Kate Maehr, Executive Director for the Greater Chicago Food Depository (inset), addresses runners at the 2009 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Chicago, where food was collected on-site. The Depository will return as beneficiary of this year's race. Read below how you can make a difference for Chicago's hungry people through your efforts at this year's race.

Greater Chicago Food Depository returns
as Corporate Challenge beneficiary

CHICAGO, March 29, 2010 — The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Cook County 's food bank, will return as the beneficiary of this year's JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Grant Park.

The Food Depository joined as a Corporate Challenge beneficiary in 2009. The JPMorgan Chase Foundation made a donation for each entry to the Depository, and the 17,070 race participants also contributed 8,209 pounds of food through advance and on-site food drives.

“We are very grateful for our partnership with the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “Food drives in the spring months are especially important since they enable us to respond to the year-round need in our community. Donations of nonperishable food items will help us stock our shelves and provide nutritious food to our network of 650 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters.”

The Food Depository now serves 678,000 people each year, up 36 percent from 2006 when the last comprehensive study of hunger in Chicago was released.

This year, the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge and the Food Depository have set a goal to collect 20,000 pounds of food. Companies can help us reach that goal through the following methods:

• Donating through a Virtual Food Drive. The Food Depository can purchase food for approximately one-third less than the average consumer, so this is the most effective, efficient way to make an impact.
• Donating nonperishable food items at Race Packet pick-up at the Hilton Chicago on Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26
• Donating nonperishable food items at the Grant Park race site on Thursday, May 27
• Contacting the Food Depository directly to arrange for pick-up of a food donation directly at your company

Company captains will receive more details on these food drives in subsequent emails from the Corporate Challenge. You should also bookmark the Food Depository's Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for more information.

Registration for the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge in Chicago is now available and will remain open until Wednesday, May 13. All participants must work a minimum of 25 hours per week and need to enter as a part of a team comprised of their work colleagues. The minimum size of a company team is four, and there is no maximum. Please email Chicago@jpmorganchasecc.com with any questions.