Encana Staff Saddles up to Support Calgary Food Bank in Race Against Hunger

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - July 13, 2011) - For a second year, there was a unique Stampede spirit spreading among employees at Encana Corporation today as they gathered together at the company's Stampede barbeque to support the Calgary Food Bank by offering donations of non-perishable food or cash in support of Encana's Race Against Hunger campaign.

Encana wasn't leaving it all up to its staff though, as the company also presented a cheque to the Calgary Food Bank for $50,000.

The Race Against Hunger was launched last year to raise food, cash and awareness for local food banks during the summer months, often when need can outpace donations. The program, which has had successful food drives in some areas of Alberta and B.C. where Encana operates, was expanded this year to include a presence at the Calgary Co-op Kitchen Theatre during the Calgary Stampede. Vying for bragging rights and the title of Food Driver of the Year, World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) drivers also got in on the program action. Encana will crown the driver who raises the most donations later this summer.

"We have a remarkable and generous Stampede spirit among our staff at Encana. Last year we had more than 1,100 staff attend the Race Against Hunger barbecue and we gathered more than two tonnes of food and over $5,000 in cash donations," says Mike Forgo, Vice-President of Business Services and Stakeholder Relations at Encana. "We hope this year we can leave those numbers in the dust and have an even stronger impact for the Food Bank."

As a champion of the Calgary Food Bank for many years, Encana has contributed more than $400,000, mainly through employee volunteer efforts as well as matching employee donations through the company's Encana Cares program.

"The Race Against Hunger campaign is part of how we give back to the communities where we live and work," says Patricia Etris, Lead of Community Involvement at Encana. "With the Calgary Food Bank's ability to convert every dollar donated into four dollars worth of food, Encana's $50,000 donation alone will mean $200,000 worth of food. That will go a long way to help people in need."

The Calgary Food Bank gathers and distributes quality emergency food to individuals and other service providers. Last year more than 140,000 Calgarians received emergency food; 41% were children. Please join the Race Against Hunger and remember your local food bank this summer.

This release is transmitted courtesy of Marketwire.