CHICAGO, IL, U.S.A.—May 4, 2016 —The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) today launched a new online platform, GFN e-Learning, to advance training opportunities for food bank leaders around the world. The online platform complements the organization’s annual Food Bank Leadership Institute, providing year-round learning and development opportunities to hunger leaders in 35 countries.

“From Bogota to Bangalore, food banks are having transformational impacts on their communities. Through GFN’s new e-Learning platform, hunger leaders can share best practices and access critical training materials throughout the year,” said Lisa Moon, GFN President and CEO. “This information will be essential to rapidly accelerating food banks’ ability to feed those in need through reducing food waste.”

Since 2006 GFN has hosted the premiere training institute for those leading food bank operations in Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East. The Institute, which is held annually in Houston, has been proven to equip new and early-stage food banks with the knowledge and know-how to strengthen and grow their organization’s reach and effectiveness. The launch of GFN e-Learning will allow more people to access training materials and best practices, more often.

“It’s fantastic that learning from and sharing information with other food bankers will be made easier through GFN e-Learning,” said Nichol Ng, Co-Founder of The Food Bank Singapore, a GFN member. “We are looking forward to continuing the discussions that took place at the Institute, and we thank GFN for providing us with this useful tool.”

GFN e-Learning is made possible through a grant from the Macquarie Group Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Macquarie Group, which provides financial, advisory, investment and funds management services around the globe..

“We are very excited to partner with The Global FoodBanking Network to support the adoption of their new e-Learning platform and help advance training opportunities for food bank leaders globally,” said Michael McLaughlin, US Country Head for Macquarie Group. “We are proud to support innovative programs that accelerate technology adoption and help improve outcomes and quality of life for people around the world.”

About The Global FoodBanking Network

The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an international nonprofit organization committed to fighting hunger and reducing food waste by creating, supporting, and strengthening food banks and food bank networks around the world. Last year GFN member food banks rescued 1.2 billion pounds of food and redirected it to feed 6.5 hungry people through more than 28,000 social service organizations. For more information please visit www.foodbanking.org.

About The Macquarie Group Foundation

The Macquarie Group Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Macquarie Group. In the year to March 31, 2015, the Macquarie Group Foundation, together with Macquarie Group staff efforts, contributed $18.4 million and thousands of volunteering and pro bono days to over 1,300 community organizations around the world. Since the Foundation was established in 1985, it and Macquarie staff have contributed more than $200 million globally.