HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: UPMC DONATION PROVIDES FREE MEALS TO THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL PA FAMILIES

From left to right: Jessica Ritchie, president and chief development officer, UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, and David Gibbons, senior vice president, Health Services Division, and regional president, UPMC, present a check for $300,000 to Shila Ulrich, chief executive officer, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, and Matt Lane, senior vice president and chief development officer, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. 

Harrisburg, Pa. (November 20, 2025) – To support local families ahead of the holidays, UPMC in Central Pa. has donated $300,000 to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. This generous contribution will provide 1.2 million meals for thousands of families to put on their tables for Thanksgiving and other special occasions, helping to ensure their holiday season is filled with hope, joy and meaningful memories.

“We know that many patients and members of our community face food insecurity, which can harm a family’s physical and emotional health,” said David Gibbons, senior vice president, Health Services Division, and regional president, UPMC. “We hope this gift eases the burdens families in our region are facing so they can focus on spending quality time around the table with friends and family this Thanksgiving season.”

UPMC in Central Pa. provided nearly $230 million in benefits to Central Pennsylvania communities in the past year. This latest donation to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is an extension of UPMC’s generous support of programs and organizations that meet critical needs of Pennsylvania families.

“We thank UPMC in Central Pa. for this incredible donation,” said Shila Ulrich, CEO of the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. “Donations such as this one are always important and greatly support our neighbors, but they are especially needed right now. These funds ensure families across our community have one less worry, especially this time of year. Strong partnerships like these remain critical to our mission of fighting hunger during this ongoing food insecurity crisis.”

Ulrich said many people are struggling financially, and even with the SNAP program and state programs resuming after the federal and state budgets passed recently, neighbors are still in need of food assistance. She asks the public to consider making a first-time financial contribution, or increasing their usual donation to the food bank during the holiday season.

UPMC is a world-renowned, nonprofit health care provider and insurer committed to delivering exceptional, people-centered care and community services. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC is shaping the future of health through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education. Dedicated to advancing the well-being of our diverse communities, we provide nearly $2 billion annually in community benefits, more than any other health system in Pennsylvania. Our 100,000 employees — including more than 5,000 physicians — care for patients across more than 40 hospitals and 800 outpatient sites in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland, as well as overseas. UPMC Insurance Services covers more than 4 million members, providing affordable, high-quality, value-based care. To learn more, visit UPMC.com.

 

The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (CPFB) is a nonprofit organization with a mission of fighting hunger, improving lives, and strengthening communities. It provides meals for nearly 268,000 neighbors each month, by working with nearly 1,000 partner agencies and with the critical help of volunteers who contribute over 73,000 hours annually. CPFB’s bold goal is to provide access to enough nutritious food for everyone struggling with hunger in each of the 27 central Pennsylvania counties it serves by collaborating with its network and convening and nurturing partnerships to make progress toward ending hunger.