Salt Lake City—Sonic Innovations, Inc. (Sonic), a Utah-based global provider for hearing care services and solutions, donated $10,000 to its local Feeding America network member food bank on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.
Sonic Innovations President Paul Wennerholm presented the $10,000 check to the local Feeding America member, the Utah Food Bank, at the nonprofit organization's Salt Lake City location. Sonic employees also participated in an office food drive and volunteered their time working in the Utah Food Bank warehouse.
Sonic Innovations President Paul Wennerholm and staff members present check to Jim Pugh, executive director of Utah Food Bank.
"Sonic has an international presence and provides hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries, but as an American company we can't overlook the need of so many in our own country this holiday season," says Sonic CEO Sam Westover. "That is why we decided to do things differently this year by donating $10,000 to Feeding America through our local food bank in the name of our employees, associates and partners, in lieu of buying holiday gifts. Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, and we felt their mission to feed America's hungry and engage our country in the fight to end hunger was a great cause for us to support."
"This is what the holidays are all about," said Jim Pugh, executive director of Utah Food Bank. "Sonic Innovations' donation is greatly appreciated, especially this year when so many are in need. Our partner food pantries that we serve are reporting a 35 percent increase in requests for food assistance over last year. This $10,000 donation will help provide over 30,300 meals for individuals and families in need," says Pugh.
"Sonic is pleased to have donated our time, money and efforts to such an important cause by helping to provide food to many who otherwise would go hungry. Our hope is to inspire other companies we work with to join us in supporting Feeding America and reach out to their local food bank this holiday season," says Westover.
About Sonic Innovations:
Sonic Innovations, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, has international offices and manufacturing centers across the globe. In conjunction with their distributor partners, Sonic Innovations has provided hearing care services and solutions in more than 25 countries and the company's partners have prescribed more than 1 million Sonic hearing instruments and can be found online at www.sonici.com, or on the Sonic Innovations web channel on Audiology Online. Sonic Innovations is part of the Otix Global, Inc. family (NASDAQ: OTIX), which can be found online at www.otixglobal.com.
About Utah Food Bank
Utah Food Bank is a network member of Feeding America and provides food to a statewide network of 125 emergency food pantries and agencies statewide. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 22.4 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 17.5 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also operates 19 Kids Cafe sites, 2-1-1 Information & Referral and Services for Seniors. For more information about Utah Food Bank call us at (801) 978-2452 or visit www.utahfoodbank.org
