Funding Will Support Feeding America® and Nearly 200 Other Organizations Across the Country
CANTON, Mass. (December 20, 2017) – With the holidays upon us, the Joy in Childhood FoundationSM is making a special gift to help address critical child health and hunger needs. The Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, today announced a new $2.7 million commitment to help bring joy to sick and hungry children. As part of this commitment, a $1 million grant will be awarded to Feeding America®, the largest domestic hunger-relief organization, and $1.7 million in grants from local Joy in Childhood Foundation Chapters will be distributed to nearly 200 non-profit organizations in local communities, including Boston, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia and New York, that address children’s health and hunger issues.
In 2017 alone, including this most recent grant, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has awarded over $5 million in grants to help bring joy to sick and hungry kids nationwide.
“The Joy in Childhood Foundation brings joy to kids year-round, but to have an opportunity to bring joy to kids facing hunger and health issues during the holiday season is very special to us,” said Karen Raskopf, Co-Chair, Joy in Childhood Foundation. “We know that this time of year can be difficult for children and their families and it’s also an especially busy time for the food banks and health organizations they rely on. Our new commitment will help ensure that children in our local communities who are facing hunger and health issues can experience the joy of the holidays – just like any other child – without having adult-like worries, such as where their next meal will come from.”
The $2.7 million in funding reinforces the Joy in Childhood Foundation’s commitment to bringing joy to sick and hungry kids nationwide. Earlier this year, the Joy in Childhood Foundation announced a three-year, $3 million commitment to Feeding America and Starlight Children’s Foundation®.
“We are very grateful for the generous support we have received from the Joy in Childhood Foundation and are proud of the impact we’ve been able to make in the lives of children facing hunger,” said Nancy Curby, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships and Operations, Feeding America. “The holiday season is a critical time for our network of food banks. The support we are receiving will help us provide programs that will bring joy to millions of children nationwide who face hunger and will help keep them healthy so they can reach their full potential.”
In the 2016 – 2017 school year, the Foundation helped provide more than 2.4 million pounds of food – the equivalent of more than 1.4 million meals – to children and families struggling with hunger in communities nationwide through grants made to the Feeding America network of member food banks. Feeding America and the Joy in Childhood Foundation have partnered together for over a decade to help fight hunger.
To learn more about the Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit http://www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation.
About the Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins brands, provides the simple joys of childhood to sick and hungry kids. The Foundation brings together a wide range of stakeholders — including franchisees, crew members, employees, partners and guests — and partners with food banks, children’s hospitals, and nonprofit organizations directly committed to serving sick and hungry kids to fund joyful environments, joyful experiences and joyful expressions to ensure that children whose lives are compromised by hunger or sickness have the support and essential services to find joy in their daily lives. Since launching in 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation (formerly the Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation), has granted more than $16 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 46 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
