For Release: February 13, 2008
Contact: J. Tucker Martin or David Clementson
Email: tucker.martin@oag.state.va.us or dclementson@oag.state.va.us
Phone: 804-786-2071
McDonnell Announces Second Annual Statewide 'Legal Food Frenzy'
Virginia Legal Community Competes for the ‘Attorney General’s Cup’
Goal: Raise 1 Million Pounds of Food; Contest Dates March 31-April 11
Richmond – Attorney General Bob McDonnell joined representatives of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and the Virginia Bar Association today to announce the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” in the Commonwealth. This year’s competition will run from March 31st to April 11th, with the goal of raising one million pounds of food for Virginia’s Food Banks.
The “Legal Food Frenzy” is a benevolent competition among the Virginia legal community to raise food and funds for Virginia’s Food Banks during a traditionally slow period for donations. The statewide competition is based on the regional event held every year by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and sponsored by the Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association. Last year Attorney General McDonnell, together with the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and the Virginia Bar Association, launched the first statewide “Legal Food Frenzy.” 175 Virginia law firms participated, and the event raised almost 679,000 pounds of food, enough food to provide for 530,000 meals for Virginians in need.
“The statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” will become a tradition for Virginia lawyers,” McDonnell said. “When we took this event statewide last year we received an overwhelming response from the Virginia legal community. 175 law firms, from Abingdon to Fairfax, participated in the competition. We raised nearly 679,000 pound of food for Virginians in need, and that food was raised at what is traditionally a slow period for Food Banks in the state.”
McDonnell continued, “Now, we have set our sights even higher. The goal is to raise one million pounds of food. I know we can accomplish this goal. Even more importantly, I know that we are making the “Legal Food Frenzy” a regular event that Virginia’s Food Banks can count on, and the legal community can continue to embrace. I thank the Federation of Virginia Food Banks and The Virginia Bar Association for their tireless leadership in this endeavor. Virginia’s Food Banks do great work, and they deserve our support. I urge all members of the Virginia legal community to sign up for the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy”, and I look forward to awarding the “Attorney General’s Cup” to the most generous firm in Virginia.”
Leslie Van Horn, Executive Director of the Federation of Virginia Food Banks, added, “Last year, the legal community and its extraordinary efforts impacted the lives of thousands of individuals from every corner of Virginia through their generous donations of food and funds. We look forward to continuing to work together to shed light on the injustice of hunger in Virginia with the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” campaign beginning March 31, 2008.”
Katja H. Hill of LeClairRyan and the Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyer's Division, and the Division’s Co-Chair of the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy,” said, “The Virginia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is once again ready to rise to the Attorney General's challenge to raise food and funds for Virginia's food banks. Most people will agree that lawyers are a competitive group; last year's “Legal Food Frenzy” certainly proved that. While one law firm will take home the “Attorney General's Cup”, the real winners will be those Virginians who receive a warm meal thanks to the “Legal Food Frenzy.”
Christopher Gill of Christian Barton in Richmond will also serve as a Co-Chair.
Attorney General McDonnell will once again serve as Chairman of the “Legal Food Frenzy” and will award the “Attorney General’s Cup” to the law firm that raises the most food in relation to firm size. The “Attorney General’s Cup” is a traveling award, staying with the winning law firm until the following year’s competition. Last year’s winner of the “Attorney General’s Cup” was McGuireWoods of Norfolk. In addition, awards will once again be provided to regional winners in the categories of small, medium and large firms, as well as law schools and sole proprietors. Law firms that wish to participate should contact the “Legal Food Frenzy” representative in their region. Contact information is listed below.
The Federation of Virginia Food Banks is a state association of food banks affiliated with America's Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network and is one of the largest hunger relief networks in the State. The Federation is composed of the seven regional Virginia and Washington DC food banks, consisting of facilities in 14 strategic locations. The Federation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation created to support the food banks in providing food, funding, education, advocacy, and awareness services and programs throughout the Commonwealth.
To Participate in the Second Annual Statewide “Legal Food Frenzy” Contact:
Statewide
For Areas not listed, please contact:
Virginia Federation of Food Banks
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Leslie Van Horn
800 Tidewater Drive
Norfolk, VA 23504
leslie@vafoodbanks.org
(757) 314-4572 (office)
(757) 314-4574 (fax)
In the Charlottesville, Winchester, and Lynchburg Area:
Blue Ridge Area Food Bank
Food Drive Coordinator:
Ruth Jones
96 Laurel Hill Road
Verona, VA 24482
rjones@brafb.org
(540) 248-3663 (office)
(540-248-6410 (fax)
In the Fairfax, Loudoun, Alexandria, and Arlington Area:
Capital Area Food Bank
Food Drive Coordinator:
Christel Hair
645 Taylor Street NE
Washington, DC 20017
hairc@cfoodbank.org
(202) 526-5344 (office)
(202)529-1767 (fax)
In the Richmond, Petersburg, Emporia, Ashland, and West Point Area:
Central Virginia Foodbank
Food Drive Coordinator
Brenda Miller
1415 Rhoadmiller Street
Richmond, VA 23220
bmiller@cvfb.org
(804) 521-2500 (office)
(804)521-3288 (fax)
In the Newport News, Hampton, and Williamsburg Area:
Foodbank of the Virginia Peninsula
Food Drive Coordinator:
Loretta Jones
9912 Hosier Street
Newport News, VA 23601
ljones@NNfoodbank.org
(757) 596-7188 (office)
(757)595-2507 (fax)
In the Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania Area:
Fredericksburg Area Food bank
Food Drive Coordinator:
Jennifer Adams
3631 Lee Hill Drive
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
jada@secondharvest.org
(540) 371-7666 (office)
(540)371-3186 (fax)
In the Norfolk, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth,Chesapeake & the Eastern Shore Area:
FOODBANK OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA
Food Drive Coordinator:
Marianne Smith
800 Tidewater Drive
Norfolk, VA 23504
msmith@secondharvest.org
(757)314-4548 (office)
(757)627-8588 (fax)
In the Roanoke, Abingdon, Bristol, Wise Area:
SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
Food Drive Coordinator:
Amy Milberger
1025 Electric Road
Salem, VA 24153
amilberger@swvafoodbank.org
(540) 342-3011, ext 26 (office)
(540)342-0056 (fax)
