SCOUTING FOR FOOD DRIVE TOPS FIVE MILLION UNITS

PITTSBURGH, June 3 -- The 1999 Scouting for Food campaign collected more than 5.3 million units of food valued at more than $4 million. Terming the results both "gratifying and astonishing," University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg, chairman of the Scouting for Food campaign, thanked all those who participated in the campaign.

"I am gratified by the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone who participated in this effort, and I am astonished by the sheer magnitude of our accomplishment. The food that has been collected will enable the county food banks to feed people in need for months to come," Nordenberg said.

More than 350 Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops, comprising 9,500 scouts and leaders, participated by collecting food at 225,000 neighborhood homes during the month of April. In addition, approximately 400 companies and organizations participated in the Scouting for Food campaign which included Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland counties.

The United States Postal Service employees were recognized with the Campaign Leader Award as the largest collector of food. The 8,000 Postal Service employees who participated in the drive collected more than 2.5 million units of food.

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EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: Chancellor Nordenberg will announce the campaign results and present awards to the Postal Service employees and others at a recognition event at 3:30 p.m. today in the lower lounge of the William Pitt Union.