On January 27, 2010, members of the Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers presented a donation totaling $600 to the Community Food Bank

From left to right are Cathy Greer, Treasurer, Linda Hampton, CFB Special Events Coordinator and Steve Gallego, President.

The Southern Arizona Telecom Pioneers have been long time supporters of the Community Food Bank.

Members of the Hifaluntin Red Hatters & Red Hot Flashes presented Community Food Bank President/CEO, Bill Carnegie with a check for $1,748.00 on Sunday, January 10, 2010. The presentation was made at the 3:00 PM performance of the Gaslight Theatre production of “The Cisco Kid.”   334 pounds of food was also donated.

Tucson, Arizona (December 22, 2009)— The Community Food Bank has once again been chosen by the employee-owners  at GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. as the recipient of a significant holiday gift.  A check in the amount of $6040 was presented to Food Bank CEO Bill Carnegie on December 22, just in time to help more local families celebrate the holidays.

Although the Food Bank welcomes gifts of canned or packaged goods, Carnegie says the agency is especially appreciative of cash gifts because each donor dollar can be used to distribute $9.00 worth of food.  The Community Food Bank has been awarded a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, which tracks fiscal management among U.S. charitable organizations, because 97 cents of every dollar donated to the Community Food Bank goes for food and related programs.

GLHN Architects & Engineers, Inc. is an employee-owned, multidiscipline firm located at 2939 East Broadway Boulevard in Tucson.  Established in 1963 with one architect and one engineer, the firm now has over 70 professionals and support staff.  GLHN is nationally known for its innovative approach to utility master planning and infrastructure distribution, phased renovation projects; educational, medical and laboratory facilities; and full systems commissioning.  Visit GLHN on the Web at www.glhn.com.

The Silhouettes Oldies But Goodies Dance Group presented a check for $500 to Jack Parris of the Community Food Bank on November 23, 2009.  The money was raised at a Silhouettes dance held on November 8^th at the El Casino Ballroom.

Pictures from left to right

Top row are Freddie Santa Cruz, Jack Parris and Richard Gullen.

Bottom row are Sam Lopez and Olga Gullen.

Pauline Hechler accepts the check from Sherry Jordan of the Casas Adobes Optimist Club.

From left to right Kate Randall and Trudy Mills from Antigone Books present Michael Dorer, Chair of the Community Food Bank Board of Directors with checks totaling $8004.53.

The proceeds were from the Antigone Books Presents: Barbara Kingsolver.  The fund raising event took place on Friday, November 13, 2009 and featured Barbara Kingsolver reading from her new book, The Lucana.

The Community Food Bank’s annual holiday food drive received a powerful boost last week when Tucson Electric Power teamed up with 94.9 MIX-FM for “Thanksgiving on the Mayflower.” Generous Tucsonans contributed three times the food and funds of any previous food drive.

Donors to the Nov. 19th food drive and fundraiser contributed more than 7,200 pounds of food and nearly $60,000 in cash. When combined with TEP’s matching funds, the money will allow the Community Food Bank to provide food enough food to assist our community through the holidays.

TEP had originally committed to match contributions up to $25,000, an amount that was expected to cover all cash contributions to the drive. But with enthusiasm so great and the need for Community Food Bank services so clear, TEP chose to dig deep and match the entire $59,095.60 in cash donations.

“The enthusiasm from people donating food and money during this event was overwhelming. We believe this is the largest amount of money donated to a food bank during a one-day drive in the history of Arizona,” said Bill Carnegie, President and CEO of the Community Food Bank. “We can’t thank residents of this community or TEP enough for their leadership in helping us to provide food to more than 200,000 people a month.”

The event, held in a parking lot at East Broadway Boulevard and North Swan Road, was promoted on MIX-FM throughout the day by Bobby Rich and others who encouraged Tucson residents to drop off canned goods and monetary donations. Volunteers from MIX-FM, TEP and the food bank gathered beneath a Community Food Bank banner that hung from the boom of a TEP bucket truck and collected cans and donations from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Donors streamed in throughout the day with contributions that ranged from a jar of quarters to checks for $5,000. Food servers from a local restaurant donated their tips for the day. Children brought and donated the pennies, nickels and dimes in their piggy banks. Many donors said they were spurred to give more by TEP’s pledge to match cash donations dollar for dollar.

“We’re truly impressed by the generosity of Tucson residents,” said Paul J. Bonavia, Chairman, President and CEO of TEP and its parent company, UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS). “All of us at TEP are proud to play a part in helping the neediest members of our community. The resources raised through this record-setting food drive will go a long way toward easing hunger this holiday season.”

Cash contributions are especially valuable to the Community Food Bank. Thanks to the agency’s buying power and the support of its suppliers, every $1 donation allows the food bank to distribute almost $9 in food – enough for about four meals. More than 97 cents of every dollar donated to the Community Food Bank goes to food and programs.

“We are opening every morning to a line of hundreds of folks, and the agencies we supply are seeing an increase in families needing assistance. Keeping adequate food on hand to have nutritious food boxes is a constant challenge,” said Carnegie. “A donation this big makes an incredible difference. We are so grateful for the support.”

For more information contact Jack Parris at (520) 622-0525 x 215 or by Cell at (520) 444-5412.

Pictured here are two Third Grade Classes from St. Michael’s Parish Day School.  The classes held a bake sale on November 6, 2009 and raised $508.65 which they donated to the Community Food Bank

On October 13, 2009 the Radisson Suites Hotel, 6555 E. Speedway, presented the Community Food Bank a check for $3,000 from a summer promotion. Guests were asked to upgrade to a premium mountain view suite for $10 and that amount went to the Community Food Bank.

Pictured from left to right are Mr. Lee Gambrell, General Manager and Pauline Hechler, Vice President of Development.

The Community Food Bank will be one of many worthy organizations given a helping hand on October 8, 2009 when Actus Lend Lease, part of the Lend Lease Group, holds their annual Community Day.

Lend Lease Community Day encourages all Lend Lease employees around the world to give something back to the communities in which they live and work.  World wide, other Lend Lease groups completed Community Day activities on Sept 24, 2009.

Employees nominate their own project and create small teams to work with the community group or cause.  Activities can include helping senior citizens, the homeless people, people with disabilities, the environment, working with children/youth and animals.

Community Day is about using employees’ time, energy and skills, and the experience helps to create a strong team spirit, and employees unanimously agree – this is an immensely rewarding experience.

Around 30 employees from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base location of the Lend Lease Group will converge on the Community Food Bank farm in Marana and warehouse in Tucson on October 8 to weed gardens, pick produce, and pack food boxes.

Vicki Becker, team leader of the group, said the Community Food Bank project was chosen because of a commitment to develop enduring relationships with solid organizations that have a positive impact on the community.

“Actus Lend Lease and Soaring Heights Communities are proud to be a part of the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Tucson.  We are committed to preserving the places in which we do business.  Volunteering with the food bank helps us to preserve our community for future generations, financially, environmentally and socially.  We have begun what we hope to be a long-term relationship with the Community Food Bank that will encompass an ongoing virtual food drive as well as other hands on projects to come,” said Vicki.

This is Lend Lease’s 14th consecutive Community Day, and since the initiative began in 1996, employees have volunteered over 425,000 hours.

For further information please contact:

Vicki Becker/ Administrative Assistant/ Actus Lend Lease LLC
Direct 520 748 3308/ fax 520 748 3323
3435 South Mustang Drive
Tucson, AZ 85708