Corporate leaders make it their business to provide food for hungry

Daily Bread Food Bank announces this year's "Best in Class" awards

TORONTO, Sept. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Six Toronto-area companies have been recognized as corporate leaders in the fight against hunger for their combined contribution to Daily Bread Food Bank, including more than $5 million in financial support.  Daily Bread "Best in Class" awards acknowledge the myriad contributions of corporate leaders across the spectrum.

"The support we get from individuals, especially during our food and fundraising drives leading up to holiday periods during the year, is well known," says Gail Nyberg, Executive Director.  "What many people don't realize is that hundreds of companies are also stepping up to help people in need in our city.  The corporate sector accounts for more than one-quarter of our financial donations, in addition to millions of pounds of donated food."

Daily Bread Food Bank, with its member network of 170 community organizations across the city, is essential to how social services are delivered in Toronto.  Yet the organization's core operations are entirely dependent on private sector donations, receiving no government or United Way funding.

The six businesses receiving the awards all demonstrate a commitment to community with their support for Daily Bread.  In accepting the Partner of the Year Award for Cormark Securities, Susan Streeter, Managing Director, noted the company's ten-year support that surpasses $3 million.  Blake Cassels and Graydon LLP received the Champion of the Year Award in recognition of its annual Law Firm Challenge, which every year raises funds from 30-plus law firms - last year topping a quarter million dollars.  Tim Horton's received the Achiever Award for its significant increase in its level of support last year, which included funding for a hybrid truck to add to Daily Bread's delivery fleet.  TD Bank Group was awarded Corporate Volunteer Group of the Year.  Volunteers contribute the equivalent of more than 50 full-time staff to Daily Bread's food sorting and other operations.  The Food Industry Leader of the Year was General Mills Canada, which has been among Daily Bread's top ten food donors for several years.  Campbell Company of Canada was named Change Maker of the Year for its support for innovative programs to raise awareness of hunger in Canada.

Daily Bread Food Bank is an independent, non-profit, charitable organization that is fighting to end hunger in our communities. A leader in the fight against hunger, Daily Bread provides food and resources for people through neighbourhood food banks and meal programs in over 170 member agencies across Toronto. We know feeding people struggling with hunger won't solve poverty; that's why Daily Bread does more. We work to support people by providing job training; researching and educating people on issues of hunger and moving forward with innovative and realistic solutions that will help people break away from poverty. Learn more at www.dailybread.ca. For more photos of the Best in Class Awards, please go here: http://www.dailybread.ca/daily-bread-food-bank-announces-this-years-best-in-class-awards/.

Daily Bread Food Bank is fighting to end hunger in our communities.

SOURCE: Daily Bread Food Bank

Sarah Anderson
(A) Director, Communications
T: 416-203-0050 ext. 238
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