Morgan Stanley supports Northern Illinois Food Bank with $50,000 grant

Northern Illinois Food Bank announced a $50,000 grant from Morgan Stanley to fund its School Pantry Program, a child hunger initiative that helps to make sure low-income families have a readily accessible source of healthy and nutritious food to prepare at home.

This is the second gift Northern Illinois Food Bank has received from Morgan Stanley, for a total of $100,000.

The grant is part of the latest phase in Morgan Stanley's more than $14 million commitment to Feeding America and its network of 200 local food banks that distribute millions of meals every year to children and families across the United States.

Over the past three years, food banks like Northern Illinois Food Bank have collectively received more than $4 million from the firm to help launch, expand and sustain critical childhood feeding programs.

"We are thrilled to receive this important grant from Morgan Stanley in support of our efforts to deliver more nutritious meals to children and families," said Julie Yurko, president and CEO, Northern Illinois Food Bank. "Morgan Stanley is a terrific partner for our organization. We are grateful for this grant and for the Morgan Stanley employees who show their support by spending so many hours volunteering for Northern Illinois Food Bank."

"We are honored to be able to help Northern Illinois Food Bank in its important fight against child hunger," said Morgan Stanley Complex Manager Tim Byrnes. "Giving back to the communities where we live and work is one of Morgan Stanley's core values."

According to Feeding America's Hunger in America 2014 study, 89 percent of Feeding America's client households with more than one child lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

"Grants like this from Morgan Stanley make a vital difference in our efforts to provide these children with the nutritious meals they need every day," said Nancy Curby, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships for Feeding America.