The Rogers Family Donates $20 Million to Food Banks Canada, the Largest One-Time Donation in History of the Charity

TORONTO, June 15, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Food Banks Canada is announcing the largest single donation in its history, a one-time gift of $20 million from the Rogers family.

"I can't even begin to stress how invaluable generous donations like this are for food banks," says Chris Hatch, CEO of Food Banks Canada. "I personally want to thank the Rogers family for this remarkable gift and their long-standing commitment to helping us improve food security in Canada. Their support is essential to keeping Canadians fed not only during the COVID-19 crisis but as we enter a future of uncertainty."

This donation will be distributed and shared with food banks across Canada—in every province and territory—to continue to meet the need in their communities, at the local level. It will also be used to acquire and deliver essential food items while expanding upon critical relationships with independent farmers, agricultural associations, producers and manufacturers helping to provide consistent and nutritious food support throughout the fall months.

"Our family is honoured to be able to do a small part to help Canadians and Canadian families as they try to recover from the difficult financial challenges that COVID-19 has brought to so many people, especially people already under financial stress," said Martha Rogers, Chair of The Rogers Foundation. "All of the money will be donated in 2020 so we can make as immediate an impact as possible."

Understanding that the COVID-19 crisis is impacting Canadians from every angle, the Rogers family donation will help ensure our most vulnerable neighbours are getting necessary support.

In addition to the Rogers family donation, Rogers Communications and the Jays Care Foundation continue to expand upon their support for Food Banks Canada.

Rogers Communications, which helped to kick-off Food Banks Canada's $150M fundraising campaign via the creation of public service announcements and media support to share them across their channels, has already donated more than 1.77 million meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company was also one of the media partners behind the historic all-Canadian broadcast STRONGER TOGETHER, TOUS ENSEMBLE, which helped to raise more than $8 million for Food Banks Canada.

The Jays Care Foundation has a 36-year relationship with Food Banks Canada and has just completed its largest ever fundraising campaign with the community – raising over $700,000   to support Food Banks Canada's COVID-19 Response Fund.

Most recently, Rogers has donated use of the field at Rogers Centre, where starting today, hundreds of Rogers employees and their families will be volunteering to stuff the 390,000 food hampers as part of Rogers's annual "Give Together" volunteer program. These will be delivered to food banks and community agencies across the country, from coast to coast to coast, throughout the summer months.

About Food Banks Canada
Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who – last year – made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Over the past 10 years, as a system we've sourced and shared over 1.4 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared nearly $70 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity – while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit http://www.foodbankscanada.ca/ to learn more.

SOURCE Food Banks Canada

For interview requests or for more information, contact: Food Banks Canada: Taylor Barker | [email protected] | [phone]; Rogers: [email protected] | [phone]