DALLAS, Aug. 29, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North Texas Food Bank today announced a $25,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to fund its Food 4 Kids program, a child hunger initiative that helps to make sure chronically hungry kids are fed when they are not in school.
The grant is part of the latest phase in Morgan Stanley's more than $14 million commitment to Feeding America and its network of 200 local food banks that distribute millions of meals every year to children and families across the United States. As part of the initiative, Morgan Stanley will award more than $4 million over three years to local food banks—like the North Texas Food Bank—to launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding programs.
"We are thrilled to receive this important grant from Morgan Stanley in support of our efforts to deliver more nutritious meals to children and families in Dallas and the surrounding communities we serve," said Jan Pruitt, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. "Morgan Stanley is a terrific partner for our organization. We are grateful for this grant and for the Morgan Stanley employees who show their support by spending time volunteering at the North Texas Food Bank."
North Texas Food Bank's Food 4 Kids program works by putting nutritious food directly into the hands of chronically hungry children. Each weekend the kids receive kid friendly shelf stable foods that meet more than 60% of their nutritional needs. With this program, chronically hungry children can get the nutrition they need when they are not in school.
"We are honored to be able to help the North Texas Food Bank in its important fight against child hunger," said Morgan Stanley Executive Director Benjamin Fujihara. "Giving back to the communities where we live and work is one of Morgan Stanley's core values."
Nationwide, child hunger is a critical problem. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, nearly 16 million children in the U.S. live in households where someone lacks access to the minimum amounts of nutritious food considered necessary for a healthy life. Feeding America's most recent Map the Meal Gap research indicates more than one in five children in 36 states and Washington D.C. live in food insecure households. Many of these children do not have access to enough nutritious food to learn, grow and thrive.
About the North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit relief organization, and the largest North Texas charity. Each day, the North Texas Food Bank provides access to 170,000 meals for hungry children, seniors and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and 262 Partner Agencies. In fiscal year 2014, NTFB provided access to some 62 million meals. NTFB recently has announced a 10-year vision to eliminate the hunger gap in its 13-county service area. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization
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