MANNA is proud to announce that Genentech has given us a grant for $5,000. Considered the founder of the biotechnology industry, Genentech has been delivering on the promise of biotechnology for more than 35 years, using human genetic information to discover, develop, manufacture and commercialize medicines to treat patients with serious or life-threatening medical conditions. We are very proud that Genentech recognizes the work MANNA does to help support people battling cancer.

Over 50 MANNA volunteers along with Classic Cake of Cherry Hill are gearing up for a fun weekend of baking our MANNA Sky Pie.  1700 of these special Sky Pies, along with other seasonal pies, will be available for purchase by mid-October as part of MANNA’s annual Pie In the Sky Fundraiser.  Place an order on November 18^th and pick-up your pies just in time for Thanksgiving.

All money raised goes directly towards the mission of MANNA - providing nourishing meals, along with counsel and hope, to people at acute nutritional risk from life-threatening illnesses. 

Want to help become a pie seller or a pie selling team?  It is as easy as signing up at www.mannapies.org or by calling 215-496-2662.

On September 15^th MANNA hosted the Volunteer Appreciation Barbeque at the Armory in Philadelphia.   With checked table cloths and decorations provided by Beautiful Blooms, over 200 volunteers showed that special spirit they give to MANNA on a daily basis.  Carolyn Lott and Francis Xavier Mooney were named this year’s recipients of the Slotted Spoon Award for their outstanding volunteer service to MANNA.  As Rob Saxon said, “we want you to know how much we honor you and appreciate what you do for MANNA.  We could not do it without you.”  Thank you volunteers!

Gallery Opening

May 6 from 6-9pm* -TRUST Gallery at 249 Arch Street Philadelphia
Sofia Negron Photography is proud to announce a solo gallery showing of dance photographs from the last 5 years of Shut Up and Dance. The showing will be the entire month of May at TRUST Gallery in Philadelphia. 

MANNA is proud to announce that volunteer Dominic D’Orazio has been recognized by the Campbell Soup Foundation for their Unsung Hero Award. This award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of people in their community through volunteering. Dominic has faithfully dedicated his time to MANNA twice a week for more than 18 year working in distribution, packing, meal production and the kitchen as a volunteer spectacular! Congratulations Dominic and thank you for your dedication to the MANNA mission! 

For more information on the Campbell Soup Foundation and Unsung Hero award visit http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/Foundation.aspx

For more information about becoming a MANNA volunteer please visit http://www.mannapa.org/volunteer/

Join All Fired Up for their Second Annual Rainbow Paint Weekend at 602 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, NJ.

All Fired Up opens the month of June with a paint-with-pride event that has a charitable twist.

From Thursday, June 3rd to Sunday, June 6th, they will donate meals to MANNA for specially selected pieces including dinner plates, bowls and mugs. All Fired Up will donate your $8.00 sitting fee if you mention MANNA when you pay for your project.

For reservations and more information, visit http://www.paintatallfiredup.com or call 856-833-1330.  Please help us make their Second Annual Rainbow Paint Weekend a huge success.

MANNA celebrated champions of health care and nutrition on May 12, at a deliciously lively supper party with amazing ambience, great music, dancing, a high-energy awards presentation. Check out the event photos here - available for purchase and to tag yourself on Facebook! Produced by Evantine Design and Stephen STARR Events, the event honored M•A•C AIDS Fund and M•A•C Cosmetics; Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine; and R. Duane Perry, Founder, The Food Trust.

A DAY OF THANKSGIVING AT MANNA AS HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT LOCAL CHARITY

David Regnery, a Chicago-area restaurateur and owner of the Country House Restaurants, came to MANNA through his step-son Rob Saxon, MANNA’s Director of Volunteers & Resource Development. Those who knew David describe him as an honest gentleman, a loyal friend, a generous boss and a consummate host. Most importantly, David contributed to the lives of others without fanfare or pretentiousness. Every day, MANNA is graced by the time and commitment of donors and volunteers like David who generously and humbly give of their time and resources. By honoring David Regnery MANNA is also honoring all of the donors and volunteers like him. David's family were on hand volunteering on Thanksgiving day, pictured to the right, Linda Regnery, and David Regnery's step-sons David Saxon, and MANNA's own Rob Saxon, Jr.

