Community FoodBank of New Jersey Receives Morgan Stanley Grant to Expand Program Delivering Nutritious Meals to Children

HILLSIDE, NJ – The Community FoodBank of New Jersey today announced a $50,000 grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation to fund its Kids Cafe program, which provides nourishing meals and snacks, as well as educational, recreational and social activities, to low-income children after school. Employees from area branches presented the check and volunteered at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey as part of Morgan Stanley’s “Feeding Kids Around the Clock” initiative, a full day of activities across the globe to help fight childhood hunger

The Foundation is awarding a total of $750,000 in grants this month to food banks across the country. Employees from the firm are also volunteering today in 40 different locations, including the Community FoodBank of New Jersey’s Hillside warehouse, to pack and sort food in preparation for the summer, when four out of five children who typically receive reduced-price or free school meals lose that regular access to nutrition. Through its partnership with Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 food banks, the Foundation has given more than $21 million to help launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding programs, including summer feeding programs.

“We are thrilled to receive this important grant from the Morgan Stanley Foundation in support of our work to deliver more nutritious meals to children and families across New Jersey,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Through our Kids Cafe program, we provide nourishing after-school meals to thousands of children who might otherwise go to bed on empty stomachs. This is all possible thanks to partners like Morgan Stanley that impact our hunger-relief efforts with generous contributions and many hours volunteering, allowing us to make sure kids have the healthy food they need to just be kids.”

“We are honored to be able to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in its important fight against child hunger,” said Morgan Stanley Complex Director William Shinners. “We are delighted to extend our support through this grant and provide even more children with the foods they need to learn, grow and thrive.”

“Grants like this from Morgan Stanley make a vital difference in our efforts to provide children with the nutritious meals they need every day,” said Andy Wilson, Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. “More than 13 million children in the United States live at risk of hunger. Together, we can solve hunger and ensure that children have the fuel they need to grow healthy and strong.”

Morgan Stanley employees were scheduled to participate in “Feeding Kids Around the Clock” events in more than 40 locations in the United States.

ABOUT: The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, a member of Feeding America®, provides people across the state with food, help and hope. The FoodBank distributed over 43 million pounds of food last year to its more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the FoodBank’s network of partners. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials that people need to survive.

CONTACT: Mary Faddoul, Communications Manager, mfaddoul@cfbnj.org / 908-355-3663 ext. 282