PRESS RELEASE: More Corporations and Foundations Step Up to Address Hunger in Washington

PRESS RELEASE: More Corporations and Foundations Step Up to Address Hunger in Washington

WA Food Fund image with a man in hygiene mask and gloves delivering bag of food standing in a doorway
October 6, 2020
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Sean Wherley, 858-357-1609
swherley@wearerally.com 

More Corporations and Foundations 
Step Up to Address Hunger in Washington 

October is “Hunger Awareness Month;” Need for Food Assistance Continues
to Rise Due to COVID-19

SEATTLE – With 1 in 5 Washingtonians at risk of going hungry by year’s end, corporations and nonprofit foundations are responding by generously donating to the WA Food Fund (campaign ended in 2021). 

“Battling hunger is going to be a moving target during the coming months,” said Kiran Ahuja, CEO of Philanthropy Northwest, which manages the WA Food Fund. “Millions of our neighbors in Washington still don’t have enough to eat, and that need will continue with high unemployment rates. We deeply appreciate the support of our corporate and philanthropic donors to make sure no child goes to bed hungry, and that families and workers find a sure footing again.”

Gov. Jay Inslee and Philanthropy Northwest launched the WA Food Fund on April 7 to raise funds to keep food banks and pantries across the state stocked. Recent corporate and foundation contributions include: 

  • Ballmer Group — $2,000,000
  • Laird Norton Family Foundation — $475,000
  • Benevity — $322,500
  • Windermere Foundation — $147,000
  • Arakawa Foundation — $100,000
  • Raikes Family Foundation — $50,000
  • Bohemian Foundation — $50,000
  • Quiet Harbor — $50,000
  • CVS Health — $25,000
  • Satterberg Foundation — $25,000
  • Bill & Paul Clapp Fund — $25,000
  • David Habib — $25,000
  • TEW Foundation — $25,000
  • Anheuser-Busch — $25,000
  • Higashiyama Family Charitable Fund — $15,000
  • Tim Crosby — $15,000

Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses to close in early March, more than 1.3 million people have filed for unemployment in Washington. Food bank officials recently stated that 1 in 5 Washington residents could face hunger by the end of this year. 

Donations to the WA Food Fund are directed to three organizations which supply food pantries across the state: Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest and Second Harvest.  

 

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WA Food Fund is a coordinated, statewide food relief fund designed to help people in need across Washington. It is managed by Philanthropy Northwest and donations are directed to three organizations which supply food pantries across the state: Food Lifeline, Northwest Harvest and Second Harvest.