06/16/2011
Charter One’s Making Music Matter program to benefit Greater Chicago Food Depository's Mobile Programs
Bank leverages concerts to help fight hunger; remains Lead Corporate Supporter of mobile programs providing more than 15 million meals
CHICAGO (June 16, 2011) - Charter One announced today that its Charter One Foundation will donate $100,000 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s Mobile Programs Program to kick off its summer-long “Making Music Matter” initiative at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island. Located along Chicago’s lakefront since 2005, the Charter One Pavilion is a 7,500-seat outdoor concert amphitheatre hosting a lineup of world-class musicians.
As the programs’ Lead Corporate Supporter, the bank’s efforts benefitting Mobile Programs ensure the timely delivery of meals in communities that might not otherwise have access to food resources. With high levels of need for food assistance, Making Music Matter continues to make a direct impact in the fight against hunger, which affects 678,000 area residents.
“Since 2006, Charter One’s signature local community initiative, Making Music Matter, has leveraged our sponsorship of the Charter One Pavilion for the benefit of the communities where we live and work. This summer, for the third consecutive season, we are proud to partner once again with the Greater Chicago Food Depository,” said Scott C. Swanson, president, Charter One, Illinois. “We’re asking everyone to join us in these important efforts to help alleviate hunger in our communities.”
Charter One employees and Food Depository volunteers partner onsite to raise additional awareness and funds for the Mobile Programs throughout the concert season at the Charter One Pavilion. Concert attendees can look forward to visiting an interactive tent with information on the Food Depository and the opportunity to have fun while making a contribution.
The Food Depository’s Mobile Programs include Producemobiles delivering fresh fruits and vegetables daily; Mobile Pantries bringing food to under-served communities; and Food Rescue, which collects unused food from retailers, grocers, restaurants, hotels and trade shows for immediate delivery to those in need. With the support of Charter One and its Making Music Matter initiative, the Mobile Programs will deliver more than 15 million pounds of food this year.
”We are humbled by Charter One’s longtime generosity,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “Making Music Matter will ensure that we continue to supply nutritious food as service levels remain at an all-time high.”
In addition to making donations at Charter One Pavilion concerts and in Charter One’s bank branches, contributions may also be made online at www.chicagosfoodbank.org/charteronemmm or by the convenience of mobile phone. The public can simply text SUPPORT to 90999 to give $5 to the cause and reply YES when prompted to confirm the donation.
Supporters can also join the cause by following the summer-long initiative on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CharterOneMMM or becoming a fan of Charter One Making Music Matter on Facebook.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Charter One’s Making Music Matter initiative has helped raise funds and awareness for nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of Chicago’s neediest. Including the new Charter One Foundation grant for the Food Depository’s Mobile Programs, Making Music Matter has helped generate more than $750,000 for charitable and nonprofit organizations throughout the Chicago area since the program began in 2006.
Making Music Matter launches in conjunction with the Earth, Wind & Fire concert on June 21 and continues at every Charter One Pavilion concert throughout the 2011 season. The Making Music Matter concerts at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island include:
- Earth, Wind & Fire, June 21
- 311 and Sublime with Rome, July 14
- Goo Goo Dolls, Michelle Branch and Parachute, July 16
- Budweiser Superfest featuring Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton, July 31
- Train and Gavin DeGraw, August 20
- Incubus, August 21
- Ke$ha, LMFAO and Spank Rock, August 24
- Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution and Shwayze & Cisco Adler, August 27
Additional performances will be added throughout the summer season.
About Charter One
Charter One is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., operating in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. It has approximately 370 branches and 600 ATMs. It has 111 branches and 303 ATMs in Illinois. Charter One’s website is charterone.com.
RBS Citizens, N.A. is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $132 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I. CFG’s two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 12-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in more than 30 states. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc).
About the Greater Chicago Food Depository
The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago’s food bank, is a nonprofit food distribution and training center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to 678,000 adults and children in Cook County every year. Last year, the Food Depository distributed 66 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of 135,000 meals every day. The Food Depository’s programs and services for children, older adults and the unemployed and underemployed address the root causes of hunger. For more information, log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773-247-FOOD.
More about Text Donation
A one-time donation charge of $5 will be added to the donator’s mobile phone bill. Standard messaging rates and additional fees may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to the mobile service provider. Proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository and are collected by MGF. Service is available on most carriers. Donators can unsubscribe to avoid receiving future messages at any time by texting STOP to 90999. For full terms visit http://www.mgive.com/a.
