Nationwide Insurance Foundation Donates $1 Million to Feeding America

CHICAGO, May 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, announced today that Nationwide Insurance Foundation has donated $1 million to help fight hunger in America.  The funds will be shared by the national office of Feeding America and 21 member food banks in communities where Nationwide Insurance associates live and work. A portion of the funds will be used to support Feeding America's National Produce Program, which distributes fresh fruit and vegetables to individuals facing hunger.

"We at Feeding America are deeply grateful to the Nationwide Insurance Foundation for their continued support to help end hunger in America," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "We cannot fix all of the complex reasons that hunger exists in America overnight, but what we as leaders of this movement can do together is ensure that every man, woman and child has access to nutritious and healthy food."

"Nationwide is pleased to support Feeding America Foodbanks in the communities we call home and across the country," said Chad Jester, president of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation. "We're also proud of the thousands of Nationwide associates who selflessly give of their time and energy in support of our corporate hunger-relief initiatives."

In addition to Nationwide's financial support, thousands of Nationwide associates host food drives and volunteer at food banks across the country each year. In 2010, Feeding America awarded Nationwide Insurance the Group Volunteer Service of the Year award for the company's work with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.

Feeding America's network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, securing and distributing more than 3 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually. The member food banks support approximately 61,000 local charitable agencies and 70,000 programs, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need.

Feeding America food banks receiving funds from the donation include:  Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank; Atlanta Community Food Bank; Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, Verona, Va.; Bread of the Mighty Food Bank, Gainesville, Fla.; Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Harrisburg, Penn.; Central Virginia Foodbank, Richmond; Cleveland Food Bank;  Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Raleigh; Food Bank of Iowa, Des Moines; Food Bank of Lincoln, Neb.; Food Bank of the Rockies, Denver, Colo.; Maryland Food Bank, Baltimore; Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Columbus; Mid-South Food Bank, Memphis; New Hampshire Food Bank, Manchester; Oregon Food Bank, Portland; Philabundance, Philadelphia; San Antonio Food Bank; Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Charlotte, N.C.; Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville; and St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, Phoenix.

Across the board, food banks are witnessing an increased need for food as 1 in 6 Americans experience hunger as a reality in their daily lives. Some food banks are even reporting that they are now providing emergency food to people who were once donors.  There are more than 50 million Americans at risk of hunger and the number is growing every day.

The Nationwide Insurance Foundation

The Nationwide Insurance Foundation is an independent corporation funded by contributions from Nationwide companies. Founded in 1959, the Nationwide Insurance Foundation has committed more than $270 million since 2000 to help nonprofit organizations in communities where Nationwide associates and their families live and work. Just as Nationwide supports its customers in their moment of need, the company's involvement in its home communities is focused on supporting organizations that help people facing critical or immediate need.

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:
Molly Hart
312-641-5400
[email protected]

SOURCE Feeding America