Published: November 24, 2009
Humana Awards $100,000 Atlanta Benefits Grant To The Atlanta Community Food Bank
ATLANTA - (BUSINESS WIRE) - More than 400,000 Atlanta and North Georgia residents, half of whom are
children, either live with or are on the verge of hunger, and the number
of families going to churches and food pantries seeking help to feed
their families has increased approximately 10 percent over the past year.
Recognizing that access to nutritious food creates healthier, more
nourished communities, Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), one of Atlanta's leading
providers of health benefits, has awarded the Atlanta Community Food
Bank with a $100,000 grant through its fifth annual Atlanta Benefits
program, funded by The Humana Foundation.
The Atlanta
Community Food Bank currently distributes nearly 22 million pounds
of food and grocery items each month to more than 800 nonprofit partner
agencies in 38 counties in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.
"The Atlanta Community Food Bank is so thankful to Humana for the grant
that will allow us to help secure more food for individuals, families
and communities in Atlanta and northern Georgia," said Bill Bolling,
executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. "These funds will
go a long way in making a difference, most notably helping to create a
new food co-op that will help hundreds of thousands of vulnerable
Georgians make healthy food choices that are usually out of their reach."
The food co-op, started with the grant money provided by Humana, will
offer low-cost food and other necessities to 800 partner agencies,
further stretching their limited budgets. Items such as shelf-stable
milk, peanut butter, canned and frozen meats, and other high-protein
foods will soon become available to Georgians served by the Food Bank.
"On behalf of Humana's Atlanta Benefits program, I am honored to
recognize and support the work of the Atlanta Community Food Bank," said
Humana's Georgia Commercial Operations Market President Dan Feruck.
"Humana is proud to contribute the funds that will put healthier meals
on the plates of so many Georgians."
A panel of local judges, comprised of community leaders, public
officials and business representatives, worked with Humana to select the
Atlanta Community Food Bank as the recipient of the $100,000 Atlanta
Benefits grant, awarded at a celebratory gala on Nov. 19, 2009, at the
Piedmont Park, Greystone, in Atlanta.
Atlanta Benefits also named two co-runners up: The Lionheart School and
Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, each of which received
$10,000 grants. The
Lionheart School, a nonprofit organization that provides a
developmentally appropriate program for children on the autism spectrum
and other disorders of relating and communicating, will use the funds to
support Lionheart Gardens, an organic garden project.
The Marcus
Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, a community meeting place that
offers educational, cultural, social and recreational activities, will
use the funds to help increase opportunities for children and adults
with special needs to participate in arts and culturally based programs.
"Over the last year, the economy has left many Atlanta-area nonprofits
and charities struggling to keep up with the increased demand of those
in need," explained Sandra Harris, director of account management
for Humana's Georgia commercial operations and co-chair of Atlanta
Benefits. "Through Humana, Atlanta Benefits is proud to make a tangible
difference, ensuring that the people and communities of Atlanta remain
happy and healthy during this challenging time."
About Atlanta Benefits
Atlanta Benefits is designed to give local, nonprofit 501(c)(3)
charitable organizations the opportunity to receive a one-time grant to
create new programs or enhance ongoing activities. Atlanta Benefits
supports nonprofit organizations located in the Atlanta metropolitan
area that address one of three areas:
-
Mind: Projects or institutions that seek to improve the
educational landscape, resulting in higher levels of achievement
-
Body: Projects or human service agencies engaged in the
promotion of healthy bodies and lifestyles
-
Spirit: Projects or civic and cultural development
organizations that seek to inspire communities and enliven the human
spirit
In 2008, the Atlanta Benefits charitable awards program awarded
grants to three area charities. The Beacon of Hope Renaissance Learning
Center won the signature $100,000 award, enabling the organization to
launch Kids with Strings, a joint initiative with the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra, which aims to bring engaging classical music education into
the lives of Atlanta's at-risk children.
Finalists Atlanta Urban League and Children's Restoration Network also
were honored and each received a $10,000 grant.
Atlanta Benefits is celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2009, with a
legacy of $600,000 awarded since its inception. Atlanta Benefits is part
of Our Communities Benefit, Humana's community giving program, currently
active in eight additional areas: Arizona, Chicago, Greater
Cincinnati, Houston, Kansas City, Louisiana, Tampa Bay and Utah.
Visit www.atlantabenefits.org
for more information.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is one of the nation's
largest publicly traded health and supplemental benefits companies, with
approximately 10.3 million medical members and approximately 7.3 million
specialty-benefit members. Humana is a full-service benefits solutions
company, offering a wide array of health and supplemental benefit plans
for employer groups, government programs and individuals.
Over its 48-year history, Humana has consistently seized opportunities
to meet changing customer needs. Today, the company is a leader in
consumer engagement, providing guidance that leads to lower costs and a
better health plan experience throughout its diversified customer
portfolio.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the
Investor Relations page of the company's web site at http://www.humana.com,
including copies of:
-
Annual reports to stockholders
-
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
-
Most recent investor conference presentations
-
Quarterly earnings news releases
-
Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
-
Calendar of events (includes upcoming earnings conference call dates
and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and
institutional investors)
-
Corporate Governance Information
Humana Corporate Communications
Nancy Hanewinckel, 941-539-6508
nhanewinckel@humana.com
www.atlantabenefits.org
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