The Food Bank For New York City and Community FoodBank of New Jersey -- both members of the national organization, Feeding America, formerly Second Harvest -- were the recipients of cash grants and group volunteer hours from PR Newswire's New York and New Jersey staff in 2008, PR Newswire announced today.
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As part of its 2008 Charitable Giving program, which focuses on 'Doing Well by Doing Good', PR Newswire employees voted on charities located in each area where the company has substantial operations. As a part of the program, employees volunteer their time to the organization as a group and the company makes a cash donation. The Food Bank For New York City and Community FoodBank of New Jersey were among the charities selected by PR Newswire's New York and New Jersey offices, and have already benefited from PR Newswire's volunteers and resources.
"Volunteers are crucial at all levels of the Food Bank For New York City," said Heather Joseph, volunteer services manager, Food Bank For New York City. "Volunteers are necessary for everything we do, from serving meals to creating awareness around New York City. PR Newswire's local staff and families have been instrumental in assisting us at events around New York City."
Thirty members of the PR Newswire staff volunteered for the New York City based food bank at the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival October 11 and 12. Volunteers put together gift bags, coordinated the welcome center and controlled the crowd at the event's Grand Tasting Tent. All proceeds from the event benefited the Food Bank For New York City and Feeding America.
In addition, PR Newswire's New Jersey staff volunteered at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which strives to alleviate the direct effects of hunger and poverty in New Jersey. Volunteers helped prepare food for distribution to over 1,600 charitable organizations across New Jersey, including food pantries, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
"The employees in PR Newswire's New York and New Jersey bureaus are always very excited to help out the metropolitan community," said Tatiana Munoz, senior internal communications specialist and charitable giving advocate, PR Newswire. "They have been involved in the process from nominating and selecting the Food Bank For New York City and Community FoodBank of New Jersey, to actually attending and lending a helping hand at various events."
"Even though PR Newswire is a global company operating around the world, our employees find it rewarding to volunteer in their local communities," said Charles Gregson, chief executive officer, PR Newswire. "Many nonprofit organizations need financial resources, and while we are helping out with monetary grants, we still find that charities value a helping hand from dedicated volunteers as well. Our 2008 Charitable Giving Program allows our staff to be involved throughout the whole process, choosing worthy charities and coming together to work for them. The Food Bank For New York City and Community FoodBank of New Jersey are enormously admirable organizations and we are delighted to be able to support them in this way."
PR Newswire provides assistance to non-profit organizations in a number of different ways including through direct grants, volunteerism, in-kind donations and sponsorships. PR Newswire also matches employee fundraising, volunteering and individual donations.
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About Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City recognizes 25 years as the city's major provider of food to New Yorkers in need. The organization works to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers through a range of programs and services that focus on food sourcing and distribution, education and nutrition, financial empowerment, disaster relief, policy and research.
Food Bank For New York City sources and then distributes food to more than 1,000 emergency and community food programs, assisting the approximately 1.3 million New Yorkers who access emergency food. The organization provides food safety, networking and capacity-building workshops; manages nutrition education programs for schools, after-school and emergency food programs; operates food stamp outreach and education programs; operates senior programs, a soup kitchen, and food pantry; coordinates the largest Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program in the country; and develops policy and conducts research to inform community and government efforts to end food poverty throughout New York City.
The Food Bank recently received its fourth, consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for effective and fiscally responsible management. Only 6 percent of charities rated have received such a rating, demonstrating the Food Bank's continued commitment to addressing the issue of food poverty in a responsible manner. For every dollar donated to the Food Bank, 96 cents goes toward food acquisition, distribution and programs. For additional information, visit www.foodbanknyc.org.
About Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America, fights hunger and poverty by the distribution of food and grocery products, by education and training, by creating new programs to meet the needs of low-income people, and by involving all sectors of society in this battle. Since their incorporation in 1982, the CFBNJ has grown in both the size and scope of their operation. CFBNJ annually assists charities serving approximately 500,000 people in need. Since 1982, CFBNJ has distributed more than 300 million pounds of food and groceries valued at more than half-a-billion dollars.
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