Providing Thanksgiving meals for families in need

Deutsche Bank employees helped provide complete Thanksgiving meals to more than 2,400 food-insecure families across the city. The extent of their generosity can literally be measured – in pounds.

Throughout the month, Americas Debt and Compliance held department-wide food drives for New York Common Pantry, the city’s largest community-based food pantry. Each year, the pantry runs a campaign to provide full Thanksgiving meals of turkey, produce and trimmings to clients. Corporations, schools and other community partners host drives to collect non-perishable food items for the meal packages.

In its inaugural year of participation, Debt organized a friendly competition among its six product teams. Starting with a goal to collect 12,000 items, the teams massively outperformed by delivering over 20,000 items to the pantry. Its staff estimated that Deutsche Bank’s total donation was more than 14,000 pounds of food.

The winning Debt team was Global Credit Financing Solutions, led by team captains Nick Ouellette and Prakhar Agarwal; and they were recognized for their success with a celebratory pizza lunch.

“The Debt franchise was pleased to channel our competitive spirit and deliver such a great result for so many local families in need this holiday season,” said Dennis Tupper, Co-Head US Rates and Municipals and senior co-sponsor of the Americas Debt People Strategy. “In addition, this success proves once again how powerful our Debt franchise can be when we focus on a common goal, professional or otherwise.”

New York Common Pantry noted that Deutsche Bank’s drive was the most successful collection in the organization’s history. Executive Director Stephen Grimaldi thanked employees for their “hard work and unprecedented generosity.” He added, “Their collection was tangible evidence of the company’s giving spirit, and we are thankful to all who contributed.”

Then, the weekend before Thanksgiving, employees volunteered at the pantry to help bundle individual family packages for distribution.

In addition this holiday, groups from Corporate Finance and Global Transaction Banking rolled up their sleeves at The Bowery Mission and Food Bank For New York City to prepare and serve meals for the community. Other volunteers from across the bank, including a large group from Americas Equities, packed healthy holiday boxes with City Harvest.

Americas Debt colleagues donated Thanksgiving meals to over 2,400 food-insecure families across the city.

For the ninth consecutive year, a team from Global Transaction Banking (Trade Finance) spent Thanksgiving Eve preparing for the holiday meal at The Bowery Mission Men’s Transitional Center.

For the fourth straight year, a team from Corporate Finance (Equity Capital Markets) participated in meal service activities the week before Thanksgiving. This year, groups helped out at Food Bank For New York City and The Bowery Mission. 

Over 40 volunteers packed 330 healthy holiday boxes during City Harvest’s weeklong Repack to Give Back.