CONTACT: Kris Tazelaar, Communications Manager, Second Harvest Foodbank, KrisT@shfbmadison.org, 608-216-7206
$25,000 Grant Will Provide 402,724 Meals to FoodShare Recipients
MADISON, Wisc.—December 4, 2013—Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin today announced a $25,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to expand its FoodShare (food stamp) Outreach initiatives. These initiatives provide children, families and seniors who struggle with hunger access to an important resource for healthy and nutritious food. To celebrate the award, local Morgan Stanley employees completed a volunteer service project at Second Harvest preparing food for distribution to families and individuals facing hunger.
The local award is the latest phase of Fill the Plate, Morgan Stanley’s long-standing partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity. In total, Morgan Stanley has committed more than $13 million for the Feeding America network to distribute millions of meals to children and families across all 50 states. As part of that initiative, Morgan Stanley is providing more than $4 million over four years to local food banks like Second Harvest Foodbank to launch, expand and sustain critical feeding programs.
“We are thrilled to receive this important grant from Morgan Stanley to fund our efforts to ensure that eligible households receive such a critical emergency food resource,” said Dan Stein, president & CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank. “By educating people who may be eligible about the benefits they could be receiving through FoodShare, they are provided with a valuable tool that will help them put healthy and nutritious meals on their table.”
“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is one of Morgan Stanley’s core values,” said Daniel Krause, Executive Director, Complex Manger, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, Milwaukee. “We are proud of our Firm’s grant to the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, especially since so many of us are also long-time volunteers at this important community organization.”
Nationwide, child hunger is a critical problem. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, nearly 16 million children in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food necessary for a healthy life. Feeding America’s most recent Map the Meal Gap research indicates more than one in five children in 37 states and Washington D.C. do not have access to enough nutritious food to learn, grown and thrive.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief organization, is a non-profit organization that is committed to ending hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties through community partnerships. By focusing on a multipronged approach that includes food distribution, increasing participation in public and private food programs, and mobilizing the public, it serves nearly 141,000 people who struggle with hunger each year; 43% of whom are children. From July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 Second Harvest Foodbank, together with its more than 225 partner agencies and programs, provided 12.6 million meals to those facing hunger. It is one of 200 members of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For more information, visit SecondHarvestMadison.org.
