Mars commits $1 million in Venezuela earthquake relief

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Mars commits $1 million in Venezuela earthquake relief

13 Jul 2026

Maddie Lambert

Maddie Lambert is a copywriter and editor from Joplin, MO. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English – literary studies. When she’s not poring over the magazine or lost in the pages of a new novel, you can find Maddie exploring her local bookstores, spending time with her husband, or sharing her latest literary discoveries with fellow book enthusiasts.

MCLEAN, VA — Mars, Inc., parent company to a collective of food brands including Cheez-It and Pop-Tarts, announced a $1 million grant through the Mars Impact Fund to World Central Kitchen (WCK), an organization that provides on-the-ground food distribution for families in need. The funding will help provide more than 200,000 fresh meals to support people in communities impacted by the earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela, accompanied by the efforts already underway by Mars and its brands.

“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.”

To date, WCK has served nearly 500,000 meals across the affected Venezuelan states of Miranda, La Guaira and Carabobo, working alongside more than 50 local restaurant partners to reach displaced families, first responders and communities recovering from the earthquake’s aftermath.

This isn’t the first partnership between the two, however. Mars and WCK have collaborated since 2022, helping prepare and deliver nourishing meals to those affected by crises worldwide.

“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.”

The grant complements Mars’s additional relief efforts. For example, Mars South America businesses have donated more than five tons of products — such as cereal, snack food and pet food — through local food banks. Mars is also providing support for its Venezuelan associates based in Southern Brazil and deploying canine search-and-rescue teams from Argentina and Mexico.