NEWS RELEASE

8201 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas  78745
(512) 282-2111
FAX: (512) 282-6606
www.austinfoodbank.org

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2011

For more information:
John Turner
Senior Director of Marketing and Branding
Office: 512-684-2528
Mobile: 512-636-1497
jturner@austinfoodbank.org
jturner@austinfoodbank.org

Largest Employee-Based Food Drive in Central Texas Raises More Than $120,500 for Food Bank
Optimizing The Food Bank’s Buying Power, This Contribution Will Provide $600,000 of Nutritious Food

Austin, TX —

With Texas ranking among the nation’s top states for food insecurity, the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) received a donation of $120,500 from the Applied Materials Food Drive. This gift combines the contributions of Applied Materials’ employees and contractors with dollar-for-dollar matching funds from The Applied Materials Foundation.

For five weeks during the holiday season, employees dream up inventive ways to encourage donations. This year fundraisers included a 5k Feeding Families Fun Run, solar car race, golf tournament, gift wrapping, silent auctions, bake sales and chili cook-off.

“This event has become an important part of our culture,” said Rick Gesing, Austin site manager and corporate vice president of Global Manufacturing at Applied Materials, Inc. “It’s successful because it allows our employees to tap into their creativity and competitive spirit. I’m proud of our employees for engaging on so many levels to make a difference in our community and I’m heartened by the impact our drive has in combatting hunger in Central Texas.”

While Applied workers also donated food items, they raised more in cash, which allows CAFB to optimize its buying power, leveraging one donated dollar into $5 worth of food. This donation will provide up to $600,000 in food to the community. Funds will be used to nourish hungry Central Texans directly from CAFB programs or through the Food Bank’s network of 355 Partner Agencies. CAFB serves 300,000 hungry Central Texans each year.

“For the past decade, the Applied Materials Food Drive has consistently been one of the largest donors to the Food Bank,” said Hank Perret, CAFB Interim President and CEO.  “The generosity and innovation of Applied’s employees in coming up with new and creative events to help raise both money and food is unparalleled in Central Texas.  We cannot thank the Applied Materials employees enough for their efforts to help end hunger right here in our community.” 

About Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas (CAFB) is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. Since 1982, CAFB in collaboration with more than 355 partner agencies has been helping Central Texans in need providing healthy food, nutritional program assistance and education, so they can make better choices at mealtime. In the past 12 months, CAFB distributed more than 25 million pounds of food to 300,000 Central Texans in its 21 county service territory. For more information on the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and its programs, visit www.austinfoodbank.org or call 512/282-2111.

About The Applied Materials Foundation
The Applied Materials Foundation, a California nonprofit corporation qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, was established in 1994 by Applied Materials, Inc., the global leader in providing innovative equipment, services and software to enable the manufacture of advanced semiconductor, flat panel display and solar photovoltaic products.  The Foundation's mission is to make a positive social contribution in regions where Applied Materials employees work and live through philanthropic investments in the areas of education, civic development, arts and culture, and the environment.

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