WENDELL, N.C. — KIOTI Tractor, a division of Daedong-USA, Inc., in partnership with The Carolina Hurricanes recently donated $20,000 to the Urban Ministries of Wake County. The fundraiser was part of the “Assist For Hunger” initiative, a multi-year partnership between KIOTI Tractor and the Hurricanes to help end childhood hunger in North Carolina.

“We are honored to partner with the Hurricanes for the Assist For Hunger program and are excited about its success,” said Peter Dong-Kyun Kim, president and CEO of Daedong-USA, Inc. KIOTI Tractor Division. “As a company whose foundation is rooted in hunger relief and aiding charities while also working to improve agricultural production through innovation, it is important to us that we continue to support this issue, especially at the local level.”

Funds were raised through several avenues in coordination with the Kids ‘N Community Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Hurricanes that strives to meet the health and educational needs of underserved populations throughout North Carolina.

“The Assist For Hunger initiative is the definition of a true partnership. It brought together multiple organizations, our fans and Canes players, to support our neighbors with an important need,” said Jon Chase, Kids ‘N Community Foundation executive director. “It was powerful to see us hit our fundraising goal.”

KIOTI Tractor, in conjunction with the Hurricanes’ 20th anniversary season in North Carolina, donated $20 to the Foundation for every Hurricanes’ assist during the regular season. Hurricanes defenseman, and program ambassador, Jaccob Slavin also made donations for each goal and assist he recorded on the ice.

Additionally, fans were encouraged to support the initiative through personal donations, with the top donors receiving prizes that ranged from signed photos and jerseys by Slavin to a new KIOTI Mechron utility vehicle. 

At the end of May, KIOTI Tractor and the Kids ‘N Community Foundation officially presented the funds raised to Urban Ministries of Wake County. In a tour of the facility, they shared how the funds raised will go to support their Food Pantry. 

“The $20,000 raised will serve 1,000 families a week’s worth of food,” explained Chase. “With Urban Ministries serving 250 families weekly, together, we have supported their Food Pantry for an entire month.”

Following that event, the MECHRON was delivered to winner Nancy Staten.

“I am very happy to have contributed to the Assist for Hunger initiative alongside KIOTI and the Carolina Hurricanes,” said Staten. “Winning the KIOTI MECHRON utility vehicle was exciting and has already been a big help with yardwork. Even my dog loves riding in it.”

Visuals from the presentations can be found here. To learn more about Assist For Hunger, please visit Hurricanes.com/assistforhunger.