Reynolds American Donates Equivalent of 180,000 Pounds of Food to Second Harvest Food Bank
of Northwest North Carolina

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – August 5, 2009 -- Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) and employees of both RAI and its R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company subsidiary have donated the equivalent of 180,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina.

This was the largest food drive ever held by one company or organization in the history of the local food bank.  RAI and R.J. Reynolds employees collected more than 31,000 pounds of food in six days, which was supplemented by a $10,000 cash donation from RAI and a $6,000 “challenge” donation from R.J. Reynolds ($1,000 for every 5,000 pounds of food donated by employees), and some cash contributions from employees.  Together, the groceries and cash donations will provide Second Harvest Food Bank with 180,000 pounds of food for needy families.

The employee food drive, which was held as part of Reynolds American’s 2009 United Way campaign activities, was designed to meet an all-time high demand for food among people in need, and to raise awareness of the services provided by Second Harvest Food Bank and other local United Way agencies.

“Difficult economic conditions have created a shortfall between the resources needed in our community and the resources available,” said Susan M. Ivey, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Reynolds American.  “Our employees wanted to help bridge the gap created by a demand for food that is far exceeding the supply of donated food this year.  We’re proud of how quickly our employees stepped up to help fill empty shelves at the food bank and feed the hungry.”

“Second Harvest Food Bank is grateful for this generous support of our programs,” said Clyde Fitzgerald, the executive director of the food bank.  “Reynolds American and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company employees have long taken a leadership role in addressing critical community needs.  Although food donations have increased over one million pounds in the past year, the sustained 76 percent increase in demand has totally outstripped supply. Today, 250,000 people in our 18-county service area, including more than 80,000 children, cannot say for sure where their next meal is coming from.  The Reynolds donation will help ensure that children and their parents who have run out of food due to grave financial circumstances will be fed.”

Reynolds American and its employees have historically been one of the largest contributors to the United Way of Forsyth County’s annual fundraising campaign, according to Ron J. Drago, president of the United Way of Forsyth County.