Food Bank of Central New York Chief Operating Officer Karen Belcher speaks during the press conference, flanked by Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees and associates.
: Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisee Tom Santurri and Dunkin’ Donuts Field Marketing Manager Eric Stensland present a $20,000 check to Food Bank of Central New York Chief Operating Officer Karen Belcher while accompanied by Cuppie and Dunkin’ Donuts associates.
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK; – The Joy in Childhood Foundation today announced that Food Bank of Central New York is the recipient of a $20,000 grant. Food Bank of Central New York is one of nearly 20 Feeding America® member food banks nationwide to receive funding from the Joy in Childhood Foundation as part of a $1.5 million commitment over three years to support child hunger relief efforts nationwide.
The grant announcement comes two days before Dunkin’ Donuts celebrates the return of “Iced Coffee Day” to Central New York. On Wednesday, May 24, $1 from every cup of iced coffee sold at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants in Central New York will directly benefit Food Bank of Central New York.
Since 2012, “Iced Coffee Day” has generated more than $150,000 for Central New York charities.
“The Joy in Childhood Foundation and Dunkin’ Donuts are pleased to announce a $20,000 grant to Food Bank of Central New York,” said Dunkin’ Donuts Field Marketing Manager Eric Stensland. “We are excited to continue our support of Food Bank of Central New York during our upcoming Iced Coffee Day on May 24. I encourage Central New York residents to cool down with a Dunkin’ Donuts iced coffee while also supporting this great organization.”
In Food Bank of Central New York’s eleven county service area, there are approximately 70,000 children who face hunger. The grant from the Joy in Childhood Foundation will support programs such as the Summer Food Service Program, Kids Café, and School Pantry. These programs aim to reach out to children in need during out-of-school time periods, allowing them to find joy in their daily lives.
“As Food Bank focuses on increasing food security each day for thousands of families we are pleased to partner with Joy in Childhood to help support our child nutrition programs,” said Kathleen Stress, Executive Director at Food Bank of Central New York. “Grant funds will support addressing child hunger across our eleven county service area with a multi-faceted approach: Summer Food Service Program, Kids Cafe, and School Pantry. These approaches support Joy In Childhood Foundation’s mission to directly help children whose lives are compromised by hunger through offering essential services that better enable them to find joy in their daily lives.”
To date, the Joy in Childhood Foundation has awarded over $54,000 to Food Bank of Central New York to help address child hunger issues in Syracuse and the eleven counties they serve.
The Joy in Childhood Foundation had a longstanding partnership with Feeding America when it was formerly known as The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation. In the 2015-2016 school year alone, the Foundation funded 15 grants and provided more than 437,000 meals through grants made to Feeding America and its network of member food banks.
To learn more about the Joy in Childhood Foundation, please visit www.dunkinbrands.com/foundation or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/JoyInChildhoodFoundation/.
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About the Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Joy in Childhood Foundation 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 $12 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.
About Dunkin’ Donuts
Founded in 1950, Dunkin’ Donuts is America’s favorite all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods. Dunkin’ Donuts is a market leader in the hot regular/decaf/flavored coffee, iced coffee, donut, bagel and muffin categories. Dunkin’ Donuts has earned the No. 1 ranking for customer loyalty in the coffee category by Brand Keys for nine years running. The company has more than 12,200 restaurants in 45 countries worldwide. Based in Canton, Mass., Dunkin’ Donuts is part of the Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN) family of companies. For more information, visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.