December 15, 2008

Robert Curley, South Jersey market president, TD Bank; Mike Carbone, metro president, TD Bank; William J. Clark, president and executive director; Philabundance; Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, assistant chief, Office of Food Protection, Philadelphia Department of Public Health; and Ronald Matthew, Greater Philadelphia market president, TD Bank

Cherry Hill, N.J. – With the demand on area food banks rising attributable in part to the economic downturn, resulting layoffs and record high unemployment, TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, is donating $100,000 to four food banks in support of  families throughout its footprint in the Mid-Atlantic, Metro Washington, D.C., and Florida areas.

It is typical during the holidays for food bank requests to increase, but with the tough economy many organizations have seen a more than 40 percent increase in demand. Just in time for the holidays, local TD Bank executives and their elves will surprise and delight the following four food banks with a $25,000 donation to help meet the needs of their communities, which are faced with an unprecedented food shortage due to the economy:

Capital Area Food Bank, which is Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area’s largest, public nonprofit food and nutrition resource Daily Bread Food Bank, which is a not-for-profit organization, which empowers other South Florida not-for-profit organizations to feed needy people and improve their lives. Food Bank for New York City, which  is the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty and increase access to affordable, nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs. Philabundance, which has a network of more than 600 agencies in the region that provide meals and foodstuffs to the 900,000 low-income residents in the Delaware Valley.

“These donations support the basic needs of our communities," said Elizabeth K. Warn, president of the TD Charitable Foundation. "We are happy to step in and offer our help with the hope that no one goes hungry this holiday season and beyond.”

“TD Bank is proud to provide the resources necessary to help fight hunger,” said Fred Graziano, regional banking president, TD Bank. “When we do business in an area we truly become part of the community and try to help as much as we can when need arises.”

A staunch commitment to active involvement in the local community is a vital element of the TD Bank philosophy. TD Bank provides financial and other support to educational, community, human service, arts, and health-related programs, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.

About the TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates under the trade names TD Banknorth and TD Bank and is one of the 20 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation's mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Banknorth and TD Bank operate, having made over $40 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The efforts of the Foundation are coordinated locally through TD Banknorth and TD Bank's community relations departments and are focused on the areas of economic empowerment, youth development and community support. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation including an online grant application is available at www.TDBanknorth.com or at www.TDBank.com.


About TD Bank
Following TD Bank Financial Group's acquisition of Commerce Bancorp Inc. on March 31, 2008, TD Banknorth and Commerce Bank merged on May 31, 2008, to become TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank. Today, TD Banknorth and TD Bank form one of the 20 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States with more than $105 billion in assets, and provide customers with a full range of financial products and services at nearly 1,100 convenient locations from Maine to Florida. TD Bank, N.A., is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., and Portland, Maine. TD Banknorth and TD Bank are trade names of TD Bank, N.A. For more information, visit www.TDBanknorth.com and www.TDBank.com.

TD Banknorth and TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, are part of TD Bank Financial Group, one of the strongest banks in the world. Among the top 40 banks in the world, TD Bank Financial Group is one of only seven to be rated "Aaa" by Moody's.