Local farm and corporate leader make it their business to help provide food for hungry

Daily Bread Food Bank announces this year's 'Best in Class' Donor of the Year Awards

TORONTO, May 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Dominion Farms Produce are being recognized as leaders in the fight against hunger for their support of Daily Bread Food Bank.

"Each year, hundreds of companies provide support to Daily Bread through donations of food, funds and their time," said Gail Nyberg, Executive Director. "Dominion Farms Produce and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have been exceptional partners in the fight against hunger and it is through this kind of committed support that we are able to provide nutritious food for 90,000 people struggling with hunger each year." 

Daily Bread's Best in Class Awards recognize the top corporate and community partners for their efforts in the fight against hunger. These awards recognize the leading roles organizations take in the community when it comes to donating, volunteering and raising awareness to help end hunger in our communities. The corporate sector accounts for more than one-quarter of Daily Bread's financial donations, in addition to millions of pounds of donated food.

Corporate Donor of the Year: Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) has been supporting Daily Bread since 1998. What helps make BofAML unique is not just their commitment to Daily Bread's work through their generous grants – but also their commitment to bringing in dedicated volunteers every year on American Thanksgiving! This tradition has become one of Daily Bread's favourite times of the year, as we know we can always count on their help and always look forward to the high-level of energy and enthusiasm they consistently bring. Daily Bread is very grateful for their interest in our mission, their time, passion and generous support over the past 17 years.

"Bank of America Merrill Lynch is honoured to be recognized by the Daily Bread Food Bank for our support of the community, and we believe it is a testament to our wider longstanding commitment to Canada," said Gaylen Duncan, Country Operating Officer (Canada), Bank of America Merrill Lynch.  "Since our inception in this country in 1947, we've worked relentlessly to serve the unique needs and challenges of the marketplace with our unique set of expertise and global capabilities. In that spirit, we're proud to partner with Daily Bread to deliver valuable services and resources to alleviate hunger and poverty in an important community in which we operate."    

Food Industry Donor of the Year: Dominion Farms Produce

Supporting Daily Bread Food Bank since 2007, Dominion Farms Produce understands the importance of providing nutritious food. Each week Daily Bread is able to depend on them through their regular donations of healthy and fresh produce. To date, they have donated over 1.5 million pounds worth of food! We are excited to announce, Dominion Farm Produce for winning the 2015 Food Industry Donor Award.

"We at Dominion Farms are extremely honoured and humbled to have been chosen Food Industry Donor of the Year," said Tony Tomizza, General Manager. "For almost ten years, we have been blessed to be able to donate fresh, locally grown carrots and onions weekly. Dominion Farms will continue to support the wonderful folks at the food bank who work so hard to help 90,000 hungry every year."

About Daily Bread Food Bank
Daily Bread Food Bank is the largest provider of food relief in the GTA, and distributes millions of pounds of nutritious food out to almost 200 food programs across Toronto. Daily Bread feeds 90,000 people every year through homeless shelters, women's shelters, drop in programs, food banks and meal programs. Daily Bread also focuses on fighting hunger by fighting the root cause of hunger – poverty. Find out more about Daily Bread Food Bank at www.dailybread.ca.

SOURCE Daily Bread Food Bank

Sarah Anderson Austin, Senior Manager, Communications, T: 416-203-0050 ext. 238, C: 416-450-2196, E: [email protected]