2009 Campaign Raises Record Number of Meals

Thanks to the support of more than 200 organizations, the community raised over 4.5 million meals!

Operation Feed in 2009 centered on a theme of “challenges” – economic challenges, challenges for organizations and industries to join forces in the fight against hunger and a challenge for everyone to support those currently facing difficulties and needing help.

In 2009, more than 200 organizations faced and tackled these challenges, working together to raise over 4.5 million meals and exceed the previous campaign’s result by more than 5 percent.

The campaign finale, held September 24, brought together coordinators, Foodbank representatives and community leaders at the Ohio Governor’s Residence to celebrate the overwhelming success of the campaign effort.

Awards were presented to eleven outstanding campaigns:

• Open Text Corporation, Most Meals per Capita (1-249 employees). During their week- long campaign, 43 associates raised nearly $5,000.00. A corporate match for every dollar donated helped them reach 444 meals per employee.
• Bob Evans Farms, Inc., Most Meals Per Capita (250- 999 employees). With a number of fun activities like a Dodge Ball tournament, a corporate contribution and participation in Foodfight6.30, Bob Evans employees raised 327 meals per employee.
• Nationwide, Most Meals Per Capita (1000 or more employees). With a unique year round campaign that involves all of the Nationwide campuses, over 11,000 employees donated 105 meals each.
• School Employees Retirement System, Largest Percentage Increase (1-249 employees). To increase the number of meals raised in 2009, SERS teams competed to collect the most macaroni and cheese and then used the boxes for a competition to build the tallest tower. This challenge, combined with Dress Down Days for charity, helped SERS raise nearly 5,500 meals – an increase of 247%.
• Porter Wright Morris and Arthur, Largest Percentage Increase (250 – 999 employees). Winners of a five-floor competition got to participate in a “jeans” Friday as well as attend a happy hour sponsored by the firm. A prize of a $50 gift card to the person giving the most on each floor and a “pay to wear jeans” option helped Porter Wright Morris and Arthur raise over 9,000 meals – a 244% increase over 2008.
• Alliance Data, Largest Percentage Increase (1000 or more employees). Using a company-wide silent auction combined with activities designed to accommodate three different work environments – office, call center and warehouse – Alliance Data raised over 43,000 meals – an increase of 193% over the previous campaign.
• CompManagement, Inc., Award of Excellence. Events like e-mail bingo and a mini-carnival helped employees to raise over 30,000 meals. A company match brought their campaign total to over 60,000 meals – 130 meals per capita and an 83% increase over 2008.
• Dinsmore & Shohl, Outstanding New Campaign. At the close of their 5- day campaign, associates of this law firm had raised 9,400 meals. Realizing they were only a few hundred dollars from reaching 10,000 meals, one attorney issued a challenge. Others responded, and this 88 employee firm raised over 10,000 meals.
• Columbus Bar Association, Outstanding Virtual Food Drive. By embracing this new on-line tool to reach out to members not already involved in Operation Feed, the CBA raised nearly 5,000 meals.
• Central Ohio Restaurant Association, Outstanding Community Partner. The economy has affected members of this association more than many other industries. Restaurateurs, however, saw an opportunity to help feed people in need and Foodfight6.30 was born. In partnership with area restaurants, CORA generated over 40,000 meals to benefit Operation Feed.
• State of Ohio Employees, Director’s Choice Award. In spite of tough decisions being made because of the State budget cuts, employees had their most successful campaign to date, increasing the number of meals raised by nearly 60,000. State employees raised almost 450,000 meals – a 15% increase over 2008.

55 organizations were recognized for contributing at the Benchmark* level in 2009:

121st Air Refueling Wing   ♦   Alliance Data   ♦   American Commerce Insurance Company
American Electric Power   ♦   Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield   ♦   Baker Hostetler
Big Lots Stores, Inc   ♦   Bob Evans Farms, Inc.   ♦   Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP
Century Insurance Group   ♦   City of Columbus Employees   ♦   Columbus Montessori Parent Association
Commerce National Bank   ♦   Community Research Partners   ♦   CompManagement/Sedgwick CMS
COSI   ♦   The Crane Group Companies   ♦   Deloitte & Touche   ♦   Dinsmore & Shohl
Franklin County Employees   ♦   Franklin University   ♦   GC Services   ♦   Hahn Loeser + Parks LLP
JC Penney Company   ♦   Jones Day   ♦   KD Yoder & Associates   ♦   Lifeline of Ohio
Lutheran Social Services   ♦   The McGraw-Hill Companies—Blacklick
McGraw-Hill Education—Easton   ♦   Mid-Ohio Foodbank   ♦   Motorists Mutual Insurance Company
National City Bank   ♦   Nexergy   ♦   North Central Mental Health Services
Online Computer Library Center, Inc.   ♦   Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing Company
Palmetto GBA   ♦   Park National Bank   ♦   Paychex   ♦   Porter Wright Morris & Arthur
Remminger Company   ♦   Resource Interactive   ♦   Ruscilli Construction Company, Inc.
SC Search Consultants   ♦   School Employees Retirement System   ♦   State Auto Insurance Company
United Commercial Travelers of America   ♦   UPS—Columbus ASC   ♦   Value City Furniture
Village of New Albany   ♦   Wasserstrom Company   ♦   WesBanco Bank
Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder & Bringardner   ♦   WW Williams

* Benchmark level contributors have successfully reached goals suggested by program staff,
based on average Operation Feed campaign meals raised per capita.