Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank Named 2012 Member of the Year

Recognition for efforts in raising awareness, funds to help fight hunger

CHICAGO, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was named the 2012 Member of the Year at the annual Feeding America Network Summit in Detroit. The award is given to the year's most outstanding food bank of the 202 food banks across the nation in the Feeding America network.

Judges selected the Ohio food bank because of its exceptional work over the past year. Among the food bank's accomplishments:

• Increasing fundraising efforts by 100% in two years
• Increasing distribution to 19.4 million pounds of food and targeted its outreach in priority counties
• Cultivating  new donors and key balanced fundraising strategies
• Creating a new Feeding Kids Initiative that created tools that engage and educate the public, like the Hungry Kate video

"The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank continues to create innovative ways to meet its community's emergency food needs. They are truly a leader in our Network," said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.  "President and CEO Dan Flowers and his remarkable team are well deserving of this great honor. Their effort to help feed the hungry in the Akron-Canton area and their contribution to our mission is truly inspiring."

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank was formed in 1982 by a group of community leaders who made a commitment to provide emergency food the community. Today, the food bank provides food and other essential items to member agencies in eight Northeast Ohio counties: Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne.

These member agencies operate more than 460 programs like food pantries, hot meal sites, shelters and other hunger-relief programs in the neighborhoods and communities where people need food.

"The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is fixed on its mission to Feed People and Fight Hunger. We are committed to seeking the most efficient and effective means to those ends," said Dan Flowers, President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. "This honor belongs to this entire community, our member agencies, board of directors, staff members and our struggling neighbors. We will continue striving to serve more people and to serve them better. People in need deserve our very best. Our work has just begun."

About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Contact:
Shannon Traeger
Feeding America
312.641.5717     
[email protected]  

SOURCE Feeding America