Salisbury, Md. (Monday, October 28, 2019) – As part of a company commitment to strengthen our communities, Perdue Farms has awarded a $8,950 Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation grant to help fund after-school tutoring for students in kidnergarten through 12 grade at the ARK Educational Resource Center in Laurel, Del.

“Since 2013, the ARK curriculum has focused on providing comprehensive and holistic services to help guide at-risk students in Sussex County to succeed, graduate from high school and prepare them for college and vocational schools, and promising careers,” said Joyce Sessoms, executive director and founder of the ARK Educational Resource Center. “Funding from the Perdue Foundation will provide at-risk students a better chance of graduating and achieving their goals, and help strengthen the communities we serve.”

According to Delaware Department of Education data for 2018, the dropout rate for Sussex County was 2.2 percent, the highest in the state. “Our mission is to provide a supportive foundation for students to strengthen their reading and math skills to ensure their success in the classroom. Studies show that students who fail in the classroom and are held back are more likely to drop out of school when they reach the age of consent (currently 17),” said Sessoms.

“The staff and volunteers at ARK Educational Resource Center are doing a wonderful job of serving the needs of at-risk children and their families in Sussex County,” said Kim Nechay, executive director of the Perdue Foundation. “We are happy to help them fulfill their mission through financial support from the Foundation.”

About the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture®.

About Perdue Farms
We’re a fourth-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services.

The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and the company is the leader in organic chicken in the U.S., and Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2020, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. Learn more at www.perduefarms.com.