Salisbury, Md. (Wednesday, July 24, 2013) – Perdue Farms, through the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, has awarded a $150,000 endowment to the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA to help fund a multi-million-dollar facility renovation, which includes a new state-of-the art wellness area.

In 2012, the YMCA kicked off the DREAMING, BUILDING, IMPACTING Capital Campaign to raise $3.9 million to add a family fun pool and family locker rooms, and to upgrade the facility with a state-of-the-art wellness area, two new group exercise studios, an expanded Child Watch and a kids’ gym.

On Wednesday, July 24, the YMCA of the Chesapeake, the parent company of the YMCA in Salisbury, recognized Perdue’s gift to the Richard A. Henson Family YMCA, formerly the Mid-Shore Family YMCA, by naming the facility’s wellness center the Franklin P. Perdue Wellness Center in honor of the late Frank Perdue, former chairman of Perdue Farms.

“For years, the newly renamed Richard A. Henson Family YMCA has been an important part of the community and we’re proud to lend our support to the expansion of the Salisbury facility through a five-year, $150,000 endowment from the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation,” said Jim Perdue, chairman of Perdue Farms.

Mitzi Perdue, widow of Frank Perdue, added, “The YMCA is about strengthening community, and that mirrors one of Frank’s highest values. He would have been so pleased and delighted to have his name associated with an organization he believed in so deeply.”

The Richard A. Henson Family YMCA currently serves more 9,000 members and hopes to grow to 15,000 members over the next five years, according to YMCA Chief Executive Officer Robbie Gill. The facility renovation is slated to begin this fall, with wellness spaces and interior renovations completed in early 2014.

“Frank Perdue and the Perdue family have a great history with the YMCA, and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to continue to partner and work together to strengthen the foundations of our community,” said Rich Stover, former YMCA CEO and chair of the capital campaign. “Perdue’s commitment to the health and well-being, of not only their employees but of the entire community, is a mission that aligns perfectly with the Y as we work to improve the health and well-being of the more than 500,000 members and guests who enter our doors annually. Through health and wellness programs designed to fight youth and adult obesity and diabetes prevention programming, we are working everyday to create a healthier community.”

About the YMCA
The YMCA is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits and the largest Human Service organization on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 YMCAs engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. To learn more, visit www.ymcachesapeake.org

About Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms is the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness, and represents the Perdue family ownership. Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, through expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the Perdue brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, to our third-generation of family leadership with chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained a family owned, family operated business dedicated to making Perdue the most trusted name in food and agricultural products. To learn more about Perdue, visit www.perduefarms.com.

About the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The 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.