BBVA USA announces $600,000 award to Feeding America to help food banks during pandemic

BBVA is a Feeding America Mission Partner, supporting the organization’s focus on hunger relief. Through this partnership, BBVA works to help reduce food insecurity, including during the current global pandemic.

“Food insecurity has become an increasing area of concern with limited access, supply chain issues and increasing unemployment numbers. Food banks across the country have been stretched thin,” said BBVA USA President and CEO Javier Rodríguez Soler. “BBVA’s support of food banks across our footprint, through our partnership with Feeding America, is part of the bank’s rapid relief efforts to provide support where it is needed most in the communities we serve.”

As a nationwide network of 200 local food banks and 60,000 feeding programs that provides meals to more than 40 million people each year, Feeding America reaches into every county in the country. The expansive reach makes the network exceptionally well-positioned to support robust, multi-faceted partnerships.

Biedron: "...it’s through partnerships like ours with BBVA that these programs are possible."

“Feeding America food banks are working tirelessly to meet the increased needs of our neighbors who face hunger,” said Laura Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Feeding America. “The Feeding America network of food banks, pantries and meal programs serve virtually every community in the United States, and it’s through partnerships like ours with BBVA that these programs are possible.”

The bank’s award to Feeding America is the most recent among a number of initiatives in support of local communities in response to the pandemic, including:

• 1:1 Matching Campaign through the BBVA Compassion Fund, which supports impacted employees through contributions from other employees and BBVA USA dollar-for-dollar matching
• Virtual volunteer efforts, which will include attendance in partners’ virtual board meetings, instructing online financial education classes, and mentorship through digital channels. Local BBVA employee volunteer chapters will be reaching out to partners to identify remote volunteer opportunities that can be performed during the duration of the pandemic.
• Virtual workshops through the Center for Financial Education, an initiative to improve financial health and capabilities.
• Public health support, working to procure $500,000 in essential materials and other public health support for nonprofit partners, including gloves, hand sanitizer and N95 masks.

BBVA Group earlier announced its commitment of €35 million to combat the coronavirus outbreak, helping health authorities and social organizations and fostering scientific research in countries where it operates.

In addition to community support, BBVA USA is providing assistance across its footprint to those who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, including special offers for consumers and small businesses, and specialized benefits for employees.

Rodríguez Soler: "We have teams across our footprint -- and around the world -- who are putting their strengths, skills and talents to work to mitigate the economic and social impact of this outbreak."

“We have teams across our footprint -- and around the world -- who are putting their strengths, skills and talents to work to mitigate the economic and social impact of this outbreak,” Rodríguez Soler said. “I’m proud of the work we’ve been able to accomplish as a team during such a challenging time, working side by side with our non-profit partners and community leaders. We look forward to continuing that commitment as we navigate the health crisis and its aftermath."