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Lilly Foundation Provides $50,000 Donation to Gleaners Food Bank

Posted on: Thursday, 18 December 2008, 15:00 CST

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a recent challenge by Mayor Greg Ballard for city businesses and organizations to increase support for local food drives, the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation today announced a $50,000 gift to Gleaners Food Bank. The donation will be used to purchase and distribute food to Gleaners' 400 hunger relief charities located in Central Indiana.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that approximately 213,081 Hoosiers live in poverty throughout Gleaners' 20-county service area. Nearly half are seniors and children. With the challenging economy, the number of families seeking food assistance at local food pantries is up 35 percent.

Lilly employees recently completed an annual food drive, held every November, which supports two Gleaners' distribution centers -- Billie's Food Pantry and Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. However, given the challenging economic circumstances, Lilly's leadership had a desire to do more.

"As the holidays approach and with the demand for basic assistance continuing to increase, we wanted to make an additional contribution to help those in need," said Robert Smith, president of the Lilly Foundation. "We are honored to support Gleaners and the critically important work they do for our community."

"Lilly's corporate citizenship has always been exemplary," said Gleaners' president and CEO Pamela Altmeyer. "We're pleased to have them partner with us to pull together for our less fortunate neighbors."

Information about how to donate food to Gleaners is available online at www.gleaners.org/fooddrive.shtm or by calling 800-944-9166.

About the Lilly Foundation

The focus of Eli Lilly and Company is to bring innovative medicines to patients. However, the company knows that its obligations to society extend beyond the medicines it makes. The Lilly Foundation, which is made possible by donations of Eli Lilly and Company, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients and communities we serve. Additional information about the Lilly Foundation is available at www.lillyfoundation.org.

CR-LLY

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO)

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Source: PR Newswire

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