| Press Release |
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| April 10, 2008 |
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Governor Praises State Employees for Helping to Fight Hunger in Oregon
State employees step up efforts, raising nearly $500,000 for fight against hunger
(Salem)—At the closing ceremony for the Governor’s 2008 State Employees’ Food Drive, Governor Ted Kulongoski congratulated state workers for helping him address the immediate needs of Oregon’s families, an effort that goes hand-in-hand with his long-term plan to fight the root causes of hunger.
“All of you stepped up to the plate and raised your donation levels at a time when the need is particularly great. The increases in the cost of living, for all of life’s necessities—housing, utilities, transportation, health care, child care, and food—mean this year’s food drive was more important than ever,” the Governor said. “You all have done your part, and I will promise to do mine. Increasing investments in health care and education, from pre-kindergarten through college, are critical in the fight against hunger.”
This year, state employees donated more than 287,000 pounds of food to the Oregon Food Bank Network. Cash donations totaled over $470,000 and payroll deductions totaled more than $315,000, which is $59,000 more than last year’s drive brought in. Over 1,800 state employees donated at least $120.
According to the Oregon Food Bank’s 2008 calculations, every dollar donated amounts to five pounds of food, Oregon state employees donated the equivalent of 4.2 million pounds of food to Oregon families, a 10-percent increase over the amount donated in 2007.
Employees representing over 75 state agencies, departments, boards and universities participated in the food drive. The agencies are divided by size into six teams. For each team, the Governor awards the highest pounds-per-employee raised and the largest increase compared to the previous year.
The 2008 winners are:
Team 1
Pounds-per-Employee: Employment Relations Board (1st); Judicial Fitness & Disability (2nd); Legislative Fiscal Officer (3rd)
Largest Increase: Oregon Board of Pharmacy
Team 2
Pounds-per-Employee: Governor’s Office (1st); State Library (2nd); Private Health Partnerships (3rd)
Largest Increase: Oregon Commission for the Blind
Team 3
Pounds-per-Employee: Bureau of Labor & Industries (1st); Housing & Community Services (2nd); Secretary of State (3rd)
Largest Increase: The Public Utility Commission
Team 4
Pounds-per-Employee: Department of Forestry (1st); Department of Revenue (2nd); Department of Consumer & Business Services (3rd)
Largest Increase: Department of Administrative Services
Team 5
Pounds-per-Employee: Employment Department (1st); Department of Justice (2nd); Department of Corrections (3rd)
Largest Increase: Department of Corrections
Team 6
Pounds-per-Employee: Western Oregon University (1st); Oregon State University (2nd); Oregon Institute of Technology (3rd)
Largest Increase: Oregon Health and Science University
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
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