The Arby’s Foundation, the charitable arm of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG), today announced the Foundation’s investment in ending childhood hunger in Georgia with a donation of $3 million to broaden the Georgia Food Bank Association’s (GFBA) “Feeding for a Promising Future – No Kid Hungry” campaign. The investment will begin an innovative public/private partnership between the Arby’s Foundation, the GFBA, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and other state partners.

The Arby’s Foundation’s mission is to end childhood hunger in America, and the Arby’s Foundation sees a great opportunity to work alongside the Campaign’s efforts in Georgia. This donation, coupled with the Arby’s Foundation’s $5 million contribution nationally over the past two years, demonstrates Arby’s commitment that all children in America have access to the wholesome food they need to learn, play and grow.

“I am honored and excited to work alongside strong corporate citizens like the Arby’s Foundation and the Georgia Food Bank Association,” said Georgia’s Governor Nathan Deal .  “This unprecedented collaboration is on the forefront of the much needed effort to end childhood hunger in Georgia where one in four children does not know where their next meal will come from.”

These funds will be used to execute a strategic plan for addressing childhood hunger in Georgia, and developing the strategy into a case study that can be replicated across the United States. Included in this investment is a collective partnership that will unite the Campaign’s objectives with the objectives of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life movement as well as Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry state campaign.

“This latest investment stands as a testament to Arby’s commitment in fighting childhood hunger not only throughout the nation, but particularly here in Georgia,” said Hala Moddelmog , President of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. “Through this strategic partnership with the Georgia Food Bank Association, we look forward to working together to help put an end to an issue both our organizations take extremely seriously – childhood hunger.”

Both the Arby’s Foundation and the GFBA will seek to strengthen and expand feeding sites in Georgia as well as increase stakeholders’ efforts to address the gaps and needs of nutrition education statewide. The Arby’s Foundation is proud to bring Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta on board with their commitment to nutrition and the healthy development of children.

“We are honored to call the Arby’s Foundation our partner in fighting childhood hunger throughout the state of Georgia,” said Bill Bolling , Founder and executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and chairperson of the Georgia Food Bank Association. “We are confident that the community reach and influence of the Arby’s Foundation will positively impact our critical efforts.”

“As a community it is our responsibility to ensure healthy options are accessible to families – options that will improve their children’s overall health, which is why we are proud to partner with the Arby’s Foundation,” adds Linda Matzigkeit , Chief Administrative Officer, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.  “This is why we launched the Strong4Life movement, to get Georgia’s children and families healthy by placing a focus on good nutrition and increased physical activity.”

To read more about Governor Deal’s Georgia wellness initiative, click here.