Chef Rocco DiSpirito joins effort to raise visibility of hunger issues

CHICAGO, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bank of America and Feeding America announced today that the bank will provide a 2-for-1 match of donations to Feeding America's holiday "Give a Meal" program. Through this match, individuals and customers will be able to triple the impact of their donations and provide meals to people in need.  

This is the third year that the bank has partnered with Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief organization. Bank of America is the exclusive sponsor of the Give a Meal program this holiday season and will be joined by celebrity chef, author and television host Rocco DiSpirito, who will serve as the campaign's spokesman and raise visibility about hunger in our communities and the simple ways people can help.

"Hurricane Sandy has given us all a dramatic reminder(to that emergencies can occur anywhere at any time," said Kerry Sullivan, president of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. "For people who don't have enough food to eat, every day is a reminder of the acute need for assistance.  By supporting the Give a Meal program, we can all help address the pervasive hunger rates and growing demand for food assistance across the United States, in both large and small communities." 

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation will contribute $2 for every $1 donated via feedingamerica.org/bankofamerica or bankofamerica.com/give, up to a total match of $1.5 million.  The bank will also contribute an additional $1 million to Feeding America's national office, and bank employees will participate in more than 300 hunger-related volunteer efforts around the country.

The program was a resounding success last year providing the financial equivalent of more than 26 million meals.  The need for hunger relief continues to be great this year. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 50.1 million people in the United States are struggling with hunger. Of that number, 16.7 million are children.

"We are grateful for the support of Bank of America and their generous offer to provide a two for one match," said Matt Knott, interim president and CEO of Feeding America. "With one in five families in our country in danger of not knowing where their next meal is coming from, the epidemic of hunger is something that we can't solve alone. Together with Bank of America and its customers, we can bring hope to people this holiday season."

To help promote the campaign, DiSpirito will participate in a volunteer event in conjunction with a local food bank and urge his fans to get involved and donate to the cause.

"Through the work I do on the Now Eat This Truck, I see firsthand the challenges many families face in getting food on the table.  The Give a Meal Program and the generous match from Bank of America provide an easy way for people to help those in need this holiday season," said DiSpirito.

A running counter will be displayed on the Give a Meal webpage to tally the number of meals that have been donated during the campaign to date.

About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, its network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Bank of America Corporate Social Responsibility
Bank of America's commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategic part of doing business globally. Our CSR efforts guide how we operate in a socially, economically, financially and environmentally responsible way across more than 100 markets around the world, to deliver for shareholders, customers, clients and employees. Our goal is to help create economically vibrant regions and communities through lending, investing and giving. By partnering with our stakeholders, we create shared value that empowers individuals and communities to thrive and contributes to the long-term success of our business. We have several core areas of focus for our CSR, including responsible business practices; environmental sustainability; strengthening local communities with a focus on housing, hunger and jobs; investing in global leadership development; and engaging through arts and culture. Reaffirming a commitment to develop and sustain a culture of service, bank employee volunteers contributed more than 1.5 million hours in 2011 to enhance the quality of life in their communities worldwide. Learn more at www.bankofamerica.com and follow us on Twitter at @BofA_Community.

Media Contacts:
Ross Fraser
Feeding America
312.641.6422                                       
rfraser@feedingamerica.org

Nicole Nastacie
Bank of America
980.388.7252 
nicole.nastacie@bankofamerica.com

SOURCE Feeding America