United Way Receives Unprecedented Financial and In-Kind Support from Bank of America and the Ford Motor Co Fund to Address the Issue of Hunger
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Event Photos
Media Contact:
Laura L. Rodwan
313-226-9484 or 313-477-2750
More than 700,000 people in the metro Detroit area are currently in need of food
DETROIT, Jan. 20, 2010 - United Way for Southeastern Michigan today announced the formation of an unprecedented public-private partnership between Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund to address the growing food crisis in our region. Food insecurity affects more than 700,000 people in southeast Michigan. As the unemployment rate rises, the need for food increases dramatically. United Way estimates that currently one in six people face hunger problems.
United Way is leading the effort to improve food aid in three areas:
Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund have made substantial financial and in-kind contributions to support these efforts. Bank of America is making a $400,000 contribution and the Ford Motor Company Fund is making an in-kind donation of five specially-designed transport vehicles along with a financial contribution for a combined total value of $211,000.
Responding to the rising demand for food, United Way is taking a two-pronged approach by focusing its efforts on food assistance and early childhood programs. United Way projects that the need will exist for many years to come. The organization's goal is to link agencies, identify gaps in capacity and develop innovative ways to effectively address the issue. The funds from Bank of America will be applied to school programs in critical need of food support. The donated vehicles and funds from Ford Motor Company Fund will provide a model for revamping the food delivery transport system that could be replicated on a national scale.
"Bank of America remains focused and proactive on providing relevant, meaningful support to help individuals and families navigate difficult times," said Kieth Cockrell, Michigan Market President for Bank of America. "In these times of a shifting economy, the need to address our food distribution and access systems is critical to the health and vitality of our community. We are proud to support United Way, both financially and through the dedication and efforts of our associates. We hope this contribution will inspire other companies to join us, in partnership and address this basic need so that our youth, mothers, fathers, workers and families have access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food options."
"As part of our realignment into a community-impact organization through the Agenda for Change, United Way will continue to take the lead in unprecedented, innovative work throughout the region to address the food crisis," said Mike Brennan, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "Through the generosity of Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund, we are laying the groundwork for long-term success by working to redesign a system that is currently under tremendous stress."
"There isn't an issue that is more critical at this time in this region than hunger," said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "At Ford, we want to be part of the solution to the hunger problem by ensuring that every single person in need gets at least one meal a day. Our five Mobile Transit Connect Pantries—which are on the road right now - will help us structurally change the way food is delivered and also how food is recovered."
In 2009, The Kresge Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation joined forces to fund ($500,000 and $250,000 respectively) a study performed by McKinsey & Co. to evaluate the food assistance service gaps that United Way is now focused on bridging.
A meeting was held today to update community partners on United Way's food work. Representatives from Kresge, Bank of America, the Ford Motor Company Fund and other corporate and community partners were in attendance.
During his remarks to this group of key stakeholders, Brennan communicated the need for continued reform. "Now, more than ever, the success of the region in the 21st century will require us to address our communities' most pressing need for food assistance by taking rapid action and unprecedented approaches to systemic change."
About United Way for Southeast Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.uwsem.org.
About Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, last year Bank of America embarked on a new, ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is a community relations and philanthropic nonprofit funded by Ford Motor Company. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2009, Ford Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster and promote innovation in education, greater automotive safety and American heritage and diversity. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advance Studies (Ford PAS), which provides a 21st century skills-based curriculum to more than 40,000 high school students; and Ford Driving Skills for Life, which has taught safe driving skills to more than 337,000 young drivers. In addition, the Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, enlists the help of thousands of Ford employees and retirees who volunteer their time to continue Ford's legacy of community service worldwide. For more information about programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, please visit www.community.ford.com.
For Immediate Release
Event Photos
Media Contact:
Laura L. Rodwan
313-226-9484 or 313-477-2750
More than 700,000 people in the metro Detroit area are currently in need of food
DETROIT, Jan. 20, 2010 - United Way for Southeastern Michigan today announced the formation of an unprecedented public-private partnership between Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund to address the growing food crisis in our region. Food insecurity affects more than 700,000 people in southeast Michigan. As the unemployment rate rises, the need for food increases dramatically. United Way estimates that currently one in six people face hunger problems.
United Way is leading the effort to improve food aid in three areas:
- Utilization (significantly increase the use of existing federal food assistance programs and raise awareness of how to access them);
- Distribution (double the amount of food provided through formal food distribution channels by aggressively addressing issues of supply, capacity and access); and
- Expansion (adding programs and services to address growing community need).
Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund have made substantial financial and in-kind contributions to support these efforts. Bank of America is making a $400,000 contribution and the Ford Motor Company Fund is making an in-kind donation of five specially-designed transport vehicles along with a financial contribution for a combined total value of $211,000.
Responding to the rising demand for food, United Way is taking a two-pronged approach by focusing its efforts on food assistance and early childhood programs. United Way projects that the need will exist for many years to come. The organization's goal is to link agencies, identify gaps in capacity and develop innovative ways to effectively address the issue. The funds from Bank of America will be applied to school programs in critical need of food support. The donated vehicles and funds from Ford Motor Company Fund will provide a model for revamping the food delivery transport system that could be replicated on a national scale.
"Bank of America remains focused and proactive on providing relevant, meaningful support to help individuals and families navigate difficult times," said Kieth Cockrell, Michigan Market President for Bank of America. "In these times of a shifting economy, the need to address our food distribution and access systems is critical to the health and vitality of our community. We are proud to support United Way, both financially and through the dedication and efforts of our associates. We hope this contribution will inspire other companies to join us, in partnership and address this basic need so that our youth, mothers, fathers, workers and families have access to fresh, nutritious and affordable food options."
"As part of our realignment into a community-impact organization through the Agenda for Change, United Way will continue to take the lead in unprecedented, innovative work throughout the region to address the food crisis," said Mike Brennan, president and CEO of United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "Through the generosity of Bank of America and the Ford Motor Company Fund, we are laying the groundwork for long-term success by working to redesign a system that is currently under tremendous stress."
"There isn't an issue that is more critical at this time in this region than hunger," said Jim Vella, President, Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. "At Ford, we want to be part of the solution to the hunger problem by ensuring that every single person in need gets at least one meal a day. Our five Mobile Transit Connect Pantries—which are on the road right now - will help us structurally change the way food is delivered and also how food is recovered."
In 2009, The Kresge Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation joined forces to fund ($500,000 and $250,000 respectively) a study performed by McKinsey & Co. to evaluate the food assistance service gaps that United Way is now focused on bridging.
A meeting was held today to update community partners on United Way's food work. Representatives from Kresge, Bank of America, the Ford Motor Company Fund and other corporate and community partners were in attendance.
During his remarks to this group of key stakeholders, Brennan communicated the need for continued reform. "Now, more than ever, the success of the region in the 21st century will require us to address our communities' most pressing need for food assistance by taking rapid action and unprecedented approaches to systemic change."
About United Way for Southeast Michigan
United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at www.uwsem.org.
About Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, last year Bank of America embarked on a new, ten-year goal to donate $2 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation gave more than $200 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches investing through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Bank associate volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours in 2008 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services is a community relations and philanthropic nonprofit funded by Ford Motor Company. Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2009, Ford Fund supports initiatives and institutions that foster and promote innovation in education, greater automotive safety and American heritage and diversity. National programs include Ford Partnership for Advance Studies (Ford PAS), which provides a 21st century skills-based curriculum to more than 40,000 high school students; and Ford Driving Skills for Life, which has taught safe driving skills to more than 337,000 young drivers. In addition, the Ford Volunteer Corps, established in 2005, enlists the help of thousands of Ford employees and retirees who volunteer their time to continue Ford's legacy of community service worldwide. For more information about programs made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, please visit www.community.ford.com.
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Labels: basic needs, food, Press_Releases
posted by UWSEM webmaster at
2:29 PM
2 Comments:
Although $611,000 seems like a lot of money, it amounts to less than $1.00 for each of the 700,000 food-insecure individuals mentioned. We have found that the problem of food insecurity - even just for children - is enormous. www.kidsfed.org has been attacking childhood food insecurity for five years. Based on our experience in Cincinnati, we believe that $1.00 per day is needed to provide a “food safety net” for school children on non-school days. For example, we have to raise $250,000 to bring just 3,400 children to food security during 2010 summer vacation. Our success indicator for providing sufficient food is academic proficiency, especially fourth grade reading and math proficiency. In our pilot, these proficiency rates climbed from about 20% to over 40% when we provided food for non-school days! The financing problem is enormous. And yet, the financing problem is NOT enormous - schools already invest about $10,000 in a child's education during a year - what's another dollar a day if we can double academic proficiency? See how we do it at www.kidsfed.org
By
www.kidsfed.org, at 9:42 PM
Unprecedented! Great! The United Way creates yet another "program" that eats up funding via middle management when it could have just as easily been sent to the partner agencies themselves.
Don't let them fool you. At least 15% of that funding is going to pay staff salaries at the United Way. That's a $100,000 of money down the drain.
By
Dave, at 11:37 PM
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