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Delaware North commits $250,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo to address food insecurity

“Nourishing Our Future” commitment includes the purchase of van to deliver nutritious meals to 2,500 children at seven city clubs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (August 11, 2022) – Buffalo-based hospitality and entertainment company Delaware North today announced a $250,000 commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo to address food insecurity among children in the City of Buffalo.

Delaware North CEO Lou Jacobs was joined by Boys & Girls Club CEO Shari McDonough, New York State Senator Tim Kennedy and Delaware North’s Regional Executive Chef Steve Forman to make the announcement at the Babcock Clubhouse.

Delaware North’s financial commitment will fund “Nourishing Our Future,” a program designed to provide better quality and more nutritious food to 500 children who attend Boys & Girls Clubs summer camps and 2,000 children who attend after-school programs each year.

The commitment includes the purchase of a catering van to deliver nutritious meals cooked in a central commissary to six clubhouses and one school site across the city, including the club site at the Eggertsville Youth and Community Center in Amherst, funds to employ staff dedicated to the delivery of meals, and funds to cover additional healthy foods for the Boys & Girls Clubs’ pantry.

In addition to the financial commitment, Delaware North leaders and associates have committed their time and expertise to help the Boys & Girls Clubs transform their food program.

Delaware North’s culinary leadership, including Delaware North Sportservice Regional Executive Chef Steve Forman, who oversees culinary operations at Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center, is providing mentorship to the clubs’ kitchen staff, offering guidance on how to efficiently set up the kitchen and reviewing and redesigning menus to be more exciting for children.

Additionally, Delaware North is leveraging the strength of its national purchasing relationships to assist the Boys & Girls Clubs in more efficiently procuring upgrades to their commissary equipment.

“We jumped at the chance to partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo to launch ‘Nourishing Our Future,’” said Lou Jacobs, CEO, Delaware North. “Providing access to nutritious meals is a critical element in the clubs’ work to provide an enriching, safe space for our community’s youth, and Delaware North is honored to launch this latest initiative in our longstanding partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo.”

“We are honored and humbled to partner with Delaware North on this important project,” said Shari McDonough, CEO, Boys & Girls Club. “It is always a challenge to feed our young people, but to add the
expertise and knowledge of the Delaware North associates and Chef Steve, we now know that our kids will have even more delicious and nutritious menu items delivered to them fresh and hot each day while they are safe and happy at the Boys & Girls Clubs.”

“The Jacobs family and Delaware North have done so much for our community by investing in outstanding organizations serving our youth,” said New York State Senator Tim Kennedy. “The Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo is a strong pillar in our community, and I’m grateful they’ve launched this new partnership with Delaware North to help feed children in our community.”

The Nourishing our Future van is expected to deliver more than 100,000 meals annually to Boys & Girls Clubhouses across Buffalo.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo
Since 1926, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo has been at the forefront of youth development, working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances. We have actively sought to enrich the lives of girls and boys whom other youth agencies failed to reach and we are dedicated to ensuring that our community’s disadvantaged youngsters have greater access to quality programs and services that will enhance their lives and shape their futures. Today, Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo serves nearly 2,600 youth between the ages of 5-18. We are not only a place where youth can come and hang out after school, but a safe haven that allows them to develop into young adults with the necessary skills and sense of self to succeed outside of our buildings.

About Delaware North
Delaware North is a global leader in the hospitality and entertainment industry. The company annually serves more than a half-billion guests across four continents, including at high-profile sports venues, airports, national and state parks, restaurants, resorts, hotels and casinos. Building on more than a century of enduring partnerships and a commitment to local communities and sustainability, Delaware North’s vision is to delight guests by creating the world’s best experiences today while reimagining tomorrow. Learn more at www.DelawareNorth.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.