Global Foodbanking Network

Additional Supporters

Our efforts to alleviate world hunger would not be possible without the generous support of a number of strategic partners. We could not afford to pay the full cost of the services provided by these world-class organizations, and we are deeply grateful for their help:

DLA Piper
Aidmatrix
Foodmix
Accenture

Certainly, food and money are vital to the support and continued operation of food banks and food bank systems.  But the time and expertise reflected here is equally important and is sometimes overlooked.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world. The firm’s scope includes 3,500 lawyers located in 29 countries and 67 offices throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In each of their offices, DLA Piper contributes considerable time and legal services to a variety of projects related to hunger, education, health care, housing, economic development and law reform. In the United States alone, the firm donated nearly 157,000 hours of pro bono and volunteer services in 2008.

DLA Piper has supported food banking at the local, national and international level for many years. We at The Global Foodbanking Network cannot overstate the indispensable role DLA Piper plays in our work. From our beginning in 2006, the firm has generously supported GFN’s infrastructure by donating office space for our Chicago headquarters and by providing office services either free of charge or at cost.

The nature of GFN’s work—the fact that we work in a myriad of countries and are a conduit of philanthropic giving that originates in the United States and is disbursed around the world—requires a tremendous amount of legal expertise. DLA Piper also serves as GFN’s general counsel and donates all of its legal services. The economic value and risk avoidance we derive from the firm is truly immeasurable.

“In being part of GFN, the greatest reward for me personally has been seeing how a really good idea can lead to something that inspires different people and brings them together for a shared purpose. As an organization, what’s been so exciting for us as a firm is being able to use our skills and resources and connections around the world to make a difference in the fight against hunger. The people at DLA Piper have truly made the cause their own; it resonates with lawyers and staff alike.”

William A. Rudnick
Co-chair, Nonprofit & Philanthropy Practice Group, DLA Piper, USA
Co-founder and Chairman of the Board, Global Foodbanking Network

Aidmatrix

The Aidmatrix Foundation, Inc. accelerates humanitarian relief by providing supply chain management technology that makes it easy and efficient for everyone—donors, nonprofits and governments—to get the right aid to people when and where they need it most. More than 35,000 leading business, nonprofit and government partners leverage Aidmatrix’s solutions to mobilize more than $1.5 billion in worldwide aid each year. The donated goods, money and services impact the lives of more than 65 million people.

Aidmatrix has provided GFN with invaluable support since our founding. The organization hosted our initial website and handled donation processing for no cost. Contributors to GFN have been able to donate food online and direct it where it’s most needed in lieu of hosting a time- and labor-intensive actual food drive, thanks to Aidmatrix’s powerful Virtual Aid Drive™ technology. Aidmatrix’s web-based inventory tracking solution helped accelerate our work with FoodBank South Africa to begin creating a nationwide network of community food banks.

“At Aidmatrix, we believe passionately that alleviating hunger is the key to solving other global problems. Hunger is a daily engine; food is moving all the time. Our technologies move food where it’s needed efficiently. GFN is a powerful agent of change, and we’re happy be their partner. With their network approach to the hunger crisis, GFN broadens our reach and expands out network.”

Michael Ross
Vice President, Delivery
Aidmatrix

Foodmix

Foodmix is a leading marketing communication firm that provides the food industry with fully integrated, end-to-end marketing programs. The firm offers market research, brand strategies, media planning and buying, communication, and sales support. Foodmix’s prestigious client list includes Kraft, Sara Lee, Dannon, Sorrento, Garden Burger and Superior Coffee

Foodmix provided us with pro bono services to refine the GFN message about who we are and why companies in the food industry should support us. Their experts helped us effectively leverage the business rationale for doing good with the emotional desire for doing so.  The firm provided valuable insights that enabled us to create a strategic message that resonates with global, multinational organizations and motivates them join our cause.

“Nothing good happens when people are hungry. GFN is working to feed the hungry, but their bigger picture is about changing the world. At Foodmix, we’re grateful to have the opportunity to play our small part. I’ve grown up in the food industry, and my philosophy has been that we need to pay rent for the space we use on earth. GFN’s cause is consistent with our values and allows us to share our blessings.”

Dan O'Connell
President
Foodmix Marketing Communications

Accenture Development Partnerships

Accenture Development Partnerships provides strategic advice and technical and project management support to nonprofits, NGOs, foundations and donor organizations working in the development sector.  It delivers affordable world-class management and consulting services based on Accenture’s private sector experience, and its innovative model gives Accenture employees an unparalleled career opportunity to apply their skills toward humanitarian causes. In its FY2009, 250 Accenture employees completed approximately 100 projects for more than 40 clients, working in 30+ countries around the world.

Accenture Development Partnerships assigned two of its consultants to work with GFN in South Africa for six months as we collaborated with FoodBank South Africa, the national government and leaders in the food and grocery industry to expand the country’s food banking network. Their many contributions to our work there included a comprehensive report that identified food sourcing and logistics opportunities across the nation; a survey being used to gather information that will help shape the design of local food banks and the national network; and a road map for designing food banks in rural areas.

“At ADP, one of the things we’re about is taking a market-driven approach to development and linking the private sector with NGOs and communities. GFN’s goal of creating sustainable food banking models makes them a philosophical match. Supply chains and logistics are bread-and-butter work at Accenture… we saw clearly that we could send talented people to apply their skills to GFN’s efforts in South Africa and have a major impact on hunger. We hope to build on that experience and participate in future food banking projects.”

Mary Woodgate
International Programmes Manager
Accenture Development Partnerships