Bentall Kennedy's Fare Fight For Food Campaign Raises 366,291 Pounds of Food and $279,115 for Canada's Food Banks

TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2012 /CNW/ - Bentall Kennedy today announced the results of their National Fare Fight for Food campaign. After eight months of an intense fundraising competition between Bentall Kennedy managed shopping centres, from British Columbia to Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, we are proud to say that Bentall Kennedy will donate $279,115.00 and 366,291 lbs of food to benefit food banks in 22 communities across Canada!

"Our fundraising teams have more than tripled our original goals of raising $75,000 and 75,000 lbs.of food" reported Bonney Rempel, Regional Director, Marketing Retail Services West, "with Bentall Kennedy's commitment to best-in-class environmental, social and governance practices, every department came together to help."

100% of the food and funds raised during this campaign, which launched in February and ended on October 31, goes directly to the food bank that partnered with a Bentall Kennedy-managed retail centre. In addition,the shopping centre that won in each of the five competition categories, listed below, will also award their Food bank partner an additional $10,000.

Grants awarded to the following Shopping Centre / Food Bank Teams:

Most amount of money fundraised

• WINNER: Oliver Square / Village (Edmonton, AB) Edmonton Food Bank

Most amount of money fundraised per shopping centre square foot;

• WINNER: Oliver Square / Village (Edmonton, AB) Edmonton Food Bank

Most amount of non-perishable food collected (by weight);  

• WINNER: Windsor Crossing (LaSalle, ON)          Windsor Essex County Food Bank

Highest amount of corporate/business/service club monetary donation received;

• WINNER: North Hill Centre (Calgary, AB)           Calgary Interfaith Food Bank Society

Highest amount of on-line supporters collected from a national on-line contest.

• WINNER: Marche Central (Montreal, QC)  La Corbeille Bordeaux - Cartierville

On-line supporters were garnered through a contest hosted on www.farefightforfood.ca where customers could enter for a chance to win "Groceries for a Year" from the grocery store of their choice!  Visits to the website reached 54,825 and single contest entries totalled 31,136! Congratulations to our winner Maria Baker of Hamilton, Ontario who supported 10 Dundas East - Salvation Army Railside Centre.

During the campaign, each participating shopping centre designated a high traffic area to bring attention to the challenge. Display areas served as collection points. The goal progress was highlighted for the general public and shared among the participating centres nationally, adding excitement and a little friendly competition to the national initiative.

"According to Food Banks Canada's 2012 HungerCount survey, every month 870,000 Canadians are assisted by Food Banks. Bentall Kennedy was determined to make a difference in the communities in which we live and work" said Domenic Imbesi, Regional Director, Marketing Retail Services East, "Thank-you to everyone who supported our campaign.  As the holiday season approaches, we can all feel good that we helped boost the inventory of our local food banks especially as the need for their services continues to be on the rise".

In fact, HungerCount found that 55% of food banks in Canada needed to cut back on the amount of food provided to each household this year, and 14% of food banks ran out of food at some point in 2012.  With 100% of the proceeds collected during fundraising going to local food banks across the nation, Bentall Kennedy is proud of their staff and shoppers for this unparalleled show of support.

For complete results on Bentall Kennedy's national "Fare Fight For Food" campaign, visit www.farefightforfood.ca 

About Bentall Kennedy
Bentall Kennedy is one of North America's largest real estate investment advisors and one of its foremost providers of real estate services. Bentall Kennedy serves the interests of more than 500 clients across 142 million square feet of office, retail, industrial, residential and hotel properties totalling $29.4 billion throughout North America. Bentall Kennedy has a 100-year track record of delivering superior returns and a reputation for integrity, innovation and creating value. Bentall Kennedy is a leader in responsible property investing. As part of our fiduciary framework, we seek to enhance asset performance by addressing the environmental, social and governance aspects of developing, owning and managing commercial real estate.

SOURCE: Bentall Kennedy