Community News: Bruce Springsteen to help Blue Ridge Food Bank fight hunger

News Release
Published: April 8, 2008

Read the news release below

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network announces today that it has been chosen by Bruce Springsteen to be the charitable beneficiary of his April 30th concert at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville. The food bank will benefit from the sale of four concert tickets donated by Springsteen to be auctioned online by Charity Folks, the leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, corporate cause-marketing campaigns and celebrity-driven initiatives. The ticket auction is now open for bids and can be accessed through http://www.brafb.org or http://www.charityfolks.com/bruce.

Springsteen, a member of World Hunger Year’s Artists Against Hunger and Poverty Program, staunchly supports the efforts of community-based hunger relief organizations across North America. He typically selects a hunger relief organization to be a beneficiary in the city in which he is performing. During his April 30th performance, Springsteen will speak briefly on behalf of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network, and encourage concert-goers to join with him in his mission to end hunger by making a donation to the Food Bank.

While many members of the community may not be able to attend the concert in April, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network has made it possible for anyone to contribute to Springsteen’s cause through a special virtual food drive leading up to and following the event. From April 14 through May 3, anyone may donate online to the “Bruce Springsteen: Serving Up Magic” virtual food drive accessible at http://www.brafb.org. This virtual food drive makes it possible for each person in the community to be an advocate of hunger relief and share in the mission of Springsteen and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network.

About Charity Folks

Charity Folks is the leading online marketplace for nonprofit fundraising, corporate cause-marketing campaigns and celebrity-driven charity initiatives. Managing hundreds of successful charity auctions since its inception, Charity Folks has raised nearly $10 million for nonprofit organizations around the world, all while offering consumers highly coveted auction lots donated by today’s hottest celebrities, musicians, sports stars, high-profile personalities and top-tier brands. For further information, visit http://www.charityfolks.com.

About the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Network services 25 counties and 9 cities in Virginia and has four branches across 12,000 square miles, including: The Shenandoah Valley Area Branch in Verona; the Thomas Jefferson Area Branch in Charlottesville, the Lord Fairfax Area Branch in Winchester and the Lynchburg Area Branch. It serves 129,000 different people annually and distributed more than 8.7 million pounds of food last year.

For more information, visit http://www.brafb.org.