TEGNA, Arby’s Foundation and Points of Light Honor Top Make A Difference Day Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
$10,000 grants awarded to 14 individuals and organizations for their volunteerism efforts in their local communities on Make A Difference Day
McLEAN, VA – As part of National Volunteer Week, TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) along with the Arby’s Foundation and Points of Light are honoring 14 volunteers from across the country for their dedication to service and leadership in helping improve their community on Make A Difference Day. Awards will be given to ten national award winners, three community award winners and one all-star winner. National and community honorees each receive a $10,000 grant, courtesy of the Arby’s Foundation, while the all-star winner receives a $10,000 grant from the TEGNA Foundation. These grants allow honorees to donate the money to a charity of their choice and continue to make a difference in their community.
This year’s winners were selected from more than 1,200 projects that took place on October 22, 2016, Make A Difference Day. More than 80,000 volunteers came together with a common mission: to improve the lives of others. Award-winners organized and led several service projects that made a positive impact in their communities including rebuilding homes, aiding the homeless and beautifying neighborhoods.
To celebrate their commitment to service and impact on those in need, award-winners are being surprised with a $10,000 grant. Social videos of their reactions, as well as information about their project and the impact it had, are being shared throughout the week on makeadifferenceday.com and across its social media channels. Follow along using the Make A Difference Day hashtag #MDDay.
“The volunteers recognized for their Make A Difference Day contributions inspire all of us. They go above and beyond to help their community and bring meaningful change to those who need it,” said Gracia Martore, president and CEO, TEGNA. “Both Make A Difference Day and TEGNA are committed to supporting our communities and empowering those we serve. We congratulate our winners and thank the thousands of volunteers from across the country who continue to make a difference through volunteerism.”
“The Arby’s Foundation was founded to give back to the communities we serve, just like all of these outstanding volunteers did on Make A Difference Day,” said Rob Lynch, brand president and CMO. “It is an honor to recognize their achievements, reward their commitment to service and help them continue to make a positive impact year-round.”
“In these Make A Difference Day honorees, we find inspiration and ideas for taking action in our own lives. They are bright points of light in lives and communities,” said Tracy Hoover, CEO, Points of Light. “They remind us that we can tackle tough problems together and that every single one of us has a role to play. Service awakens our passions and connects us to each other.”
The ten 2016 national Make A Difference Day Award honorees include:
- Garden Pool, Mesa, AZ
- Chico Community Shelter Partnership, Chico, CA
- Moving Forward Limb Loss Support Group, New Albany, IN
- 360 Communities, Lakeville, MN
- Pineville Neighbors Place, Pineville, NC
- Habitat for Humanity of Dutchess County, Dutchess County, NY
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
- Dream Center of Pickens County, Easley, SC
- Great Schools Partnership Charitable Trust, Knoxville, TN
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Wenatchee, WA
The three 2016 Community Award honorees are:
- Mesa, AZ, The Foundation for Mesa Parks and Recreation
- San Luis Obispo, CA, El Camino Homeless Organization
- Petal, MS, Petal Public Improvement Corporation
The All-Star Award winner is:
- The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation, Eastchester, NY
Make A Difference Day is one of the largest, single days of service nationwide. It began in 1992 and takes place annually on the fourth Saturday in October. The next Make A Difference Day will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017. Make A Difference Day is made possible by the employees of TEGNA with support from the Arby’s Foundation and longtime partner Points of Light. For more information, including how to register a project, visit makeadifferenceday.com.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA) is comprised of a dynamic portfolio of media and digital businesses that provide content that matters and brands that deliver. TEGNA offers highly relevant, useful and smart content, when and how people need it, to make the best decisions possible. TEGNA Media includes 46 television stations and is the largest independent station group of major network affiliates in the top 25 markets, reaching approximately one-third of all television households nationwide. TEGNA Digital is comprised of Cars.com, the leading online destination for automotive consumers, CareerBuilder, a global leader in human capital solutions, and G/O Digital, a customized local digital marketing company. For more information, visit www.TEGNA.com.
About the Arby’s Foundation
The Arby’s Foundation, the independent charitable arm of Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., carries out a mission to end childhood hunger in America. Building on a philanthropic heritage that has contributed over $80 million to child-related causes since its inception in 1986, the Arby’s Foundation is working to ensure every child in America has the meals they need to succeed. With more than 16 million U.S. children—more than 1 in 5—facing hunger daily, the Arby’s Foundation has devoted its resources to providing access to wholesome food choices for children across the country. The Arby’s Foundation is a registered 501 (c) (3) organization headquartered in Atlanta. To learn more, visit www.arbysfoundation.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages four million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people where it’s needed most. For more information, visit www.pointsoflight.org.
For media inquiries, contact:
Steve Kidera
Manager, Corporate Communications
703-873-6434
skidera@TEGNA.com
For investor inquiries, contact:
Jeffrey Heinz
Vice President, Investor Relations
703-873-6917
jheinz@TEGNA.com