City Harvest To Receive Two Kawasaki Motorcycles As Part Of The 'Ninja Times Square Takeover'

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., which is launching the 2013 line of Ninja(TM) motorcycles in a unique all day motorcycling fest in New York's Times Square area Thursday, is giving back something to the host city. The company, based in Southern California, is providing two of the newest Ninjas to City Harvest, which will auction the iconic sportbikes at its major Bid Against Hunger fundraiser on October 16th, here in New York.

Chris Brull, Kawasaki's director of marketing, announced the donation and said it is intended to remind people that today's Times Square environment, a hub of activity, entertainment, and a multitude of restaurant options, wasn't always that way. And, as he said, "There are still altogether too many people who go to bed each night without having had much to eat during the day."

City Harvest, a food rescue organization, works to relieve hunger in the five boroughs of New York City, and the funds raised through this donation will help feed thousands of women, men and children who may not know where their next meal is coming from.

According to Robyn Stein, City Harvest's director of corporate partnerships, the charitable organization welcomed the Kawasaki involvement in the October 16 walk-around chef's tasting event featuring over 70 of New York City's top restaurants. Last year's Bid Against Hunger attracted over 900 people and raised more than $1 million for City Harvest.

"This fundraiser draws New York City's most charitable citizens as well as members of the press, business leaders, foodies, and celebrity chefs, and the unifying element is their concern for others who are less fortunate," she said. "The Kawasaki donations will go a long way towards helping feed some of the one million people City Harvest helps feed each year, and we expect the auction interest to soar, especially after this week's Times Square event."

Thursday's new model unveiling is part of "Ninja Times Square Takeover," conceived to reflect the brand's tag line, "Let The Good Times Roll(TM)." From 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., visitors and New York residents will find themselves immersed in two-wheel culture, stretching up Broadway from West 45(th) Street to West 47(th) Street. With activities appealing to adults and children, the launch will be streamed live on the Internet at 2:00 p.m.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) markets and distributes Kawasaki motorcycles, ATVs, Side x Sides, and personal watercraft through a network of more than 1,200 independent retailers, with an additional 7,400 retailers specializing in Kawasaki power products and general purpose engines. KMC and its affiliates employ nearly 3,100 people in the United States, with 300 of them located at KMC's Irvine, California headquarters.

Kawasaki's tagline, "Let the good times roll.((TM))", is recognized worldwide. For five decades, the Kawasaki brand has become synonymous with powerful, stylish and category-leading vehicles. Information about Kawasaki's complete line of powersports products and Kawasaki affiliates can be found on the Internet at www.kawasaki.com.

Now serving New York City for 30 years, City Harvest is the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women, and children. This year, City Harvest will collect 42 million pounds of excess food from all segments of the food industry, including restaurants, grocers, corporate cafeterias, manufacturers, and farms. This food is then delivered free of charge to some 600 community food programs throughout New York City by a fleet of trucks and bikes. City Harvest helps feed the more than one million New Yorkers that face hunger each year.