Click through to watch video from Thanksgiving Day 2009

Interview with MANNA CEO Richard Keaveney

MANNA's Executive Chef Keith Lucas, The Food Network's Iron Chef and Philadelphia restaurateur Jose Garces, and Zana Billue of Zana's Cakes helped judge the Philadelphia Development Partnership's annual Taste of Success gala on Friday, Nov. 20.  The cook-off contest was between their entreprenurial clients and other area entreprenurs with culinary talent.  Read Michael Klein's column.

Photo courtesy of Philadelphia Development Partnership.

 Read the article in the Philadelphia Business Journal about MANNA's Pie Business Gifts.

Pie in the Sky Business Holiday Gift Solutions.  Order by October 1, 2009.  Shipping options available - pies shipped for as low as $30 per pie.

Check out our corporate gifts page - and you, too, can give the crumbiest gift this year.

Help MANNA deliver birthday cakes to clients

Help us raise $4,125 by September 1, 2009 so that every MANNA client can receive a cake on his or her birthday. Many people coping with life-threatening illnesses experience diminished appetites, but tasty desserts play an important role in stimulating their taste buds to ensure they get the nutrition they need. Celebrate nourishment of the mind, body and soul by wishing happy birthday to people in our community who are at acute nutritional risk.

Visit MANNA's Facebook Causes page and donate to help us reach our goal by September 1.

Not on Facebook?  You can make a donation here. 

Studio to share profits with MANNA during June`s Rainbow Paint Weekend

COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. –All Fired Up, South Jersey`s original paint-your-own pottery studio, kicks off the unofficial Gay Pride Month with a long weekend dedicated to showing support for the gay and lesbian community while giving a helping hand to people in the Delaware Valley who are coping with a life-threatening illness. All Fired Up hosts its first Rainbow Paint Weekend June 4 through June 7, as a benefit for MANNA (Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance).

Celebrated nationwide, June developed into Gay Pride Month after the 1969 Stonewall March in New York. All Fired Up opens the month with a paint-with-pride event that has a charitable twist. From Thursday, June 4 to Sunday, June 7, will donate its standard sitting fees for specially selected clay pieces to provide a full day`s worth of nutrition for a MANNA client.

MANNA prepares and delivers delicious, nourishing meals, along with counsel and hope, to people at acute nutritional risk from life-threatening illnesses, helping them improve their health and quality of life. Each month, MANNA brings more than 65,000 nutritious, freshly prepared, home-delivered meals to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS, cancer or other life-threatening illness. MANNA`s small professional staff and 1,000 dedicated volunteers prepare and deliver 100% complete nutrition to our clients -- 3 meals a day, 7 days a week – at no charge. MANNA dietitians promote wellness through nutrition education and counseling.

All Fired Up will donate to MANNA its standard sitting fees of $6 for anyone under 12 and $8 for those 12 and older. In addition to popular pieces such as plates, bowls and figurines, customers may choose from window placards, key chains, garden stones and other pieces designed for public display. All Fired Up has sponges, stamps and stencils to inspire even the artistically challenged.

Rainbow Paint Weekend starts Thursday, June 4 with hours from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and continues Friday, June 5 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, June 7 from noon to 5 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended. Painters are invited to bring their own food and drink to make the occasion more festive. For pre- or post-painting experience, visit one of Collingswood`s 30-plus eateries for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

All Fired Up, 602 Haddon Ave., is located in Collingswood`s Lumberyard Condos. For more information, call 856.833.1330 or visit PaintAtAllFiredUp.com.

