NORTH TEXAS FOOD BANK ANNOUNCES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN:

DALLAS, Feb. 17, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Texas Food Bank unveiled its Stop Hunger Build Hope capital campaign at the site of its future 222,000-square Northern Distribution Center in Plano. The $55 million capital campaign, chaired by longtime NTFB supporters and Lifetime Board Member Pam and John Beckert, is funding the Food Bank's 10-year plan to close the current meal gap in North Texas by providing 92 million nutritious meals by 2025. The largest capital campaign for a social service organization in North Texas history, Stop Hunger Build Hope is the most ambitious yet for the Food Bank. "North Texas is in the midst of a hunger crisis," said Tom Black, Chairman of the North Texas Food Bank Board of Directors. "We know that more than 800,000 people here in North Texas are food insecure. This Campaign has the power to transform our region, feeding the line while shortening the line and ensuring that every hungry neighbor has the food that they need. We know that providing healthy food has the power to change lives and we will honor the work and vision of our late leader Jan Pruitt by carrying out her dream for a hunger-free North Texas." In September of 2015, the NTFB announced a framework for its 10-year plan to include: Community Engagement: A real estate solution to efficiently distribute more food and increase engagement with volunteers, supporters and the community, and an expansion of operations:

• Northern Distribution Center, Plano  
• Southern Distribution Center, Dallas  
• Dallas Farmers Market Administration Building, Downtown Dallas

Network Expansion: A network solution to get the right food to the right place at the right time by transforming the current food distribution system with a focus on:

• Establishing Hubs or mini-food banks  
• Investing in current Partner Agencies, including local Pantries  
• Purchasing mobile pantries to bring food to neighborhoods in need

Client Visibility: A technology solution to better understand those we serve through a partnership with the Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation.   Capital Campaign Progress: To date, the Stop Hunger Build Hope campaign has raised more than $40 million from generous North Texas companies, individuals, foundations, and organizations. The campaign kicked off with a lead gift of $10 million from the children of Ross and Margot Perot: Ross and Sarah Perot, Nancy Perot and Rod Jones, Suzanne and Patrick McGee, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, and Katherine and Eric Reeves. Set on more than 13 acres near the intersection of President George Bush Turnpike and Coit Road, the NTFB's Northern Distribution Center will be named the Perot Family Campus in honor of the family's multi-generational commitment to hunger relief. "It is with great pleasure that our family collectively supports the Stop Hunger Build Hope capital campaign. Through this gift, we recognize and honor our grandmother Lula Mae Perot and our Aunt Bette Perot while encouraging subsequent generations of our family to make sure our neighbors are fed with love, hope, and compassion," said Katherine Perot Reeves, Capital Campaign Lead Donor and Committee Member, and NTFB Board Member. Foundation Support The Moody Foundation provided the largest foundation gift of $5 million, which was announced during Friday morning's event. "The Moody Foundation is committed to supporting causes that propel Texas forward with a focus on the community, education, and health. We are excited to be a part of the Stop Hunger Build Hope campaign because NTFB plays such a critical role in food security for so many of North Texas' vulnerable groups, most especially children. We know that the NTFB's success will mean a more prosperous North Texas," said Frances Moody-Dahlberg, Chairman and Executive Director of the Moody Foundation. Corporate Challenge Corporate donors are also making significant contributions toward the success of the campaign. Plano-based Alliance Data, a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, has donated $2.5 million to the Stop Hunger Build Hope campaign and has issued a challenge to other area businesses to invest in the future of North Texas by supporting the North Texas Food Bank. "Supporting NTFB means championing North Texas as a whole," said Ed Heffernan, CEO of Alliance Data. "The issue of hunger is pervasive, and can be found even in affluent areas, such as Plano. We know hunger is an economic issue, with severe implications if left unaddressed. The time to act is now, and we are proud to support an organization that is fighting for the future of our neighbors and neighborhood." To learn more about the Stop Hunger Build Hope capital campaign, visit ntfb.org/stophunger . About the North Texas Food Bank: The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization with its primary distribution center in Southwest Dallas, and administrative headquarters located in the Dallas Farmers Market. Each day, NTFB provides access to more than 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors, and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and more than 200 Partner Agencies. In fiscal year 2016, NTFB provided access to some 70 million nutritious meals. While the NTFB is making steady progress toward closing the hunger gap, much work remains to be done to reach the organization's 10-year goal of providing 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization.

Brett Gray, 214.605.7163 Anna Kurian, 214.270.2059