Citizens Bank and the Philadelphia Phillies launch 2012 Phans Feeding Families summer hunger relief program
Phillies fans invited to join effort to fight hunger in the Delaware Valley
Citizens Bank and the Philadelphia Phillies, in partnership with the Halladay Family Foundation and Phillies sponsors, today announced the 2012 Phans Feeding Families program.
The initiative will raise money and collect food to feed the 900,000 people in the Delaware Valley that are at risk of hunger.
The inaugural 2011 campaign provided 195,000 meals to families in need through Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization and Phans Feeding Families beneficiary.
To support Philabundance and the 2012 Phans Feeding Families campaign, fans can:
- Buy a limited-edition Phans Feeding Families pin. Pre-orders are now available for purchase online at philabundance.org/feedingfamilies. Fans will also be able to purchase the pin starting mid- July at the Majestic Clubhouse Store and Phillies NewsStands at Citizens Bank Park. Each $8.99 pin provides 15 meals for families in need.
-
Bring a donation of non-perishable food to Citizens Bank Park or SEPTA’s AT&T Station during Phans Feeding Families food drives on Wednesday, June 20, Thursday, June 28 and Sunday, August 5. Recommended items include plastic jars of peanut butter and jelly, canned tuna and pasta. Fans can also donate food at Citizens Bank Park during the ShopRite Partners in Caring Food Drive on Sunday, July 8 and the Goya Latino Family Celebration & Food Drive on Tuesday, September 25.
-
Purchase a Party with a Purpose ticket package to attend Phans Feeding Families Day on Sunday, August 5. Each ticket purchased provides 75 meals for families in need.
-
Bid on exclusive merchandise and VIP experiences through a silent auction during Phans Feeding Families Day on Sunday, August 5.
-
Make an online monetary donation to the campaign.
Complete program details are available at phillies.com/feedingfamilies.
"Summer is a time of increased need because thousands of the 300,000 children who rely on school meal programs no longer have access to this much needed food,” said Bill Clark, Philabundance President and Executive Director. “Hunger doesn’t take a vacation, and Phans Feeding Families helps to meet this need at an important time of year.”
To lead off the program, the Citizens Bank Foundation is donating $170,000 to organizations throughout eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware that provide hunger relief, nutrition assistance and improve access to food for families. $50,000 of this commitment will support Philabundance, providing the first 100,000 meals to the 2012 Phans Feeding Families campaign.
“By partnering with our friends at the Phillies to raise money and food for our neighbors in the Delaware Valley, we can make a greater impact on the region’s hunger problem,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “The donation from the Citizens Bank Foundation will help Philabundance and other local hunger relief agencies feed more families this summer when there is an increased demand for emergency food.”
Representing the Halladay Family Foundation, Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay will be featured in a Phans Feeding Families public service announcement viewable during Phillies broadcasts and online at phillies.com/feedingfamilies.
In addition to Citizens Bank, several Phillies sponsors and advertisers support hunger relief efforts and will participate in the 2012 campaign. They include: ARAMARK, Goya Foods, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Hatfield, SEPTA, ShopRite and Toyota.
“By once again joining together with our corporate partners and the terrific Phillies fanbase, it is the Phillies hope that hundreds of thousands of local residents will no longer have to worry about where their next meal will come from or how they will feed their families,” said David Montgomery, Phillies President.
About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania
Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has 381 branches and 1,012 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 12 retail branches and 104 ATMs in southern New Jersey, and a commercial loan office and 17 ATMs in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $130 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I.
RBS Citizens Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,460 branches, approximately 3,800 ATMs and approximately 19,200 colleagues. Its two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A., and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. RBSCFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. RBSCFG is owned by RBS (the Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). RBSCFG’s website is citizensbank.com.
About Philabundance
Philabundance reduces hunger and food insecurity in the Delaware Valley by providing food access to people in need in partnership with organizations and individuals. Philabundance provides a full plate of services through direct service programs and a network of close to 500 member agencies in 9 counties. Philabundance serves approximately 65,000 people per week at a cost of 50 cents per meal. There are more than 900,000 people in the Delaware Valley who are at risk for chronic hunger and malnutrition. In 2011, Philabundance distributed 21 million pounds of food. For more information about Philabundance, visit philabundance.org or call 215-339-0900. Visit us on Facebook, Facebook.com/Philabundance and follow us on Twitter, Twitter.com/Philabundance. If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance, please call Philabundance’s Food Help Line, 800-319-Food (3663).