Northeast Ohio: Thanks for Supporting Harvest For Hunger!

Harvest for Hunger 2013 Campaign co-chairs Ken Marblestone (President, Charter One and RBS Citizens Ohio & Michigan) and Howard Lewis (CEO and Founder, Family Heritage) announced the results of this year’s Harvest for Hunger community-wide food and funds drive at an event last week.

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Anne Goodman (Cleveland Foodbank President & CEO) and City of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson also spoke at the event to thank supporters. The campaign raised a record-breaking $4,047,633 million and 358,567 lbs. of food to provide nutritious meals for local food pantries and soup kitchens.

More than 900 companies,schools, nonprofits and governmental entitiesin Northeast Ohio participated by running food and fund drives this year, raising $1.1 million. In addition, “Check Out Hunger,” a cashier-led fundraising effort in grocery stores across the region during March raised $1.4million.

In Greater Cleveland, Giant Eagle, Heinen’s and Dave’s collected gifts fromcustomers at their cash registers for the Harvest for Hunger campaign. 

“Hundreds of thousands of people including families and children are still struggling to put food on the table,” said Anne Goodman. “That is why Harvest for Hunger is so important, where every dollar donated can provide four nutritious meals. This community understands the need and has responded in a tremendous way – providing enough money and food for nearly 16.5 million meals!”

At last year’s recognition ceremony, the Foodbank announced that 15 million meals were made possible. Special awards were presented to companies and schools that went above and beyond the call of duty raised during this year’s drive: 

• The Bag of Hope Award, which is given to companies that have 200 or more employees, was presented to the City of Cleveland. This organization has led Harvest for Hunger for 20 years and generous employees donated more than $110,000 and 5,000 pounds of food this year, generating nearly 430,000 meals. The City of Cleveland has more than 20 coordinators from across city departments and has run Harvest for Hunger's largest employee food and funds drive for several years. 
• The Edmond V. Worley Award, named after the founding director of the Cleveland Foodbank, Ed Worley, and given to organizations with less than 200 employees, was presented to Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. With only 32 employees, Chubb Group raised more than $7,000 and collected 270 pounds of food, generating more than 30,000 meals. Participating in the campaign for the past 18 years, 2013 marked Chubb Group's 11th annual Harvest for Hunger Billiards Tournament at the Dave & Buster’s in Westlake.
• The Rory Borgio Award, named for an exemplary teacher from Garfield Heights High School who provided early leadership during one of Harvest for Hunger’s first school-based drives, was awarded to Rocky River School District. For the past five years, the students of Rocky River City School District have challenged their peers in Bay Village through Hoops for Hunger. This year’s Hoops for Hunger competition raised nearly $42,000 and Rocky River City School District was the clear winner this year, contributing over $36,000 in support of Harvest for Hunger! Since its inception, the students of Rocky River have raised over $77,000 in support of local hunger relief efforts. 
• The Youth in Philanthropy Award was presented to 5 year-old Rebeka Loescher. Rebeka’s mother Liz is the Eagle’s Nest Leader for Giant Eagle Westlake and Rocky River. Inspired by her mom’s work during Check Out Hunger, Rebeka asked friends and family attending her 5th birthday party in April to bring canned food instead of presents. She collected 75 items which were donated to a local food pantry and will help feed dozens of people. 

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