Lilly Foundation Provides $50,000 Donation to Gleaners Food Bank
Eli Lilly and Company logo. (PRNewsFoto)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN UNITED STATES
More than 200,000 Hoosiers are in need of weekly food assistance
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a recent challenge by
Mayor Greg Ballard for city businesses and organizations to increase support
for local food drives, the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation today announced a
$50,000 gift to Gleaners Food Bank. The donation will be used to purchase and
distribute food to Gleaners' 400 hunger relief charities located in Central
Indiana.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately 213,081 Hoosiers live
in poverty throughout Gleaners' 20-county service area. Nearly half are
seniors and children. With the challenging economy, the number of families
seeking food assistance at local food pantries is up 35 percent.
Lilly employees recently completed an annual food drive, held every
November, which supports two Gleaners' distribution centers -- Billie's Food
Pantry and Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. However, given the challenging
economic circumstances, Lilly's leadership had a desire to do more.
"As the holidays approach and with the demand for basic assistance
continuing to increase, we wanted to make an additional contribution to help
those in need," said Robert Smith, president of the Lilly Foundation. "We are
honored to support Gleaners and the critically important work they do for our
community."
"Lilly's corporate citizenship has always been exemplary," said Gleaners'
president and CEO Pamela Altmeyer. "We're pleased to have them partner with
us to pull together for our less fortunate neighbors."
Information about how to donate food to Gleaners is available online at
www.gleaners.org/fooddrive.shtm or by calling 800-944-9166.
About the Lilly Foundation
The focus of Eli Lilly and Company is to bring innovative medicines to
patients. However, the company knows that its obligations to society extend
beyond the medicines it makes. The Lilly Foundation, which is made possible by
donations of Eli Lilly and Company, is dedicated to improving the lives of
patients and communities we serve. Additional information about the Lilly
Foundation is available at www.lillyfoundation.org.
