The Greater Boston Food Bank Honors Hunger Relief Champions through Annual Partner Appreciation Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Greater Boston Food Bank Honors Hunger Relief Champions through Annual Partner Appreciation Awards
Partner Appreciation Awards honor the most dedicated hunger-relief volunteers, donors, agencies, and advocates
BOSTON – (November 16, 2022) –The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB), the largest hunger-relief organization in New England, honored the individuals and organizations going above and beyond to support GBFB’s hunger-relief efforts through its annual Partner Appreciation Awards. For nearly 20 years, GBFB’s awards program has sought to celebrate and show appreciation for the individuals and organizations that have collaborated to end hunger across Eastern Massachusetts.
Twelve awards were given to valued partner agencies, public officials, volunteers, donors and other organizations that have made considerable contributions to GBFB’s mission to end hunger over the past two years.
“In order to end hunger and stop the cycle of food insecurity in its tracks, we must do it together,” said Catherine D’Amato, GBFB President and CEO. “Collaboration is essential to our shared mission to end hunger, and we are endlessly grateful to the volunteers, agencies, public figures and organizations that come together to support our hunger relief efforts. With these awards, we hope to convey our gratitude towards those that have gone above and beyond to mitigate the detrimental effects of hunger– especially in the face of unprecedented need brought on by the worst inflation we have seen in 40 years. Congratulations to the winners and thank you for your invaluable contributions!”
The following individuals and organizations were awarded for their contributions:
Founder’s Award
MathWorks received the Founder’s Award for its continued support of Growing Healthy Futures, a summer hunger fundraising campaign which aims to raise funds to help GBFB distribute healthy meals to youth and their families, matching up to $1 million in donations in both 2021 and 2022.
Leadership Award
Mintz was awarded the Leadership Award for contributing thousands of hours of legal consulting and advisory services to GBFB over the years in subjects such as employment law, corporate governance, and real estate. Mintz’s pro-bono services have saved the food bank hundreds of thousands of dollars, allowing more funds to directly support GBFB’s hunger-relief efforts.
President’s Choice Award
WCVB Channel 5 was awarded for its on-air fundraisers that raised essential funds during a time of immense and unprecedented need while also shining a light on GBFB and people experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts when we all needed it the most. The WCVB NewsCenter 5 team also provides GBFB regular coverage to elevate its mission to end hunger to a wide audience, resulting in additional donations and support outside of scheduled fundraising days.
In-Kind Donor of the Year
OUTFRONT Media received the In-Kind Donor of the Year Award for providing GBFB with out-of-home billboard and signage placements on media assets throughout the Boston area, providing GBFB with an enhanced advertising reach, especially on valuable MBTA signage, that the food bank would otherwise not be able to afford.
Food Donor of the Year
Blount Fine Foods was named Food Donor of the Year for its consistent stream of quality food donations before and throughout the pandemic. A GBFB food donation partner since 2002, Blount has donated over 1.2 million pounds of healthy and delicious soups, stews, chilis and chowders for GBFB to distribute over the last two years alone – the equivalent of one million meals.
Community Partner of the Year
Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry was honored with the Community Partner of the Year Award for its dedication to innovation, accessibility, and collaboration, effectively serving 7 communities throughout the pandemic. Loaves & Fishes quickly adapted to the needs of its community in the face of COVID-19, transitioning to an outdoor, drive-through distribution model and installing an intercom system to support social distancing.
State Advocate of the Year
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) was honored with the State Advocate of the Year Award for stepping into a leadership role during the pandemic. As the state agency working most closely with the food system, MDAR worked alongside GBFB to manage $30M in Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) funds, supporting the distribution of approximately 35 million pounds of healthy food to emergency food providers across the state in 2021.
MA House of Representatives Advocate of the Year
Representative Dan Hunt was the first legislator that GBFB’s government relations team met with to seek guidance on the State’s federal American Rescue Plan Appropriation (ARPA) funding process as he oversaw the legislative process for the allocation of these federal funds. He went above and beyond in helping to steward GBFB through the process of applying for and eventually being awarded $17M for hunger-relief efforts to help expand the capacity of GBFB and its partners agencies across Eastern Massachusetts.
State Senate Advocate of the Year
Senator Harriette Chandler was awarded for her remarkable contributions and leadership throughout her career but particularly in her recent efforts supporting hunger relief among college students. She has worked closely with the GBFB co-managed statewide Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, helped to secure over $1M funding in support of college hunger relief programs through last year’s ARPA bill, and been a lead Senate legislative sponsor of Bill S.2811, “An Act establishing the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative,” to address food insecurity among high-need populations enrolled in Massachusetts public colleges and universities.
Volunteers of the Year (Individual)
Mike Collins of Needham, MA was awarded for his kindness, responsibility, and for giving over 480 hours of service to support GBFB’s mission to end hunger since starting to volunteer in April of 2020. Mike shows up every Wednesday for his volunteer shift with a smile on his face.
Anne Randolph of Cambridge, MA was awarded for her commitment, leadership, and for giving over 900 hours of service to support hunger relief since April of 2017. Anne’s dedication and positive energy directly supported the essential work of GBFB – getting healthy meals to the residents of communities throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
Volunteer of the Year (Institution)
McKinsey & Company completed six volunteer shifts for a total of over 125 hours. The McKinsey team of volunteers are always enthusiastic and focused, ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on the planned project. They are extremely efficient with all projects, especially re-packing fresh produce or packing boxes of nutritious shelf-stable foods. McKinsey & Company also donated their time to help GBFB identify the need for implementing a digital transformation strategy, supporting technological innovation throughout the pandemic through strategic and creative thinking.
Public Advocate of the Year
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) was awarded for its extensive collaboration with GBFB’s SNAP Team. MLRI helped GBFB and its partner agencies effectively navigate SNAP policies and benefits for clients in need, draft and disseminate pertinent information, and advocate for relevant legislation.
Those in need of food assistance are encouraged to visit GBFB.org/need food, where they can find a list of resources and search for a food program by zip code.
About The Greater Boston Food Bank
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. As the food bank for Eastern Massachusetts, GBFB is feeding people in 190 towns across the region, distributing the equivalent of nearly 90 million meals through a network of 600 dedicated food distribution partners and programs. A member of the national Feeding America network, GBFB’s mission is to end hunger here. The organization remains committed to the belief that access to healthy food is a human right regardless of an individual’s circumstances. Through policy, partnerships, and providing free, nutritious, and culturally responsive food, GBFB is committed to addressing the root causes of food insecurity while promoting racial, gender and economic equity in food access. For more information and to help us help others, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@gr8bosfoodbank) and Instagram, or call us at 617.427.5200.
Media Contact
Catherine Lynn
GBFB
VP, Communications and Public Affairs
617.828.7422
press@gbfb.org