Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin: Golf outing raises over $250,000 for area food banks to drive out hunger

CONTACT: Anna Nelson, External Relations Manager; 608-216-7205; annan@shfbmadison.org

More than $900,000 has been raised since 2007

MADISON, Wis., July 20, 2011 – Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin announced today that the Alliant Energy Foundation’s fifth annual Drive Out Hunger Golf Classic has raised over $250,000 for eight Feeding America member food banks in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois. The golf outing was held Monday, July 18 at University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wis.

“Ending hunger cannot be done alone and Alliant Energy recognizes this,” says Dan Stein, President/CEO for Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “Through this fun, client-appreciation, charitable golf outing, Alliant Energy provides millions of meals for families, children and seniors facing hunger.”

Since its inception in 2007, the Drive Out Hunger Golf Classic has raised more than $900,000 for Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin and its sister Feeding America food banks whose service areas overlap with where Alliant Energy provides service. Other benefiting food banks include Channel One, Inc. Food Bank & Food Shelf, Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, Food Bank of Iowa, HACAP Food Reservoir, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, River Bend Foodbank and Second Harvest Heartland.

“Alliant Energy is pleased to sponsor the fifth annual Drive Out Hunger Golf Classic and we thank our business partners for their generous support in making this event possible. We believe it’s important to put our efforts into raising funds that directly affect the everyday lives of those in need,” said Bill Harvey, Alliant Energy Chairman and CEO. “We remain committed to helping improve the quality of life in the communities we serve, and I cannot think of a more worthy cause than Second Harvest and other food banks throughout our service territory.”

About Alliant Energy Foundation

The Alliant Energy Foundation is a philanthropic organization created by Alliant Energy Corp. and is operated as a separate entity led by its own board of directors. The Foundation is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where Alliant Energy employees, retirees and customers live and work. The Foundation, which is funded solely by the Alliant Energy shareowners, seeks to further the corporation’s goal of being a good corporate citizen and contributing member of the communities they serve. For more information, visit the Foundation’s web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com/foundation.

About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in southwestern Wisconsin through community partnerships, serving nearly 141,000 people who struggle to put food on the table, including 43 percent who are children. Through food and financial donations and volunteer support, Second Harvest Foodbank acquires and distributes food to 350 partner agencies, including food pantries, shelters and meal sites, in 16 counties. From July 1, 2010–June 30, 2011, Second Harvest Foodbank distributed 8.6 million pounds of food. It is one of 200 affiliates of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For more information, visit http://www.secondharvestmadison.org.