The contribution to World Central Kitchen will enable delivery of over 200,000 meals to households in Venezuela after severe paired quakes.
Mars operations across South America are further aiding canine rescue units, supplying food items to regional groups and extending assistance to Venezuelan Mars team members in Southern Brazil with affected relatives.

/PRNewswire/ -- Mars, Incorporated has revealed a $1M contribution via the Mars Impact Fund to World Central Kitchen (WCK) aimed at assisting regions hit by the severe quakes in northern Venezuela. This support will facilitate delivery of more than 200,000 fresh meals to those impacted, building on other direct actions from Mars and its brands already in motion.

Mars and WCK have collaborated since 2022 to ready and distribute wholesome meals during global emergencies. WCK handles local food aid for those in need and has provided over 600 million nourishing meals globally since starting in 2010.

"As a family-owned, principles-led business, our hearts go out to the families whose lives have been devastated by this earthquake," said Michelle Grogg, Executive Director of the Mars Impact Fund. "In times of crisis, Mars believes we have a responsibility to utilize our global resources to support the recovery of impacted communities. We are honored to partner with World Central Kitchen, whose team has the immediate on-the-ground expertise and local relationships needed to deliver hot meals and critical relief to families when they need it most."

The grant builds on further relief actions backed directly by Mars businesses. Mars South America operations have given more than 5 tons of food items including cereal, snacks and pet food via local food banks to help people and pets affected by the quakes.

WCK launched its efforts within hours of the event, teaming with local eateries and community groups to prepare and share fresh meals in the hardest-hit areas. So far, WCK has delivered nearly 500,000 meals in the impacted states of Miranda, La Guaira and Carabobo, partnering with over 50 local restaurant groups to serve displaced families, responders and recovering communities.

"When the earthquakes struck, our teams and local partners were able to mobilize within hours because of partners like Mars," said Tunde Wackman, Chief Development Officer at World Central Kitchen. "This generous grant from the Mars Impact Fund means we can keep showing up for families across Venezuela with fresh, nourishing meals, and it's a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can help neighbors when it matters most."

Mars is also extending help to its Venezuelan team members located in Southern Brazil along with sending canine search-and-rescue units from Argentina and Mexico. The rescue operations receive funding from the Royal Canin Foundation, the charitable branch of Mars pet nutrition brand Royal Canin. In addition, Mars together with VCA Charities and Royal Canin U.S. have backed deployment of the Los Angeles Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue team now assisting emergency response on site.

ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED

Mars, Incorporated operates on the idea that the future we seek begins with our actions in business now. Drawing from combined Mars and Kellanova 2025 net sales, we stand as a $65bn+ family-owned enterprise offering a wide range of quality snacking and food items enjoyed by millions daily plus top pet care goods and vet services for animals worldwide. We create beloved brands such as ROYAL CANIN®, PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, EXTRA®, Pringles®, Cheez-It® and BEN'S ORIGINAL™. Our worldwide pet hospital networks including BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, VCA™ and ANICURA™ cover preventive, general, specialty and emergency vet care while our global diagnostics unit ANTECH® delivers advanced pet testing options. The Mars Five Principles - Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom - guide our roughly 170,000 Associates daily to build a better world for people, pets and the planet.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

ABOUT WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN

Started in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit group that leads frontline efforts supplying fresh meals during crises. Using our approach of swift response, tapping local assets and adjusting on the fly, WCK has delivered more than 600 million nourishing meals globally.

When disaster hits, WCK's Relief Team acts with urgency to begin cooking and serving meals to those in need. By teaming with local organizations and activating networks of restaurants, food trucks and emergency kitchens, WCK provides comforting meals to survivors rapidly and efficiently. To boost regional economies, WCK focuses on buying local ingredients for cooking or direct distribution to families in need.

Learn more at wck.org.

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SOURCE Mars, Incorporated