Awards honour organizations for their work in addressing hunger in Canada
MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 22, 2015 /CNW/ - Food Banks Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2014 Corporate Donor awards and Food Banking Awards. These awards acknowledge corporations and food banks that have made significant contributions to the hunger relief cause in Canada.
With close to 850,000 Canadians turning to food banks each month for assistance, and more than one third being children, non-profit and for-profit organizations are working to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger in the future. These awards recognize the tangible and impactful initiatives and programs that are making a real difference in addressing hunger in Canada.
"Every day we are reminded of the considerable need to provide help to Canadians who are living with hunger and I am proud to be able to recognize a number of our outstanding food banking organizations and corporate supporters," says Brian Fraser, Chair of the Board, Food Banks Canada. "These organizations are inspiring examples of what thousands of organizations are doing to improve the lives of men, women and children each and every day."
2014 AWARD RECIPIENTS
Donor Awards
The Award of Excellence was presented to Kraft Canada for its long-term commitment to hunger relief in Canada. Kraft's support has been instrumental in building the capacity of the food bank network. At the national level, the company has supported Food Banks Canada's research and advocacy efforts to create long-term solutions to hunger. Kraft and The Kraft Foods Group Foundation have also invested in the Food Banks Canada Capacity Building Fund that provides critical infrastructure support to food banks. Over the past 15 years, Kraft Canada has made relieving hunger in Canada a priority and has donated more than $3 million and 17 million lbs of food.
The Donor of the Year was awarded to Kellogg Canada to recognize the company's ongoing efforts in support of hunger relief. As part of a global commitment to providing breakfast to those who need it most, Kellogg's Breakfasts for Better Days initiative supports partners such as Food Banks Canada through a combination of financial and product donations, cause marketing campaigns, sponsorship and gifts-in-kind. Kellogg Canada and its employees are also active in the community in which they live and work, extending their support to give back locally through financial and product donations and volunteer support for local food banks.
The Innovator of the Year recognizes 7-Eleven Canada for its innovative approach to supporting community food banks in Canada. On 'Name Your Price Day' last September, 7-Eleven customers were able to pay what they wanted for a large Slurpee, with 100% of proceeds going to Food Banks Canada. Proving the generosity of their customers, 7-Eleven's "Name your Price Day" raised over $120,000 for Food Banks Canada and its network.
Food Bank Awards
The Ed Bloos Memorial Award honoured Marjorie Bencz for her 25 years of service at the local, provincial and national level. Marjorie has been the Executive Director of Edmonton's Food Bank while also supporting Alberta Food Banks association and Food Banks Canada. The award is named after Ed Bloos, a dedicated leader who worked to bring together food banking organizations at the local, provincial and national level.
The Excellence in Food Banking Award recognized Kamloops Food Bank (Kamloops BC) for the breadth of programs and supports the organization offers the community including an innovative food reclamation program; food programs addressing specific needs like diabetes and new mothers and working with youth who may be on a path to a challenged future.
The Provincial Innovator Award was presented to Food Banks Quebec for the development of an intranet food exchange system that puts donors from the food industry in contact, and in real time, with food banks throughout Quebec. The system improved the ease and timeliness of donating fresh, frozen or short-dated food, thereby dramatically increasing the amount of food available
The Food Bank Innovator Award was presented to two outstanding food banks: The Door of Hope Community Food Bank (Meadow Lake, SK) began a partnership with the medical clinic to ensure an ease of access to both services and referrals for both organizations; and the Food Bank of Waterloo Region (Kitchener, ON) for coordinating the Community Food Assistance Network, a unique network of more than 100 service agencies. The Community Food Assistance Network ensures consistent access to food and services across the region.
Congratulations to all the food banking organizations and donors who have committed to addressing hunger in Canada through their high impact initiatives. To view photos visit www.facebook.com/foodbankscanada.
About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada supports a unique network of over 3,000 food-related organizations in every province and territory that assists close to 850,000 Canadians each month. Together our network shares over 200 million pounds of essential safe quality food annually, provides social programs that help to foster self-sufficiency, and advocates for policy change that will help create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit foodbankscanada.ca for more information.
SOURCE Food Banks Canada
Image with caption: "June 18, 2015, Food Banks Canada Awards Dinner - Donor Award Recipients: Katharine Schmidt, Food Banks Canada; Penny Savoie, Kellogg Canada; Laurie Smith, 7-Eleven Canada; Kathy Murphy, Kraft Canada; Brian Fraser, Food Banks Canada (CNW Group/Food Banks Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150622_C9785_PHOTO_EN_43689.jpg
Image with caption: "June 18, 2015, Food Banks Canada Awards Dinner - Food Bank Award Recipients: Katharine Schmidt, Food Banks Canada; Unita Esau, The Door of Hope Community Food Bank; Marjorie Bencz, Edmonton's Food Bank; Zakary Rhissa, Food Banks of Quebec; Wendi Campbell, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region; Bernadette Siracky, Kamloops Food Bank; Brian Fraser, Food Banks Canada (CNW Group/Food Banks Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150622_C9785_PHOTO_EN_43691.jpg
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About Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with...
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