Good Shepherd Wins Morgan Stanley Award to Expand Program Delivering Nutritious Meals to Children

$25,000 Grant Will Fund School Pantry Program

AUBURN, Maine-May 21, 2013- Good Shepherd Food Bank today announced a $25,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to fund its School Pantry Program, a child hunger initiative that helps to make sure that low-income families have a readily accessible source of healthy and nutritious food to prepare at home.

The local award is the latest phase of Fill the Plate, Morgan Stanley’s long-standing partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief charity.  In total, Morgan Stanley has committed more than $13 million for the Feeding America network to distribute millions of meals to children and families across all 50 states.  As part of that initiative, Morgan Stanley will award more than $1 million each year for the next four years to local food banks like Good Shepherd Food Bank to launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding programs.

“We are thrilled to receive this important grant from Morgan Stanley to fund our efforts to deliver more nutritious meals to children and families,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank.  “What’s extraordinary and groundbreaking about this award is that we were able to choose how to use the funds in a way that best matches the nutritional health needs of Maine kids and families.”

“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is one of Morgan Stanley’s core values. As employees with deep local roots we are proud of the grant our firm has made to Good Shepherd Food Bank, especially since so many of us are also long-time volunteers to this and other important local organizations,” said Frederick Caswell, Branch Manager, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management in Portland.

Nationwide, child hunger is a critical problem. According to the US Department of Agriculture, about 16 million children are at risk of going hungry. Here in Maine, nearly one in four children under the age of 18 do not have access to enough nutritious food to learn, grow and thrive.

# # #

About Good Shepherd Food Bank

The largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank provides for people facing hunger by acquiring donated and purchased food and distributing it to more than 600 local partner agencies across the state.  Since 1981, the Food Bank has partnered with businesses, civic groups, farmers and other nonprofits to alleviate hunger and build community relationships.  In 2012, the Food Bank distributed 13 million pounds of food to families struggling with hunger in Maine.

Website:  www.feedingmaine.org

Phone:  (207) 782-3554

Facebook: www.facebook.com/feedingmaine

Twitter: www.twitter.com/feedingmaine.

###