Paychex, Inc., a leading provider of integrated human capital management software solutions for human resources, payroll, benefits, and insurance services, announced that Foodlink will receive a $200,000 grant from the Paychex Charitable Foundation to support its mission of ending hunger and building healthier communities across its 10-county service area in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region of New York.
The gift is part of a $1 million grant from the Paychex Charitable Foundation to the national hunger relief organization Feeding America®. The grant allocates $250,000 annually over four years to support local food banks that deliver equitable access to nutritious food in key markets where Paychex has a high concentration of employees and clients, including Rochester, New York, home of the company’s corporate headquarters.
“At Paychex, we believe that successful local economies start with vibrant communities,” said John Gibson, Paychex president and CEO. “Our strategic giving framework focuses on allocating resources to organizations that help people thrive through improved well-being. Foodlink’s 40-year history in the Greater Rochester area has made the organization a critical part of our community, and we look forward to seeing how this significant investment can help expand their impact.”
“Foodlink would like to thank the Paychex Charitable Foundation for this grant and for their continuous support in helping us leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities,” said Julia Tedesco, president & CEO of Foodlink. “At a time when need is soaring across our region, this support will directly result in more food on the table for families who are struggling to make ends meet.”
This is second major gift from the Paychex Charitable Foundation within its strategic giving framework focused on well-being, addressing mental health, physical health, financial health, and professional skills development. In March, Paychex announced a $1 million gift to Mental Health America to support mental and emotional well-being. The gift to Feeding America addresses the second focus area on physical health.
Foodlink is a member of Feeding America’s national network and provides safe storage and emergency distribution services to a network of food pantries and community partners. Last year alone, Foodlink hosted 285 Pop-Up Pantries and served nearly 850,000 lunches through the Foodlink Community Kitchen.
In addition to this significant gift from the Paychex Charitable Foundation, Paychex will also be seeking opportunities to engage its more than 5,000 local employees as a volunteer network to help advance Foodlink’s commitment in the fight against hunger and poverty. Paychex employees have a long history of supporting Foodlink, regularly volunteering with the organization through the Day of Caring and other community service events.
To learn more about the Paychex Charitable Foundation, visit the organization’s website.