June 5, 2007

Philabundance Honors Individuals in the Fight Against Hunger
LOVE was in the air as it took center stage in the campaign to fight hunger

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- June 5, 2007 – In a ceremony at City Hall today, in observance of National Hunger Awareness Day, Philabundance honored key individuals whose spirit of philanthropy has earned them this year’s Harvesters of Hope Awards.

Kicking off NHAD today, Mayor John F. Street proclaimed the day Philabundance Day in a ceremony at Conversation Hall in City Hall. The event was marked by a presentation by Philabundance president/executive director Bill Clark of Philabundance’s Harvesters of Hope Award that acknowledges individuals who are leading the way in the spirit of helping our neighbors throughout the Delaware Valley. This year’s recipients were the Darrell brothers Collin, 23, (in absentia) and Alex, 18, of Swarthmore, Pa., who for the past 18 years have collected thousands of pounds of food in an annual effort in their community, and WMMR radio personalities Preston Elliott and Steve Morrison, whose “Camp Out for Hunger” campaign in 2006, raised more than $18,000 and 150 tons (301,708 pounds) of food.

Pamela Crawley, director of Public Affairs/Senior VP at Citizens Bank and Gene Dias, director of Community Relations for The Philadelphia Phillies, closed the ceremony with a check presentation to Philabundance of the total raised from its month-long campaign “Carving out Hunger,” aimed at raising awareness and collecting money and much needed food donations to help feed hungry children this summer. The campaign kicked off May 1, with a $50,000 donation to Philabundance by the Citizens Bank Foundation.

“Eighteen years ago, I started a food drive and over the years it has developed into more than I could have hoped for,” said Harvesters of Hope winner Collin Darrell, who this year collected three and half tons of food with his brother Alex in their annual Swarthmore food drive. “I really have enjoyed being the middle-man between Swarthmore’s generosity and the Greater Philadelphia area’s need.”

Inaugurated in 2006, the Harvesters of Hope Award is given by Philabundance in recognition of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding effort in raising awareness and helping in the fight against hunger in our region. Through their efforts, these people are setting an example of how each of us can make a difference in our community. Their spirit of giving is shown through their initiative to do something for others without personal gain. Last year’s inaugural recipients were Victoria Marshall of Horsham, Pa., who literally dove at the problem of hunger by spending four straight hours during the holiday season, doing laps at her Hatboro-Horsham High School pool and raising enough money to purchase 4000 meals, and Chris McNabb of Bryn Mawr, Pa. who had spent every summer since he was 12 years-old as a coordinator for Philabundance’s Share the Harvest program that collects extra produce from area gardeners during the growing season and shares it with those in need.

Philabundance Honors Individuals in the Fight against Hunger
Joining in the effort on NHAD to raise awareness of the many children and adults who go hungry in our region, Preston and Steve from WMMR and Philabundance volunteers conducted a “love in” at Love Park during “Summer in Love,” a free public concert series hosted by Fairmount Park and the City of Philadelphia. Agent Moosehead playedtonally vibrant sounds of jazz/rock for all to enjoy until 2 p.m. and Philabundance called on the public to “share a lunch” by donating lunch money in the noon hour.

Philabundance provides food to more than 100,000 people a week through its network of 600 agencies, food cupboards, pantries and shelters. For more information on how the public can combat hunger in their community, or donate lunch money for NHAD go to http://www.philabundance.org/.

Created in 2002, Hunger Awareness Day gives people the opportunity to gather their resources, supporters, and voices in focusing the nation’s attention on one of the most solvable problems facing every community in America. This year’s theme is “The Face of Hunger Will Surprise You.”

Philabundance is the region’s largest food bank and hunger relief organization. Working with over 600 neighborhood organizations in both Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey, Philabundance fights hunger and malnutrition principally by collecting and distributing food to people in need. For more information about Philabundance, call 215-339-0900 or visit www.philabundance.org.