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For every $1 donated through Give A Meal, the Bank of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Charitable Foundation will give $2 more, up to $1.5 million – giving donors the opportunity to triple their impact. In addition, the Bank of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Charitable Foundation is making a separate $1 million contribution to Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ’s national office.

“We are fortunate to have a great partner in Bank of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ fighting side-by-side with us to end hunger,” said Bob Aiken, CEO of Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. “Their commitment to hunger runs deep from their headquarters to their local offices to their customers. We know we can’t end hunger alone. Only working together can we end hunger and make sure that all of our friends and neighbors have enough food.”

The program kicks off today, during Hunger Action Month, and runs through December 31. Individuals can donate to the campaign online by visitingÌýÌýorÌý, to help support their local food bank or Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ nationally.

Give A Meal had one of its most successful years in 2013, when nearly 150 food banks received funds through the program. Bank of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ employees also donated time to Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ and its various network members and service providers over 11,000 employees donated more than 61,000 volunteer hours last year alone in support of food access and hunger-related efforts across the country.

“Families shouldn’t have to choose between buying food and putting money towards housing or medical care, yet many face that trade-off every day,” said Kerry Sullivan, president of the Bank of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Charitable Foundation. “Fighting hunger is central to our efforts to lift families out of poverty and bring economic stability to our communities. Give A Meal is one way we can help create a successful path to making financial futures better.”

The program launches at a critical time when, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 15 percent of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµn households are struggling with hunger. About 1 in 7 people in the US struggles with hunger, according to the USDA.

ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA

Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ is a nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through food pantries and meal programs in communities throughout ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ. Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. ÌýIndividuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Ìý Together we can solve hunger. Visit. Find us on Facebook atÌýÌýor follow us on Twitter atÌý.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Lucio Guerrero
Feeding ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÌý
lguerrero@feedingamerica.orgÌýÌý
312.629.7219