On Saturday (Nov. 4), the world's largest single-day philanthropic event will occur, and Granville will take part. The Denison chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity will be working with the citizens of Granville and its surrounding area in the hopes of raising at least 25,000 pounds of canned food for the Licking County Food Pantry.

The North American Food Drive, Lambda Chi Alpha?s largest philanthropy, has been in motion since 1993. That year, with the theme of "Brothers Feeding Others," 8,000 brothers from over 150 chapters participated to raise 256,416 pounds of food.

In 1994, the pounds collected jumped to 415,000, with the help of coverage from CNN and local television stations. 1995 yielded 551,570 pounds, the next year brought in 835,588 pounds with 191 chapters and 11,000 students working on the single day.

1997, the year of the fifth annual Food Drive, broke one million pounds, feeding 800,000 people that holiday season. The goal of one million remained for 1998, but was easily surpassed, roping in a spectacular 1.9 million pounds of food. 1999 saw the two million mark surpassed.

Last year, the Denison chapter collected 15,052 pounds of food through donations of food and money from area residents. The goal for the eight annual North American Food Drive is 2 million pounds of food. The Denison chapter?s own goal is to break 25,000 pounds.

One week prior to the actual day of the food drive, the fraternity members will be distributing bags with letters attached explaining the philanthropy and what the fraternity hopes the community can do. On Nov. 4, the fraternity and other helpers will cover the area and pick up canned food or monetary donations. All the food will be weighed, the money counted, and the Licking County Food Pantry will receive it all that afternoon.

For more information, contact Lambda Chi Alpha Public Relations Director Jason Hackworth at (740) 587-9033 or email at hackwo_j@denison.edu.

About Denison:

Denison University, founded in 1831, is an independent, residential liberal arts institution located in Granville, Ohio. A highly selective college enrolling 2,100 full-time undergraduate students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, Denison is a place where innovative faculty and motivated students collaborate in rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and the cultivation of independent thinking.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575