July 28, 2005

Children’s Hunger Alliance in Columbus Receives "Victory Against Hunger Award"

Reps. Pryce and Tiberi Nominated Ohio Anti-Hunger Group for $1,000 Prize

COLUMBUS – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Upper Arlington) and Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-Columbus) today congratulated the Children’s Hunger Alliance of Columbus for receiving a national award for the organization’s contribution to poor and hungry people in central Ohio. CHA was one of 32 entities nationwide to receive the “Victory Against Hunger Award,” which is presented annually by the Congressional Hunger Center and Victory Wholesale Grocers. Reps. Pryce and Tiberi nominated the Children’s Hunger Alliance for a $1,000 prize based on its impressive Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) outreach efforts.

Within the past year, the number of meals that the CHA has sponsored in Franklin County has nearly doubled. During the 2004-2005 school year, the CACFP served more than 1,400 meals every day in 42 after school sites. "The resources the Alliance will receive by winning this award will help them serve even more hungry children," Pryce said.

"We can all be proud of the CHA’s extraordinary commitment to breaking the cycle of childhood hunger in Ohio," Pryce said. "Children who are well nourished tend to have a longer attention span and an improved ability to learn. In addition to providing nutritional meals, the CACFP helps children develop positive eating habits which will lead to better long-term health."

"The Children's Hunger Alliance is one of our area's gems,” said Tiberi. “The Alliance is working every day in neighborhoods throughout Central Ohio to eradicate hunger and improve childhood nutrition. CHA is more than deserving of this award."

William Dolan, CEO of the Children’s Hunger Alliance, said that this award is recognition of a job well done, but the work continues. “This, of course, is a ‘team award,’ said Dolan. “We are blessed with terrific staff, volunteers and friends. I am especially grateful for the continued support of Representatives Pryce and Tiberi in our efforts to end childhood hunger in Ohio. Although we are proud of our accomplishments, with one out of every six children in Ohio hungry or at risk of hunger, we have a lot more to do. We need everyone to redouble their efforts so that we can ensure that no child in Ohio has to go to bed hungry.”

Out of 84 nominations submitted to the Congressional Hunger Center, the Children’s Hunger Alliance was one of 32 groups selected to receive the "Victory Against Hunger" Award. Under the Hunger Awards program, local agencies may only be nominated by a member of Congress. This is the second time the Alliance has received the $1,000 Victory Against Hunger Awards. Rep. Pryce first nominated the Alliance for the award in 2003.

The winners were chosen based on their success in achieving the goal of this year’s theme of “Fighting Hunger through Improving Access to the Child and Adult Care Food Program.” This theme was chosen because recent government studies have found that, despite a strong overall economy, hunger and food insecurity abound in communities across the country. Currently, 36 million Americans live in hunger or on the edge of hunger.

The annual "Victory Against Hunger Awards" were established by David Kantor, President of Victory Wholesale Grocers, to recognize outstanding organizations in the United States that work to end hunger at the local level. The Congressional Hunger Center and the Victory Wholesale Grocers have been funding this grant initiative for the past 12 years, contributing over $200,000 to the fight against hunger.

The Congressional Hunger Center, founded by former Rep. Tony Hall of Ohio, works to ensure that the issues of domestic and international hunger remain at the forefront of national debate. The Center sees its role as a leader and committed ally on behalf of the hungry, the poor, and those affected by humanitarian crises, both domestic and international. Its mission is to fight hunger by developing and supporting leaders who have a shared commitment to a nation and a world free from hunger.