Media

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Ozarks Region Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) recognized National Philanthropy Day on Friday, Nov. 18 at Highland Springs, honoring Kraft Foods, Inc. as the Corporation of the Year and the Roy W. Slusher Foundation as Foundation of the Year. Both award recipients were nominated by the community food bank, Ozarks Food Harvest.

“Kraft Foods and the Slusher Foundation are instrumental partners in the fight against hunger in southwest Missouri,” said Denise Gibson, development and communications director at Ozarks Food Harvest. “We appreciate their continued support of The Food Bank, our network of agencies and those we serve.”

Kraft Foods, Inc. has donated a total of more than 1.3 million pounds of food to Ozarks Food Harvest since 1995. The corporation also makes regular financial contributions to The Food Bank through grants, corporate giving and employee fund drives. Kraft recently made an in-kind donation of a semi-tractor to Ozarks Food Harvest, the company hosts food drives, sends employees to volunteer at The Food Bank and delivers product donations to OFH, saving valuable time and resources that would have been spent to pick up donations.

The Roy W. Slusher Foundation has supported Ozarks Food Harvest in the fight against hunger for more than 15 years.  Through its continuous support and dedication, the Slusher Foundation has supported the Weekend Backpack Program since its inception. This program provides underprivileged children with backpacks full of nutritious food for them to take home every weekend, when they do not have access to their free and reduced school meal programs, and would otherwise go hungry. The Foundation also supports The Food Bank’s Kids Cafe program, Mobile Food Pantry program and general hunger relief services across the Ozarks.

Other award winners included Bill R. Foster, Philanthropist of the Year Award; Bonnie Bell, Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year; 417 Magazine, Outstanding Media Organization of the Year; and Dr. Pat Dix of CoxHealth, Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation’s (OHAF) Child Health Advocate of the Year.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving more than 300 hunger relief organizations across 28 Ozarks counties in addition to long-term relief sites in Joplin. The Food Bank reaches 20,000 individuals weekly and distributes one million pounds of food monthly. OFH was named the 2011 Small Business of the Year by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org and at facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest.