Mosaic Donates $12,000 to Harry Chapin Food Bank from Home Runs for Food for 2014 Rays Spring Training Season

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mosaic Company, through its Home Runs for Food program with the Tampa Bay Rays, on Saturday, March 22 donated $12,000 to the Harry Chapin Food Bank to help feed hungry families in Charlotte County. Sean Butler, Vice President, Human Resources for Mosaic and Kaley Miller, Manager of Communications, joined by Charlotte County Commissioner Christopher Constance, presented a check to Al Brislain, president and CEO of the Harry Chapin Food Bank, prior to the start of the Rays' spring training game at Charlotte Sports Park.

Under the Home Runs for Food Program, Mosaic pledges $500 to the organization for every home run hit by the Rays. This year's contribution brings the total contributed to Harry Chapin over the past four years to $53,000.

"Together with the Rays and Harry Chapin Food Bank, we're pleased to be making a difference to Charlotte County residents who face a daily struggle to feed their families," said Butler. "The Home Runs for Food partnership also underscores Mosaic's global mission of helping the world grow the food it needs."

While the Harry Chapin Food Bank serves Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, Mosaic's donation is earmarked to help overcome hunger specifically in Charlotte County. Hunger in Charlotte County has increased dramatically over the past four years. Harry Chapin distributed more than 2 million pounds of food last year to 25 Charlotte County partner agencies, including the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition, Cooper Street Recreation Center, First Church of the Nazarene, and St. Vincent De Paul.

"Mosaic and its employees have been steadfast supporters in the fight against hunger," said Al Brislain, Harry Chapin president and chief executive officer. "We are so grateful for their support, and for the substantial difference Mosaic has made in our ability to serve our neighbors in need in Charlotte County."

In honor of the Home Runs for Food partnership, Brislain threw out the first pitch of the March 22 Rays game.

The Home Runs for Food program began during the Rays' 2010 regular season to benefit Feeding America Tampa Bay, and will ramp up during regular season again on March 31 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

About The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation

The Mosaic Company is the world's largest combined producer and marketer of concentrated phosphate and potash, two essential crop nutrients. Driven by its mission to help the world grow the food it needs, Mosaic is committed to strengthening global food security and protecting critical water resources. The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation make investments in and partner with best-of-class leaders in the focus areas of food, water and local community investments. More information about Mosaic is available at www.mosaicco.com/florida.

About the Harry Chapin Food Bank

The mission of the Harry Chapin Food Bank is "To overcome hunger in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties through education and by working in a cooperative effort with affiliated agencies in the procurement and distribution of food, equitably and without discrimination." This mission is achieved through continuous strategic planning, implementation, evaluation and program expansion. On an annual basis, the Harry Chapin Food Bank provides more than 17.5 million pounds of nutritious, quality food to 150 Partner Agencies that provide direct services to those in need. Additionally, the food bank's success is achieved through the ability to convert every $1 donated into $6 of food and by low administrative and fundraising costs which is evidenced by being awarded the highest rating of 4 stars through Charity Navigator the charitable watchdog group.

About The Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have proudly represented Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region since 1998. The organization and its foundation are committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interaction and charitable contributions.

SOURCE The Mosaic Company