Office of Governor Bob McDonnell
Press Release
Governor McDonnell today announced the winners of the first "Governor's Bowl Food and Fund Drive." The governor called each winning Chamber of Commerce and the winning state agency this morning to congratulate them and thank them for their generous participation.
More than 212 Chamber of Commerce locations and state government agencies across the Commonwealth of Virginia participated in the five week competition that began on Memorial Day and ended on Independence Day and raised the equivalent of over 740,419 pounds of food that will benefit the 1,012,500 individuals served by Virginia food banks each year.
Summertime is a particularly difficult time for food banks and this challenge has helped to replenish the shelves of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Capital Area Food Bank, Feeding America Southwest Virginia, FeedMore, Inc. (Central Virginia Food Bank), Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula and the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank.
There are 3 Chamber of Commerce winners based upon the size of their membership and the number of pounds raised and one state government agency winner based upon the number of pounds raised and number of employees.
The winners are:
Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce (small)
- 17,694 pounds benefiting Feeding America Southwest Virginia
Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce (medium)
- 105,315 pounds benefiting the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce (large)
- 62,231 pounds benefiting FeedMore, Inc. (aka Central Virginia Food Bank)
Virginia Board of Accountancy
Each winner will receive a one-of-a-kind handcrafted ceramic bowl created by potters Rick Erickson and Kendra Spicer from Farmville, VA.
Speaking about today's announcement, Governor McDonnell said, "Earlier this year I challenged Virginia's business community and state agencies to a competition to help raise food and funds for Virginia's food banks. As they have in the past, Virginians recognized the need and stepped up with an overwhelming response, raising the equivalent of more than 320 tons of food for those in need. I thank our partners at the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, our state government agencies and Virginia's food banks for their incredible work on behalf of those in need."
"Our heartfelt thanks to the Governor for his steadfast support in ending hunger in Virginia and for the incredible leadership from his office and the great support we have received from the Virginia Chamber of Commerce," said Leslie Van Horn, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. "But, most of all, thanks to the Chambers and state government agencies that supported their local food banks during this competition and beyond and have helped make a difference in the lives of so many in need."
President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce Barry DuVal said, "On behalf of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, I thank the governor and his staff for their leadership in this competition and thank our regional chambers for their amazing efforts to support Virginia's food banks over the summer months. I particularly commend the Buchanan County Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Board of Accountancy for raising the most food in their respective categories for their regional food banks."
