Syracuse Employees Host Food Drive, Oriskany Employees Package Thanksgiving Day Meals

SYRACUSE, N.Y. and ORISKANY, N.Y., Nov. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- BNY Mellon said today that it will contribute $25,000 from its corporate foundation to the Food Bank of Central New York, where the need for emergency food assistance within the food bank's 11-county service area has risen sharply in recent years.

"Thanks to community leaders and committed partners such as BNY Mellon, we have not and we will not turn away any person or family requesting food assistance," said Thomas Slater, executive director, Food Bank of Central New York, a not-for-profit organization working to eliminate hunger through nutritious food distribution, education and advocacy in cooperation with the community. It supplies food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters as well as child-care agencies, and neighborhood and senior centers through its 585 affiliated member programs in Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties.

"It's important that we assist in successfully facing the challenges in our communities," said Christopher Mozina, managing director, BNY Mellon's Global Corporate Trust Operations. "The economy is on everybody's mind. By acting on our social responsibility, we're investing in the essential services people need to rebound out of the emergency food network, ultimately to self- sufficiency."

Separately, Mozina and the company's 840 Syracuse-based employees conducted a food drive, collecting some 16 large boxes and three bags of non-perishable food items for the food bank in a week.

In its November 2009 report, the USDA's annual report on Household Food Security in the U.S., revealed that 17 million U.S. households, or nearly 15 percent of the population, had difficulty putting enough food on the table at various times during the year.

"BNY Mellon is committed to ensuring that the financial safety net for the most vulnerable in society remains intact, and our employees feel the same way," said Francis J. Behlmer, executive vice president, BNY Mellon's Bank Operations.

Since 1990, the company's approximately 800 Oriskany employees have provided all the trimmings for an abundant Thanksgiving feast. This year's effort will feed 63 local families with 181 children and 144 adults. The Utica team which Behlmer oversees is on track to exceed the 437 boxes of food and 1,300 pounds of turkey collected last year. During Thanksgiving week, approximately 75 BNY Mellon employee volunteers will pack, load and deliver these meals and supplies to two partners of the Food Bank of Central New York, Family Services of Mohawk Valley and Hospice.

Powering Potential, BNY Mellon's charitable giving focus, is designed to help others in need by concentrating on basic needs and workforce development. BNY Mellon works with community partners to provide food, clothing, energy and housing assistance to those who require immediate help. The company's workforce development investments are designed to improve access to employment through job training, education, mentoring and skills development.

BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. BNY Mellon is a global financial services company focused on helping clients manage and service their financial assets, operating in 34 countries and serving more than 100 markets. The company is a leading provider of financial services for institutions, corporations and high-net-worth individuals, providing superior asset management and wealth management, asset servicing, issuer services, clearing services and treasury services through a worldwide client-focused team. It has $22.1 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $966 billion in assets under management, services $11.9 trillion in outstanding debt and processes global payments averaging $1.6 trillion per day. Additional information is available at bnymellon.com.

SOURCE BNY Mellon

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