On June 17, more than 4,300 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AMP) employees, advisors and clients will band together to provide food for people in need. Working at 250 hunger-relief nonprofits across the country, the volunteers will package and prepare meals for those struggling with hunger. Today, 48 million Americans – including 15 million children and 7 million seniors – are food insecure. The events, organized in partnership with Feeding America®, are part of two nationwide service days, which bring together nearly 15,000 volunteers to address the problem of domestic hunger.

“Summer is meant to be a time that is carefree and relaxing, but it can be stressful for families whose children lose access to free or reduced-cost school lunch programs while school is in recess. In addition, there continues to be a nationwide increase in seniors who are food insecure due to illness, declining health and the inability to access food if they can no longer drive to the grocery store,” said Brian Pietsch, head of community relations at Ameriprise. “By bringing together our nationwide network of advisors, employees and volunteers, we strive to help close these hunger gaps and bring attention to a very worthy need.”

Ameriprise Gives more than $1.4 Million in Grants to Nonprofits

In conjunction with its national event, Ameriprise announces the donation of more than $1.4 million in grants to 83 nonprofits that align with its philanthropic priorities: meeting basic needs, supporting community vitality and volunteer-driven causes. Most of the grant recipients also benefit from involvement from Ameriprise employees and advisors through volunteerism, board service and monetary donations.

Recent grant recipients include:

  • Family Scholar House, Inc. (FSH) in Louisville, Ky., supports disadvantaged single parents by identifying and addressing the challenges they face in earning college degrees, entering the workforce or achieving self-sufficiency. In 2015, FSH served over 3,100 disadvantaged single parents and their children through its program.
  • Rosie’s Place in Boston, Mass., acts as a safe haven for women who need a second chance to achieve their full potential. Founded in 1974 as the first emergency shelter for women in the country, Rosie’s Place provides a safe and secure environment for underprivileged women with emergency services like hot showers, meals and groceries.
  • The Florida Orchestra in St. Petersburg, Fla., is the largest performing arts organization in the Tampa Bay area and strives to inspire, entertain and educate audiences with the unique power of live symphonic music. The orchestra performs 67 symphonic concerts annually, encompassing a wide variety of music to captivate a diverse audience. The orchestra also provides free or low-cost community engagement programs to help enrich the lives of Tampa Bay’s residents.

Ameriprise funds grants to nonprofits twice a year. Grant guidelines are available on https://www.ameriprise.com/financial-planning/about/community-relations/.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

About Ameriprise Financial Community Relations

Ameriprise Financial is dedicated to utilizing the firm’s resources and talents to improve the lives of individuals and build strong communities. Through grants, volunteerism and employee and advisor gift matching programs, the company supports a diverse group of over 6,500 nonprofits across the country. Last year, our employees contributed more than 80,000 volunteer hours to nonprofits nationwide.

About Ameriprise Financial

At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 120 years. With a network of 10,000 financial advisors and extensive asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of consumer financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com.

© 2016 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

Grants Awarded: First Cycle 2016

Meeting Basic Needs – 48 grants: 1736 Family Crisis Center, A New Leaf, Inc., AccessAbility, Inc., Aeon, Bay Area Turning Point, Inc., Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Inc., Casa Central, Catholic Charities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, CommonBond Communities, Community Food Bank, Inc., Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc., Community Servings, Desert Mission, Family Scholar House, Inc., Feeding America, Feeding America Southwest Virginia, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, ForKids, Inc., Fresh Start Women's Foundation, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, HAVEN Inc., Human Solutions, Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul, Junior League of Minneapolis, Inc., Mary's Place Seattle, Mitzvah Food Project, Neopolitan Lighthouse, Northern Illinois Food Bank, People Serving People Charities Inc., Prepare + Prosper, Project Hope, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, Redwood Empire Food Bank, RESOURCE, Inc., Rose Brooks Center, Inc., Rosie's Place, Sarasota Family Young Men's Christian Association, Inc., Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Simpson Housing Services, St. Bernard Project, The Aliveness Project, The Greater Boston Food Bank, The Hunger and Health Coalition, Inc., The Open Door, Twin Cities R!SE, Women's Resource Center of Greensboro

Supporting Community Vitality – 28 grants: Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Carnegie Hall Society Inc., Children's Theater Company and School, Guthrie Theater, HandsOn Twin Cities, Hispanic Business Initiative Fund of Florida, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Mattie Rhodes Center, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minnesota Orchestral Association, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA), Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, National Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorale of Montgomery County, Inc., Pillsbury United Communities, Portland Children's Museum, Portland Youth Philharmonic Association, Shreveport Opera, Stages Theatre Company, The Art Connection, The Florida Orchestra, Inc., The Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Southern Theater, Urban Gateways, Walker Art Center, Weisman Art Museum (WAM), University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, Women's Economic Ventures (WEV), WomenVenture

Volunteer-drive Causes – 7 grants: Alzheimer's Association Minnesota-North Dakota Chapter, BestPrep, Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity, Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona, Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc. in Brown County, Special Olympics Minnesota