In a tradition that goes back a decade, the M·A·C AIDS Fund continued its support of MANNA, the Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance, with a grant of $50,000 in support of the nonprofit MANNA`s Medical Nutrition Therapy program.

Representatives of M·A·C Cosmetics visited MANNA on April 28, 2009 to tour our newly renovated facility and present the check to Executive Director Richard Keaveney. M·A·C AIDS Fund has supported MANNA`s programs and services since 1999, donating over $625,000 to us over the years. The company was a key supporter of the capital campaign to renovate our facilities and expand our services, but this was the first opportunity for MAC representatives to tour the facility they helped to fund. Plans are now in the works for M·A·C Cosmetics employees to support MANNA`s efforts hands-on by helping to prepare some of the 3,000 meals that we produce daily.

Every cent of the selling price of the MAC`s VIVA GLAM lipsticks goes to the M·A·C AIDS Fund. With Viva Glam lipstick and Viva Glam Lipglass now sold worldwide, and through the annual Kids Helping Kids Card Program, M·A·C Cosmetics has provided over $135 million (US) to date for the M·A·C AIDS Fund, which since 1994 has supported men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

MANNA was founded in 1990 with the goal of feeding every person with HIV/AIDS who needed assistance regardless of income. Nearing its 20th anniversary, MANNA has now delivered over six million meals and its services have grown from meal preparation to encompass nutrition education and counseling. MANNA is no longer disease-specific and now meets the nutritional needs of people throughout the Greater Philadelphia region who are at acute nutritional risk from a life-threatening illness.

Check out our MANNA Nourishes blog on Blogger.  Our staff and volunteers post to the MANNA Nourishes blog to let you know what`s happening at MANNA.  You can comment on their posts - we want to hear from you! 

 Press Release

 

 

PHILADELPHIA – Four of the region's foremost corporate organizations announced today that MANNA is the latest nonprofit to be named a Champion in Action®. MANNA received the recognition for its effective work in delivering medically appropriate meals each day to people with life-threatening illnesses. As a Champion in Action, MANNA will receive a $25,000 grant, media coverage, and extensive promotional and volunteer support over the next three months.

Champions in Action is an innovative program that provides various forms of support for small nonprofit organizations in recognition of their contributions to communities throughout the five-county Philadelphia area. Since its inception in 2003, 19 Champions have been selected including today's announcement.

“Citizens Bank is pleased to join NBC 10, Greater Philadelphia Cares, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and Philly.com in naming MANNA as our new Champion in Action,” said Daniel K. Fitzpatrick, Citizens Bank President and CEO for Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. “Since its modest beginnings in 1990, MANNA has grown into an effective and highly respected agency that nourishes both the bodies and souls of thousands of individuals and families throughout greater Philadelphia living with life-threatening illnesses. MANNAs work and its expanding mission are a testament to how a handful of concerned individuals are able to have a huge impact on our community.”

“NBC 10 is proud to be a partner with the Champions in Action program,” said Dennis Bianchi, President and General Manager of NBC 10. “Strong partnerships and programs such as this allow us to demonstrate our community commitment, and give us the chance to thank local nonprofits, such as MANNA, that do so much good work in communities across our region. MANNA chefs and volunteers work together to prepare, package and deliver almost 2,700 medically approved meals each day to people at acute nutritional risk who are living with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other serious health challenges.”

“Using a small professional staff and 1,000 dedicated volunteers, MANNA prepares and delivers more than 72,000 nutritious and freshly prepared meals each month, all completely free to the client,” said Carol Dooling, Director of Communications and Partnerships at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com. “This effective outreach is supplemented by client reassessment to ensure a full level of nutritional support so that clients are making the most efficient and effective use of MANNA's resources.”

“Volunteer support is essential to an organization such as MANNA,” said Renee Archawski, Executive Director of Greater Philadelphia Cares. “We are delighted to pledge our support to help MANNA continue to expand its mission, especially at this time of the year when MANNA needs more volunteers to help during the busy holiday season.”

