Opportunity to Double the Impact of Gifts for Feeding America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Ends January 15, 2011

The Holiday Season Has Ended, However the Rate of Hunger in America is Still Alarmingly High; Bank of America Program Addresses Issue of Hunger by Matching Donations to the "Gift for Opportunity™" Fund

CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers can have their gifts for Feeding America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America matched by donating to Bank of America's "Gift for Opportunity" fund through January 15, 2011. The Bank of America Charitable Foundation will match donations to the fund up to $1 million. Contributions can be made at any of Bank of America's 5,900 banking centers across the country or by visiting www.bankofamerica.com/give.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation contributed $1 million to initiate the "Gift for Opportunity" fund to support Feeding America and Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  With this donation, more than $1.2 million has been raised to date, with potential to raise another $1.8 million more through generous consumer donations and the bank's corporate match.

As evidenced by the USDA's Economic Research Service, the issue of hunger continues to affect a growing number of Americans. In fact, more than 50 million Americans, including 17 million children and 3 million seniors, are food insecure. The need for food is particularly great in the wintertime, when food insecure Americans often have to choose between paying for heat and meals for their families.

"As the economy recovers, there are thousands of families that still face making difficult choices as to whether to pay their electric bill or put food on the table," said Kerry Sullivan, President of the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. "With the creation of the 'Gift for Opportunity' fund, we're looking to make peoples' donations go further, easing this burden so that families can get the nourishment they need."

According to Feeding America's Hunger in America 2010 study, 46% of client households served by Feeding America report having to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food. Additionally, child hunger remains alarmingly high. One in four children was at risk of hunger in 2009. Feeding America and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America are two primary organizations addressing food insecurity in children. Feeding America is the nation's leading hunger-relief organization and Boys & Girls Clubs of America's network of some 4,000 clubs provides a safe place for children to obtain healthy meals.

"There are nearly 10 million children under the age of six living in food insecure households," said Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America. "The Feeding America network is able to address this issue through our great partnership with Bank of America and the 'Gift for Opportunity' fund. Hunger is a pressing issue year-round, and we could not help food insecure Americans without charitable support.  It's through the support of Bank of America and its customers that we're able to make notable progress in the fight against hunger."

"We are grateful to Bank of America for helping Boys & Girls Clubs of America provide the young people we serve with the opportunity for a great future which is a challenge when so many American families are food insecure," said Roxanne Spillett, President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "We simply cannot expect America's young people to reach their full potential if they are denied a healthy and nutritious food supply."

The Bank of America "Gift for Opportunity" fund is administered through the Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. For more information about the Bank of America "Gift for Opportunity" fund, visit www.bankofamerica.com/give.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

SOURCE Feeding America