API donates $120,000 to Ohio Association of Foodbanks

Energy policy key to addressing hunger, poverty, wage stagnation

CLEVELAND, July 21, 2016 – American Petroleum Institute (API) President and CEO Jack Gerard presented the Ohio Association of Food banks with a donation of $120,000 resulting from a charitable fundraising event hosted by the API. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks is a network of twelve Feeding America food banks and more than 3,300 member food pantries, soup kitchens, and other hunger relief organizations serving all 88 counties in Ohio.

“We are especially pleased to have the opportunity to support those in need with tonight's donation,” said Gerard. “Ohio knows the importance of turning our still-struggling economy around. No family should struggle to pay for food. We can do better as a nation to support households struggling to pay for food and meeting basic needs.

“The best way to raise people out of poverty is through employment and long-term economic opportunity. Ohio has worked hard to boost local economies and recognizes the importance of career and technical training. With states like Ohio leading the way, America’s energy revolution has reduced costs to consumers and households across the country.”

“Despite a rate of just 5.1 percent unemployment, there are an estimated two million people who demand our emergency food network for help each year,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “We are thankful for our partners who create jobs and support local economies to help fuel our fight against hunger in Ohio.”

Ohio ranks thirteenth in the country for worst food hardship rates in 2015, according to a recent study. Last year the Ohio Association of Foodbanks distributed more than 197,300 pounds of food to millions of Ohio households across the state. API is involved with a wide variety of outreach activities and causes, from improving local communities to supporting charities that have global reach.

“Ohio’s oil and natural gas industry recognizes the role the American energy renaissance can play in addressing hunger, poverty and other economic challenges in the United States,” said Chris Zeigler, executive director of API Ohio, a division of API. “Local economies are benefiting from domestic oil and natural gas development through reduced energy costs and increased revenues. At the same time, the United States is leading the world in reducing carbon emissions which are at near 20 year lows.”

The oil and natural gas industry works with more than 600 businesses as part of Ohio’s oil and natural gas supply chain and has a long history of providing well-paying jobs across various skill sets for more than 255,000 jobs throughout the state. American consumers saved, on average, over $550 in 2015 on transportation fuel costs as a result of abundant energy, according to AAA estimates. The average disposable household income in the United States was estimated to be $1,337 higher in 2015 due to lower energy costs and other savings brought about by unconventional development, according to IHS findings.

API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API’s more than 650 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation’s energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.