Feinstein Offers $1 Million Challenge to Help Fight Hunger

More than $350 million has been raised towards his $1 billion goal

CHICAGO --- March 1, 2005 --- For the eighth consecutive year, Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein will donate $1 million to hunger relief agencies nationwide through his Challenge to Help Fight Hunger initiative.

Mr. Feinstein is asking food banks and other hunger-relief organizations to use his donation to help raise additional funds from other sources. "I'm asking food banks and food pantries to raise as much money as possible between March 1 and April 30, 2005," said Mr. Feinstein. "I want them to use my contributions to jump start their spring fund-raising drives. The more money they raise, the larger their share of my $1 million they will receive. Agencies are eligible to receive up to $50,000 each."

Many agencies have reported that featuring the Feinstein Challenge in their mail and telephone solicitations has resulted in substantially increased donations, sometimes doubling or tripling funds raised during the same two-month period in previous years.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the America's Second Harvest Network and other organizations dedicated to feeding the nation's hungry," said Robert Forney, President and CEO of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network.

Feinstein's says that his previous $1 million Challenges to Fight Hunger have raised a combined total of more than $350 million nationwide. He has pledged to continue his annual programs until $1 billion has been raised.

Hunger-relief organizations should visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org for details. 

The Feinstein $1 million dollars will be divided proportionately among all qualifying agencies, with a maximum donation of $50,000 to any one organization.  Checks will be mailed on June 30, 2005.

America's Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a Network of more than 200 regional Member food banks and food-rescue programs serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The Network secures and distributes nearly two billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. The America's Second Harvest Network supports approximately 50,000 feeding agencies nationwide, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, and Kids Cafes. These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 23 million hungry Americans, including more than nine million children and nearly three million seniors each year.  For more information on America's Second Harvest, visit www.secondharvest.org.

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