent of more than 24 million meals – to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes. On average, more than 55,000 different people receive assistance provided by SHFBCF each week. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! For more information on Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® visit www.ringling.com.

About Amway Center

The Orlando Magic served as the developer of the Amway Center, which hosts major national events, concerts and family shows. Opened in the fall of 2010, the facility is owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community. The Amway Center was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The building’s exterior features a modern blend of glass and metal materials, along with ever-changing graphics via a monumental wall along one facade. A 180-foot tall tower serves as a beacon amid the downtown skyline. At 875,000 square feet, the new arena is almost triple the size of the old Amway Arena (367,000 square feet). The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design and unmatched technology, featuring 1,100 digital monitors, the tallest high-definition video board in an NBA venue and multiple premium amenities available to all patrons in the building. Awarded 2012 Sports Facility of the Year by Sports Business Journal. For more information about the Amway Center, visit www.amwaycenter.com,

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