Concord Hospitality Celebrates Second Annual Share Day with $50,000 Donation to Feed the Children Organization

Contribution and Volunteers to Help Distribute Food and Sundries to Nearly 3,000 Families in Seven North American Cities

RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C., May 20, 2010—Concord Hospitality Enterprises, one of the nation’s top-ranked hotel developer/owner/operators, will celebrate its second annual “Share Day” on May 20 in seven cities across North America. Working with Feed the Children (FTC), Concord Hospitality will contribute cash and in-kind services valued at $50,000 to transport donated items to FTC receiving locations in seven cities, where a total of more than 250 Concord associates from the company’s 70-plus hotels will unload the goods at local participating agencies. It is estimated that event participants will distribute food and essentials to nearly 3,000 families in the communities where Concord associates live and work.

Feed the Children is a non-profit, world-wide relief organization that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to children  and families due to poverty, famine, war, or natural disaster. FTC will assemble the food and donated items and then transport them to local charities that have identified appropriate recipients. Concord associates will unload the trucks and distribute the items to the local families.

“With the economy still so difficult, hunger remains a major issue for a growing number of families,” said Mark G. Laport, Concord president and CEO. “Our nearly 3,000 associates raised just over $25,000 through various fund-raising activities. Concord matched those funds bringing the total cash donation to more than $50,000 to Feed The Children for this event. In fact, Share Day was so successful last year that we’ve added a seventh city, Houston, and increased the cash portion of our contribution by more than 15 percent.

“Being an active part of the community and giving back is one of our four founding cornerstones,” he said. “With its locations around the world and a strong North American presence, Feed the Children was a perfect fit for us. Their low overhead costs mean our dollars go further and help us make the biggest impact possible.”

Trucks from seven Feed the Children facilities will deliver enough supplies to feed more than 400 families in each area. Concord associates will unload the trucks and and distribute the contents to local families.

Participating cities include:

  • Toronto, Ontario, Canada Receiving organization: Rexdale Alliance Church
  • Columbus, Ohio, Receiving organization: Common Ground Community Church
  • Pittsburgh, Pa., Receiving organization: Pittsburgh Family Development
  • Houston, Texas, Receiving organization: Bethel’s Heavenly Hands
  • West Des Moines, Iowa, Receiving organization: The Salvation Army
  • Hackensack, N.J., Receiving organization: Center for Food Action Warehouse
  • Raleigh, N.C., Receiving organization: With Love from Jesus Ministries

“The difficult economy has created significant challenges for many families, and we are grateful for partners like Concord Hospitality who generously contribute their time and resources to help children and families in need,” said Feed The Children spokesperson, Tony Sellars. “Our continuing partnership with Concord will allow us to increase the number of families we can assist.”