MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Ameriprise
Financial, Inc. (NYSE: AMP) today announced a charitable partnership
with Feeding
America, the nation's largest domestic hunger relief organization.
The company will provide an immediate $500,000grant
to supply 3.5 million meals, the equivalent of five million pounds of
food. In addition, Ameriprise Financial has pledged ongoing volunteer
support to Feeding America and its affiliates, with a goal of dedicating
more than 50,000 volunteer hours to hunger relief efforts in 2009.
"According to a recent survey, the food banks our organization serves
have seen demand increase at unprecedented levels - on average, by more
than 30 percent since last year," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO
of Feeding America. "In these difficult economic times, the combined
financial and volunteer support Ameriprise Financial has committed to is
more important than ever. The company's national reach will also enable
us to establish partnerships at the community level, where additional
help is needed most."
"Since selecting basic needs as a core philanthropic priority in late
2007, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of Americans
turning to hunger relief organizations for help," said Brian Pietsch,
head of community relations at Ameriprise Financial. "By partnering the
63,000 agencies supported by Feeding America with our more than 20,000
employees and advisors, we believe we can make powerful strides to help
meet immediate needs and work toward finding long-term solutions."
Beginning today, Ameriprise Financial has also launched a nine-day food
drive in nine of its employee centers. Monetary and food donations
collected during the drive will benefit hunger relief organizations in
the following metropolitan areas: Albany, NY; Detroit; Cambridge, MA;
Green Bay, WI; Kansas City, MO; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York City
and Phoenix.
Additional volunteer initiatives, which will match Ameriprise financial
advisors and employees to hunger relief programs nationwide, are
currently in development.
About Feeding America
(Formerly America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network)
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the
fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic
hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25
million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million
seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food
banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.
For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and
across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.
About Ameriprise Financial Community Relations
Ameriprise Financial is dedicated to utilizing the firm's resources,
talents and volunteer time to improve the lives of individuals and build
strong communities. Through grantmaking, volunteerism and employee and
advisor gift matching programs, the company supports a diverse group of
over 5,000 nonprofits across the country. Additional information on the
company and its Community
Relations initiatives can be found at ameriprise.com.
About Ameriprise Financial
Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a diversified financial services company
serving the comprehensive financial planning needs of the mass affluent
and affluent. For more information, visit ameriprise.com.
(C) 2009 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
Source: Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Contact: Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
Stacy Housman, Media Relations, 612-678-7215
stacy.m.housman@ampf.com
or
Feeding America
Ross Fraser, 312-641-6422
rfraser@feedingamerica.org