SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ — They’ve driven thousands of miles,
been to hundreds of practices and games and have witnessed the best and the
worst of their children’s athletic careers, yet the word sacrifice doesn’t
seem to be a part of their vocabulary. Who are they? The Campbell’s SOUPer
U.S. Olympic Parents Medalists.

(Photo: https://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020211/NYM084 )

Natalie Granato of Plainfield, IL, mother of Cammi Granato, captain of the
U.S. women’s hockey team, was today named the Gold Medal Parent by Campbell
Soup Company and Lloyd Ward, chief executive officer of the United States
Olympic Committee. Additionally, Jeff and Ruth FitzRandolph, of Verona, WI,
parents of speed skater Casey, were named as Silver Medalists and Peggy Smith,
of Park City, UT, mother of bobsledder Jill Bakken, was awarded the Bronze
Medal.

As an official U.S. Olympic supplier, Campbell, in conjunction with the
USOC, created the Campbell’s SOUPer U.S. Olympic Parents Award to recognize
the unique commitment and dedication of the many parents of U.S. Olympic
hopefuls who, through personal involvement and self-sacrifice, have helped to
nurture the Olympic dream of their child.

Chosen from among 15 finalists, Granato, the FitzRandolphs and Smith were
awarded medals based on decisions made by a selection committee composed of a
panel of Olympic medalists including Debi Thomas, Phil Mahre, Eric Heiden,
Paul Wylie, honorary Campbell’s SOUPer Olympic Parent Carole Yamaguchi, and
representatives of Campbell Soup Company. In addition to the $1,000 received
by all of the 15 finalists, Granato receives an additional $10,000, the
FitzRandolphs $5,000 and Smith $3,000.

“Natalie, Jeff and Ruth and Peggy have demonstrated an unyielding
dedication to their children and sport and have continually nourished their
Olympic dreams,” said Jeremy Fingerman, Vice President, U.S. Soups. “We at
Campbell are proud to recognize these great parents and we salute them for
their commitment to their children.”

Natalie Granato: Known to many as the first mother of women’s hockey,
Natalie Granato has been involved in the sport of hockey for more than
25 years. Natalie is president of her daughter Cammi’s national charity and
organizes annual celebrity hockey tournaments to raise thousands of dollars
for a local children’s hospital. Natalie has organized numerous drives for
equipment for underprivileged athletes, has personally sewed scarves and hats
for the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team, and even created a hockey parents booster
club, which collectively supports the team at games by wearing their
children’s numbers.

Jeff & Ruth FitzRandolph: From the time their son Casey was three-years
old, Jeff and Ruth FitzRandolph have not only supported Casey’s Speed Skating
dreams, but the sport as well. Jeff and Ruth have served as co-presidents of
the Madison Speed Skating Club and Jeff presently serves as secretary of U.S.
Speed Skating and chairperson for the uniform committee. Whether it was
driving three hours every day to get Casey to practice when he was in grade
school or volunteering at meets, Jeff and Ruth have made their dedication to
Casey and Speed Skating a priority.

Peggy Smith: To most of the women’s Bobsled team, she’s simply known as
“Mom.” Peggy Smith has been devoted to her daughter Jill’s career and the
furtherance of the sport of Bobsledding for as long as she can remember. A
single mother of two, Peggy relocated the family to Utah for Jill’s training
purposes and made numerous financial sacrifices, including taking out a second
mortgage on her house to finance Jill’s dream. Never short on hospitality,
Peggy, who feels a special bond with the team, also has been known to house
team members for weeks at a time, always making sure team members got a hot
meal after a long day of practice.

Campbell Soup Company is an Official Supplier for the 2002 Olympic Winter
Games and of the 2002 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Team. In addition to recognizing
and rewarding the SOUPer U.S. Olympic Parents, Campbell has also committed to
provide a minimum of $500,000 in funding to the U.S. Olympic Team via consumer
purchases of commemorative Campbell U.S. Olympic mugs. This initiative will
be used by the U.S. Olympic Team to help U.S. athletes with their everyday
training needs, including coaching, lodging and meals at USOC Training
Centers.

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SOURCE Campbell Soup Company

CONTACT: John Faulkner of Campbell Soup Company, +1-856-342-3738; John
Gogarty or Beth Jolly, both of Coyne PR, +1-973-808-6611, for Campbell Soup
Company/

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