Real Estate Breakfast Recognizing Growth In Newark

HILLSIDE, NJ – The Community FoodBank of New Jersey hosted its inaugural Real Estate Breakfast on Wednesday, June 14, at the historic Hahne’s Building to honor Prudential Financial’s commitment to the redevelopment of its headquarters city of Newark and to the FoodBank.

The FoodBank recognized Prudential’s commitment to supporting organizations and initiatives that enable all people to access opportunity and improve their financial well-being. In Newark, Prudential has made more than $1 billion in impact investments and grants, including $500 million to the company’s new office Tower in downtown, to enhance the city’s civic infrastructure, boost economic development and create an environment where economic opportunity is available for all.

This commitment to Newark also includes a partnership with the FoodBank that began in 1988. Since then, Prudential has provided almost $3 million in total funding to the FoodBank plus hundreds of employee volunteers each year. Additionally, Prudential is a long-standing supporter of the FoodBank’s Food Service Training Academy which helps residents prepare for jobs in the culinary industry. The free, 16-week culinary and life skills program addresses the root cause of hunger – poverty – by providing students with marketable tools that lead to a living wage.

Essex County has New Jersey’s highest rate of food insecurity, which means people don’t always know where their next meal will come from or if they will have something to eat. And the poverty rate in Newark is close to three times as high as the state’s average.

“The Community FoodBank of New Jersey and Prudential have many things in common,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Both of their founders – Kathleen DiChiara and John Dryden – were committed to helping the working poor and to providing services and resources for everyone. Prudential’s investments in Newark are far-reaching for the state of New Jersey, and its contributions to the FoodBank – supporting our programs through funding and volunteer efforts – impact the lives of our neighbors in need every day. Prudential exemplifies a company with social responsibility and a commitment to the city of Newark.”

The FoodBank is deeply grateful to Hahne & Co. and L + M Development Partners for the event space.

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