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Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma Receives $15,000 Community Impact Grant from New York Life

Jan. 5, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma was awarded a $15,000 Community Impact Grant (CIG) from the New York Life Insurance Company to support its mission to help the charitable community effectively feed people in need.

"As a company, New York Life has long been committed to giving something back to the areas where our agents and employees live and work," said Agent Sherry K. Barton from New York Life's Oklahoma City General Office.

The CIG program, which began in 2008, awards nonprofit organizations that are supported by New York Life agents, field managers and employees and address the needs of the community. In 2009, 43 nonprofits were granted $500,000 through this program.

"We are grateful for New York Life's investment in the Regional Food Bank, which will have a lasting effect on the entire community," said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. "New York Life's continued participation in our programs will benefit many hungry Oklahomans."

More than half a million Oklahomans struggle with hunger every day. In fact, Oklahoma is one of the hungriest states in the nation – ranking sixth in food insecurity.

The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma provides enough food to help feed 63,600 people each week, nearly half of which are children, through network of 700 charitable feeding programs and elementary schools in 53 central and western Oklahoma counties. The majority of those served by the Regional Food Bank are the working poor, seniors and children – and now, the "unemployed poor."

For more information visit New York Life's Web site at NewYorkLife.com. To make a donation, or to volunteer, at the Regional Food Bank call 405.972.1111.

Above: Agent Sherry K. Barton from New York Life's Oklahoma City General Office, and Executive Director Rodney Bivens and Childhood Hunger Programs Director Paula Clayton from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.