MANNA's Chief Executive Officer Richard Keaveney and his staff learned that the nonprofit was selected as a Champion in Action during a surprise segment of the 10! Show on NBC 10. As a Champion in Action, MANNA will receive:

• A $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from the Citizens Bank Foundation.

• Media coverage from NBC 10, including public service announcements and profiles.

• Advertising space in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and on Philly.com to promote both the program and the organization.

• Volunteer support from Citizens Bank, NBC 10 and Greater Philadelphia Cares.

• Extensive public relations support.

• Promotional support, highlighting the Champion in Action in all Citizens Bank branches.

• Exposure on the Web sites of Citizens Bank, NBC 10 and Philly.com.

• Consulting and implementation services, provided by Greater Philadelphia Cares, to leverage volunteer support that enhances impact.

Four new Champions in Action will be selected and announced throughout 2009. The topics and deadlines are as follow:

1st Quarter – Youth Programming, deadline closed

2nd Quarter – Housing, January 23, 2009

3rd Quarter – Financial Literacy, April 24, 2009

4th Quarter – Community Arts, July 17, 2009

About Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania

Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania is a state-chartered bank with dual headquarters in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It has approximately 400 branches and more than 660 ATMs throughout Pennsylvania. It also operates 13 retail branches and 26 ATMs in southern New Jersey and a commercial loan office in Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $159 billion commercial bank holding company headquartered in Providence, R.I.

Citizens Financial Group, through its subsidiaries, has more than 1,600 branches, 3,300 ATMs and 24,500 employees. CFG`s two bank subsidiaries are RBS Citizens, N.A. and Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania. They operate a 13-state branch network under the Citizens Bank brand in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont, and the Charter One brand in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. CFG has non-branch retail and commercial offices in about 40 states. It is one of the10 largest commercial banking companies in the United States ranked by assets and deposits. CFG is owned by RBS (The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc). CFG`s Web site is citizensbank.com.

About NBC 10

NBC 10, one of 10 Owned & Operated NBC television stations, is located in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. Millions of viewers throughout Greater Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley, South Jersey and Delaware tune into NBC 10 everyday for the most up-to-date news, weather, sports, consumer, health and traffic reports. NBC 10`s 5 p.m. news ? “All That & More” ? is the only fully interactive news program in the region. Viewers also tune in daily to watch “The 10! Show,” an upbeat, one-hour lifestyle and entertainment show featuring local, national and internationally known celebrities. The program airs Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. Recognized as the No. 1 Web site (www.nbc10.com) in the top 50 markets, NBC10.com received the prestigious National Edward R. Murrow Award.

About Philadelphia Media Holdings

Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC, is the leading media company in the Philadelphia region. Privately held and locally owned, PMH is the owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News, philly.com, related online products and several community newspapers. With almost one million people reading The Inquirer each day, and 1.6 million on Sundays, The Inquirer is the region`s most-read daily newspaper. Together with the Daily News, the No. 1 tab newspaper in the region, which reaches 500,000 readers each week, and philly.com, the No. 1 Web site in the region, Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC, reaches almost 2 million people each day.

About Greater Philadelphia Cares

An award-winning non-profit, Greater Philadelphia Cares is committed to empowering individuals to realize their ability to contribute to the community in meaningful ways. By providing a variety of flexible, tangible volunteer opportunities, Greater Philadelphia Cares is continuously enhancing the ability for volunteers to serve the community.

About MANNA

    

     

 

MANNA was one of several nutrition services agencies featured in "Food Costs Feed Health Woes" by Joe Barrett on September 2nd. The article describes the challenges facing nutrition-support groups and their clients as food and fuel prices soar. Healthy food is being hit hardest by the rising costs, which come at a time when many organizations are expanding their missions to serve more people.

Meg Rider was interviewed in Fundraising Success about MANNA's special events.