Charter One launches Carving Out Hunger program
Bank collecting food donations for Greater Chicago Food Depository’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and sheltersCHICAGO (November 2, 2006) - Charter One Bank today announced the launch of its month-long “Carving Out Hunger” initiative – not a typical food drive, but rather a fully integrated program that combines food and monetary donations with volunteerism to make a significant impact on thousands of families in need.
Charter One has partnered with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to distribute the donated food throughout the food depository’s network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.
Charter One is asking the Chicagoland community to help carve out hunger this season by donating a variety of food staples – including canned meats, fruits and vegetables – in any of the bank’s 120 Illinois branches today through November 30. A complete list of the most-needed food items is available at all Charter One bank locations.
“Unfortunately, hunger is a continuing concern for many individuals in the Chicago area,” said Senior Vice President Frank McGovern, Charter One’s Director of Illinois Retail Banking. “Charter One’s commitment to the community is reinforced by our multi-faceted efforts to help feed thousands of local families who might otherwise go without nutritious, well-rounded meals during the winter months.”
To supplement donations collected at Charter One Bank branches, 3,000 additional boxes filled with much-needed food essentials will be secured via a Charter One Foundation grant. Volunteers from Charter One Bank will sort donations, pack complete meal packages and deliver the packages to local pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across the Chicagoland region. Their labor will translate into credits that enable agencies to obtain additional food from the food depository.
“Carving Out Hunger” is Charter One’s most recent initiative in an going partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository. In June, concert-goers at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island offered donations in support of the bank’s “Making Music Matter” program. With additional support from a grant by the Charter One Foundation, the program generated more than $27,000 for the Food Depository during Hunger Awareness Month.
"We're excited to work once again with Charter One to help alleviate hunger in Chicago at a grassroots level," said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. "Through Charter One's 'Carving Out Hunger' program, the food depository's member pantries, soup kitchens and shelters will be able to provide thousands of additional meals to people in need."
“Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks – recently named Chicago’s “Hometown Hero” by Major League Baseball – will help feed Chicagoland’s hungry by being the first in line to make a donation to Carving Out Hunger at Charter One’s 71 S. Wacker branch in downtown Chicago this morning at 10 a.m.
About Charter One Bank, N.A.
Charter One Bank, N.A., is a $46 billion bank operating in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. It has 474 branches and more than 800 ATMs. It has 120 branches and 388 ATMs in Illinois. Charter One is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $164 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. Citizens has more than 1,600 branches, approximately 3,200 ATMs and 26,000 employees in a 13-state retail branch network and has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. Citizens is the eighth-largest commercial banking company in the United States ranked by deposits and ninth in assets as of March 31, 2006. Citizens is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is a not-for-profit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to almost a half-million adults and children every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed more than 40 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of more than 84,000 meals every day. Innovative training programs and initiatives developed by the Food Depository also work to provide men, women and children with the tools necessary to break their individual cycles of poverty. For more information, log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773-247-FOOD.
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