May 1, 2006

            LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that $10,000 has been donated to the Central Upper Peninsula Food Bank in Ishpeming, MI.

            "This innovative settlement will deliver help to those who need it most," said Cox. "I'm proud to help support the invaluable efforts of the Central Upper Peninsula Food Bank."

            As part of a $1.5 million settlement with Cox's office, Wal-Mart will donate $100,000 to food banks across the State of Michigan. The Central Upper Peninsula Food Bank is the first food bank to receive funds as part of that settlement.

            The Wal-Mart settlement is innovative in three respects: one, it is the largest ever negotiated by the Attorney General's office and is more than all previous item pricing settlements combined, dating back to 1999; two, the settlement is the first item pricing agreement with a provision for continued audits and stipulated penalties to ensure compliance; and three, it calls for $100,000 to be donated to food banks in Michigan.

            According to the Hunger in America 2006 Michigan Report, more than one million people annually use the Michigan Food Bank network, which includes the Central Upper Peninsula Food Bank.  Furthermore, the report documents that 67% of pantries, 63% of soup kitchens, and 60% of shelters report an increase in the number of people requesting food since 2001.

            For more information, contact Rusty Hills or Nate Bailey, Attorney General's Office, at (517) 373-8060.

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