NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 21, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division donated more than $23,500 and more than 31,000 pounds of non-perishable food to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank during the shipyard’s annual holiday food drive.

“We are fortunate to employ an extraordinary group of people at Newport News Shipbuilding,” said Chavis Harris, NNS’ director, EEO, diversity and corporate citizenship. “Each year we challenge our folks to give back to the community, and each year their generosity raises the bar. We are proud of their kindness and happy to support such a worthy cause.”

In addition to spurring generosity, the food drive sparked shipbuilders’ competitive spirit and creativity. Food donations that were collected were stacked to build pyramids, Christmas trees and used to fill offices from desk to door.

“We are thrilled and humbly appreciate all that Newport News Shipbuilding’s employees do for the Foodbank and the community,” said Loretta Jones-Knauth, chief philanthropy officer for the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. “On behalf of the families and individuals who benefit from their support, we are proud to say thank you to the extraordinary individuals at the shipyard who are making a real difference in the lives of others and who are committed partners to the Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula.”

About Huntington Ingalls Industries

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe. For more than a century, HII has built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder at its Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions. Employing about 37,000 in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana and California, HII also provides a wide variety of products and services to the commercial energy industry and other government customers. For more information, visit: