Food for Life gala raises $275,000 for Montgomery County Food Bank

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas -- More than 300 guests opened their hearts to help end hunger at Montgomery County Food Bank’s 2nd Annual “Food For Life” gala on April 7 at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center.

The event successfully surpassed its fundraising goal as it raised $275,000 to help adults and children in need of hunger relief.

Themed “Celebrating A Giving Community” and presented by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, this year’s gala highlighted those that have made 2017 an amazing year for their community through the Montgomery County Food Bank.

Among the honorees included:

• Harvey Hero Award – Conroe Independent School District – Dr. Don Stockton
• Corporate Partner of the Year – Southwestern Energy Company
• Partner Agency of the Year – St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, and Iglesia Adventista del Septimo Dia New Caney
• Volunteer Service Award – Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
• Innovative Leader Award – Dow Chemical Company
• Betty Hardy Award – Carol Coover, Peter Jensen, Robert Plain, Dave Potter, Matt Zielinski

Allison Hulett, President and CEO of Montgomery County Food Bank, said, “Our goal for this year’s Food for Life gala was to raise enough funds to be able to provide one million meals to support those who need a helping hand in a time of need as they struggle with food insecurity. With the generous support we received that important evening from Anadarko and many other sponsors and guests, I am proud to say we were able to surpass our goal by raising $275,000 which allows us to provide 1.3 million meals to those who are facing hunger in our community. We did it!

“In addition, we were honored to celebrate a giving community by acknowledging each of our inspiring honorees without whom we could not accomplish our mission to serve.”

After a cocktail reception, dinner and awards presentation, the unique to the evening was the guests’ opportunity to be in charge of their entertainment. Pianists Mike Faltin and DJ London offered a list of 20 songs that guests could request for a donation starting at $5. The top 10 songs with the most donations were played in an exciting and energetic dueling pianists mode.

In addition to the “Presenting Sponsor” Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, the “Food For Life Sponsor” was St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Other sponsors included H-E-B, Southwestern Energy, Kroger, 1st National Bank Texas, Silver Eagle Distributors, Woodforest National Bank, 1st Choice Collision, and Gennifer & Craig Horan.

Underwriters included Julie & Alan Struble, ExxonMobil, Pyramid Tubular Products, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, CJ & John Haynes, Wells Fargo, Trini & O.C. Mendenhall Foundation, MP2 Energy LLC, Jim & Nelda Blair, Sara Wise Strategies, The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership, Strike, and The Dow Chemical Company.

For sponsorship information about the 2019 Food For Life gala, please email Lori Magin, Director of Development, at lmagin@mcfoodbank.org.

ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOOD BANK

Montgomery County Food Bank began in 1985 as a door-to-door operation run out of car trunks by a small group of volunteers wanting to serve those in need in their community. Throughout the past 30 years, generous donors and volunteers have built it into an organization capable of distributing over 8 million pounds of food annually. The Food Bank also hosts mobile food distributions, offers nutritional education programs, emergency assistance in the time of a disaster or crisis, and provides meal programs for children and senior citizens.

Montgomery County Food Bank is 501(c)(3) chartered by the state of Texas and is a member of the Texas Food Bank Network and Feeding America. Its headquarters is located at 1 Food For Life Way in Conroe, near Hwy. 242 and I-45, just north of The Woodlands.

For more information, to book a tour or volunteer at the facility, or to make a monetary donation or food contribution, visit www.mcfoodbank.org or call 936.271.8800.

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