GSF Foundation Helps 80,000 Children in Need
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Nearly 80 percent of associates across the Golden State Foods family of companies gave their time, talent and treasure in 2019 to help more than 80,000 children in need through programs and grantmaking. Collectively, GSF Foundation volunteers donated 6,400 hours serving the communities where GSF associates live and work.
"At the heart of GSF Foundation is all of us rolling up our sleeves to do good together. What a remarkable impact associates have made on the lives of our neighbors in need this year. I look forward to collaborating with all of our local committees on the associate-led efforts ahead of us in the new year."
– GSF
Foundation Executive Director Tess McAnena
Back(pack) to School: 10,000 kids received backpacks and school supplies
This backpack donation program provides first-grade students in need with a backpack filled with essential supplies, so they can begin the school year ready to learn, do homework and participate in class. Providing these academic necessities to at-risk children also promotes and encourages attendance as well as boosts self-confidence.
Best Foot Forward: 1,240 pairs of shoes donated
This core Foundation program provides new shoes that enable children to participate in their schools' physical education programs. Having the right shoes to participate in school fitness activities helps combat rapidly increasing obesity rates in at-risk children, which also leads to improved attitudes and greater self-esteem.
Bike Building Program: 300 bikes built
Volunteers provide second-grade and third-grade school children in need with their own, and often very first, bicycle that they build themselves under the guidance of a caring mentor. This program teaches fundamental life skills such as goal setting, safety, the value of hard work to achieve goals, and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through physical activity.
In addition to backpacks, bikes and shoes, Foundation volunteers raised funds for local food banks to provide
138,000 meals
to those in need. In 2020, GSF Foundation will introduce a new core program to continue fighting hunger. Stay tuned for details coming in the months ahead!
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Outstanding 2019 Volunteers
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Thank you to the following associates who contributed the most volunteer hours in 2019. GSF Foundation recognizes these outstanding volunteers:
Joni Smith
(Conyers)
175 volunteer hours
Melissa Nolan
(KanPak Penn Yan)
160 volunteer hours
Crystal Hunt
(KanPak Arkansas City)
144.25 volunteer hours
Pam Osgood
(KanPak Penn Yan)
103 volunteer hours
Janice Jones
(Conyers)
101.75 volunteer hours
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Conyers and Opelika Associates Tee Off
10
th
Annual GSF Foundation Golf Classic
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Golden State Foods associates from Conyers, Georgia and Opelika, Alabama came together in October 2019 to tee off the 10th Annual GSF Foundation Golf Classic at Reynolds Lake Oconee in in Greensboro, Georgia. With 208 golfers on two courses, 90 participating supplier partners and 32 volunteers, the two-day event included a welcome reception, VIP dinner party and silent auction.
In celebration of the golf tournament's milestone year, Foundation volunteers lined up exclusive access to the golf club's members only course, Creek Club, which has never been offered for a public tournament before. The tournament's 52 foursomes included 171 suppliers and 37 GSF associates swinging, putting, chipping and pitching their way around two 18-hole courses.
In thanking the community "fore" all its support, the Foundation gave suppliers who played in the tournament a gift certificate to the golf shop. Six suppliers that sponsored at the $10,000 Hearts, Hands & Hope top level received a custom plaque, along with four $8,000 Rock the House VIP party sponsors.
The GSF Foundation Golf Classic raised a record amount of $136,000 this year, including $16,000 generated by the silent auction alone. The funds will support Foundation core programs like Best Foot Forward and Back(pack) to School, as well as local activities benefitting Ronald McDonald House, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, A Child's Voice Advocacy, Boys & Girls Haven and more.
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Welcome, GSF Foundation Salt Lake City!
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Congratulations to our newest Foundation volunteers, and thank you for your commitment to improving the quality of life of children and families in need in your community.
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GSF Foundation In the News
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GSF Foundation Makes Back to School Brighter
Now in its eleventh year, GSF Foundation’s Back(Pack) to School Initiative helps thousands of children start the school year on the right track. Volunteers across the United States helped donate and deliver backpacks filled with school supplies to 10,000 students in 2019.
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KanPak's "Taste of Childhood Hunger"
In November 2019,
GSF Foundation
volunteers from two KanPak facilities helped combat childhood hunger with Feeding Hunger: A “No Lunch” Lunch events in Arkansas City, Kansas and Penn Yan, New York. The events raised awareness and a combined $26,453 for their local food banks.
Read more about the Penn Yan event in the
Finger Lakes Times
story
here
.
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In January, Foundation volunteers in Southern California's City of Industry and Irvine locations held "souper bowl" FUNdraisers. Associates made donations, tasted chilis and voted on their favorites!
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"On the Friday before the SuperBowl, we held a chili cook-off during the lunch hour. It was such an easy and fun way to bring together over 60 of our GSF corporate and IT associates. There were over a dozen different chilis to try!"
– GSF Foundation Irvine Volunteer Juhi Dalal
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Program and Development Specialist
Vanessa Hugon
joined GSF Foundation in November 2019. Based in the Foundation’s Irvine, California headquarters, Vanessa supports all 27 local Foundation committees. Here are five things to know about Vanessa:
- In her previous role at Second Harvest Food Bank in Orange County, California, Vanessa spent four years focused on corporate partnerships and secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to support programs and initiatives for hungry families in need.
- Vanessa grew up in Orange County and played soccer for eight years through high school.
- She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
- Vanessa enjoys cooking, working out and spending time with her dog, Petey, a rescue.
- In 2020, Vanessa is most excited about launching the Foundation’s new program to fight hunger everywhere that GSF associates live and work.
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"Partnership for Good" Supporters
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Thank you to our newest "Partnership for Good" supporters:
- IBM
- MUFG
- Rabobank
- The Optimus Group
- US Bank
- Wells Fargo
GSF Foundation appreciates the continued support of our 2019 Legacy Circle, Inner Circle and Partner supporters recognized below.
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