MISSISSAUGA, ON. – Today, the Nissan Canada Foundation and The Mississauga Food Bank announced they will deepen their relationship as the Nissan Canada Foundation becomes the food bank's "Champion Sponsor," for 2014 and 2015. During the course of the year, Nissan – through the Nissan Canada Foundation - will host six "Helping Hands" volunteer events and sponsor several food drives, including the city-wide Holiday Food and Fundraising Drive in December where the Nissan Canada Foundation will be the title sponsor.
After celebrating its 20th anniversary last year, the Nissan Canada Foundation decided to further integrate Nissan's Global Corporate Social Responsibility vision of improving the quality of life in the communities in which Nissan operates byincreasing its involvement with The Mississauga Food Bank and becoming one of the food bank's two main sponsors. As the food bank's "Champion" sponsor, the Nissan Canada Foundation will invite Nissan Canada employees from the head office and local dealerships - 401 Dixie Nissan, Direct Nissan and Woodchester Nissan - to rally together at an increased number of volunteer-driven events this year to help relieve hunger in Mississauga.
The Mississauga Food Bank is the central food bank in Mississauga, providing food for over 229,000 meals each month through its network of member agencies including neighbourhood food banks, before-school breakfast clubs, youth-at-risk drop-in programs, hot meal programs, youth and family shelters, and emergency food pantries. These agencies are located in areas of the city where need is highest, and in locations that can be easily accessed by those who need emergency food support.
"As the food bank for Mississauga, we distribute food for 2.8 million meals annually, but we can't do that without the generous support of partners like Nissan Canada," says Chris Hatch, executive director of The Mississauga Food Bank. "To say we are grateful for the Nissan Canada Foundation's support for the past eight years would be an understatement. We're thrilled to work more closely with Nissan employees this year with the shared aim of ensuring no one in Mississauga goes hungry."
The Nissan Canada Foundation will kick off its "Champion" sponsorship status by providing a loan of the all-new 2014 Nissan Rogue over the Victoria Day long weekend as the prize in a random draw for The Mississauga Food Bank's eighth annual gala on April 10th. A series of volunteer events follows later in the spring, including the first of six "helping hands" events which will be hosted by the Nissan Canada Foundation.
"For more than twenty years, the city of Mississauga has been home for many of Nissan employees, dealers, customers and even our Canadian head office," said Christian Meunier, president of Nissan Canada Inc. "Looking back on two decades of helping the community, our employees can be proud of all their hard work and the positive impact they have had. But in true Nissan fashion, we will not rest on our laurels, and this year, this dedicated army of volunteers is ready to step up our efforts again for the important cause of eliminating hunger in the city of Mississauga."
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