388 Upper Oakwood Avenue Elmira, New York 14903 P: 607.796.6061 F: 607.796.6028 www.foodbankst.org TO: News Editors DATE: September 10, 2013 CONTACT: Missy Goetschius Community & Public Relations Manager, Food Bank of the Southern Tier CONTACT INFO: 607.796.6061 x4023 or email mlsmith@feedingamerica.org

RE: Cornell Athletics & Physical Education Staff Provide Gift to Support the Food Bank of the Southern Tier’s BackPack Program™

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Southern Tier, NY – The Food Bank of the Southern Tier announces that a generous gift was received from Cornell Athletics & Physical Education staff in the amount of $5,000 to support the Food Bank’s BackPack Program™ in Tompkins County. “I cannot imagine a cause more compelling than helping to provide nourishment to children most at risk to being hungry over the weekend,” said Andy Noel, Cornell Director of Athletics & Physical Education. This gift provides a generous boost to the fundraising efforts of the 2nd Annual Walkin’ the Country event, hosted by Cayuga Radio. The event is taking place from September 9th -13th. Q Country morning host, Chris Allinger, is walking across Tompkins County with a backpack to raise funds for the Food Bank’s BackPack Program™. Funds will be raised through gifts per mile leading up to the event, but also through events and individuals Chris encounters on his walk. The idea is to fill the backpack as Chris walks over 100 miles across Tompkins County! Last year’s event raised nearly $20,000! Gifts for the 2nd Annual Walkin’ the Country event to support the BackPack Program™ can be provided online or, as Allinger says, “You can meet me on the road!” To make a secure online gift or view the schedule of Allinger’s stops throughout Tompkins County, visit the Q Country’s website (1037QCountry.com). In 2012, over 200 children participated in the BackPack Program™ each week in Tompkins County. The Food Bank’s BackPack Program™ provides healthy, child-friendly, and easy to prepare foods to children at risk of hunger over weekends and holiday breaks when children do not have access to free or reduced price school meal programs. During the 2011-2012 school year, the BackPack Program™ served a total of 26 school districts across Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Tompkins counties. The program provided food to 1,881 children in need each week. To learn more about how you can make a difference in the fight against hunger, visit the Food Bank’s website at www.foodbankst.org or call 607.796.6061.

A regional agency of Catholic Charities and a member of Feeding America ABOUT THE FOOD BANK OF THE SOUTHERN TIER

Each week, over 11,000 individuals visit a hunger-relief member agency served by the Food Bank of the Southern Tier. Established in 1981 and headquartered in Elmira, NY, the Food Bank of the Southern Tier distributes food and other grocery products to people in need through a network of more than 160 member agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger relief organizations in Broome, Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Tompkins Counties. The Food Bank also administers several direct service food distribution programs including the BackPack Program™ and Mobile Food Pantry. The Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and a regional agency of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester. The Food Bank helps fulfill Catholic Charities’ commitment to create a just and compassionate society rooted in the dignity of all people by working together to build and sustain hunger free communities throughout the Southern Tier.