NEW YORK, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- FeedingNYC, a privately-funded, not-for-profit organization, today announced that it has teamed up with Robin Hood, the leading, New York City-based poverty fighting charity organization, to provide and deliver Thanksgiving meals to 8,000 families in need during the 2010 holiday season.  

Founded in 2001 by LivePerson CEO Robert LoCascio, FeedingNYC's mission is to supply complete turkey dinners to families in shelters throughout Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs during the Thanksgiving holiday season.  In its first year of operation, the organization supplied turkey dinners to 40 families and has since grown dramatically, feeding 2,250 families during the 2009 season. This year, FeedingNYC will partner with New York City's leading poverty fighting organization, Robin Hood, with the goal of feeding 8,000 families in shelters throughout the five boroughs.  

"The partnership between FeedingNYC and Robin Hood marries two of the City's leading hunger fighting charity organizations," said LivePerson CEO, Robert LoCascio.  "FeedingNYC has expertise in organizing and managing the logistics and resources required to feed thousands of hungry New Yorkers.  Combined with Robin Hood's expert knowledge of how to reach those in need, we believe we can achieve our mutual goal of providing 8,000 families around New York City with a full Thanksgiving meal."  

FeedingNYC is a unique program that enables members of the local business community to connect with and help feed New York City families in need of assistance each holiday season.  FeedingNYC works with support organizations—including Women in Need and City Harvest—to identify facilities where it can make the greatest impact.  Annual cash donations, volunteers, and in-kind services are provided by many local businesses including Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers, FlatRate Moving and Manhattan Mini Storage.  From assembling the packages and loading the delivery trucks, to hand delivering the packages to each and every family, the organization's volunteers and sponsors experience the joy of giving first-hand each Thanksgiving.    

"We are excited to partner with FeedingNYC this coming holiday season to feed thousands of families living in shelters," said David Saltzman, Executive Director of Robin Hood. "Robin Hood is always striving to find new, innovative programs that can expand and extend our ongoing poverty fighting efforts and FeedingNYC is a perfect match.  Together, I believe we can make a big impact this Thanksgiving."  

To donate to FeedingNYC or to volunteer for assembling or delivering meals during the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday, visit www.feedingnyc.org.  

About FeedingNYC

FeedingNYC began in the aftermath of 9/11 when the employees and friends of LivePerson assembled and hand-delivered turkey dinners to disadvantaged families around New York for Thanksgiving. Feeding 40 families in Harlem in 2001 has since grown to feed more than 2,250 families in 2009 throughout the five boroughs. FeedingNYC is the 2004 recipient of the Suzanne Pincus Commit to WIN Award, an honor given to a specific organization that provides the highest level of dedication and service to Women in Need.

About Robin Hood Foundation

Robin Hood holds steadfast to a single mission: fight poverty in New York City.  The organization finds, funds and creates programs and schools that generate measurable results for families in New York City's poorest neighborhoods.  Robin Hood works closely with the 200 organizations it supports to help them reach capacity and maximize outcomes.  In 2009, Robin Hood invested $136 million in 200 programs and schools, touching approximately 430,000 New Yorkers. A rigorous system of metrics and third-party evaluation of these groups guarantee accountability.  The board pays all administrative, fundraising and evaluation costs, so 100 percent of donations goes directly to organizations helping New Yorkers in need to build better lives.

SOURCE FeedingNYC