Good Shepherd Food Bank Chosen as 2015 Beneficiary for TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race
By: Jason Wolfe
Source: Wolfe PR
Date: February 4, 2015
CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (February 4, 2015) – The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, announced today that Good Shepherd Food Bank, a statewide hunger relief organization that provided more than 17 million meals to Mainers facing hunger last year, has been selected as the beneficiary of this year’s TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine on Aug. 1.
Good Shepherd Food Bank (www.feedingmaine.org) is the state’s largest hunger relief organization, partnering with 600 local agencies, including food pantries, meal sites, senior centers, schools and other programs. In addition, the Food Bank offers programs to directly combat child hunger and provide nutrition education to low-income Mainers.
For more information on the Good Shepherd Food Bank, visit www.feedingmaine.org or call (207) 782-3554. Runners can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
“The TD Charitable Foundation is proud to have the Good Shepherd Food Bank as this year’s beneficiary for the TD Beach to Beacon,” said Larry Wold, President, TD Bank, Maine. “The efforts of the Good Shepherd Food Bank provided more than 17 million meals to Mainers facing hunger last year, which is an astounding achievement. We are happy to partner with such an amazing and essential organization that supports Maine and we welcome them aboard.”
The TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank (www.TDBank.com), will provide a cash donation of $30,000 to Good Shepherd Food Bank. The organization also will benefit from fundraising activities and publicity through its association with one of Maine’s premiere sporting events.
The TD Charitable Foundation has now donated $540,000 to Maine charities over the 18-year history of the TD Beach to Beacon.
“It is an honor to be recognized by TD Charitable Foundation in this way and to be included in an amazing community event such as Beach to Beacon,” said Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank. “With this funding, the Foundation will be contributing to Good Shepherd Food Bank’s mission of creating a healthier Maine, by providing our neighbors facing hunger with the nutritious food they need to live, learn, work, and thrive.”
In 2014, the Food Bank distributed more than 21 million pounds of food to families, children, and seniors in need throughout Maine, up 35 percent from 2013.
Approximately half of the growth came from the retail store pick-up program, where partner agencies pick up food donations directly from local retail stores. Donations from retailers to the Food Bank’s warehouses in Auburn, Biddeford and Brewer also grew. In addition, the Food Bank more than doubled its purchases of local vegetables, fruits, and other Maine-grown products and saw an increase in donations from local growers.
“On behalf of the TD Beach to Beacon Board and Organizing Committee, we congratulate Good Shepherd Food Bank on being chosen the 2015 race beneficiary,” said Mike Stone, the race president. “The organization is making a huge difference in the lives of Mainers facing hunger – which is exactly why they were chosen. The TD Beach to Beacon team is looking forward to working with the Good Shepherd Food Bank team in the exciting preparations leading up to and including race day on August 1st.”
This year marks the 18th running of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K (www.beach2beacon.org), set for Saturday, Aug. 1 in Cape Elizabeth. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, is the title sponsor of the race founded in 1998 by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist from Cape Elizabeth and Maine’s most recognized athlete.
The TD Beach to Beacon 10K is one of the most popular events on the U.S. road race circuit, drawing runners from around the world and throughout New England and the U.S. to the picturesque coastal community of Cape Elizabeth. The race begins near the Crescent Beach entrance on Route 77, winds along tree-lined roads and past breathtaking ocean vistas, and ends in Fort Williams Park at the historic Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.
Online registration for the popular race, which traditionally closes within minutes, will take place on March 12 for Cape Elizabeth residents and March 13 for the general public.
In 2014, a record-setting 6,494 runners from 14 countries, 42 states and more than 260 Maine cities and town finished the winding, rolling, often breathtaking 6.2-mile coastal course. Thousands of spectators cheered runners along the route and at the finish, and more than 800 volunteers helped ensure a smooth operation. The race debuted in 1998 with 2,408 runners crossing the finish line.
More than $60,000 in prize money is awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women, and separately a $30,000 donation is provided each year by the TD Charitable Foundation to the race charity.
For additional information about the race, visit www.beach2beacon.org and follow on Facebook and Twitter.
A staunch commitment to active involvement in the local community is a vital element of the TD Bank philosophy. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® and the TD Charitable Foundation provide support to affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and environmental initiative, many of which focus on improving the welfare of children and families.
About the TD Charitable Foundation
The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates as TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, and is one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation’s mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Bank operates, having made more than $133.2 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The Foundation’s areas of focus are affordable housing, financial literacy and education, and the environment. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.
About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com.