Los Angeles, CA…November 8, 2007 -- MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger today announced that it has granted $8,000 to Partners in Ending Hunger in Portland in support of the grantee's statewide advocacy.

Over 12 percent of people living in Maine live in food insecure households, meaning that they have insufficient financial resources to meet basic nutritional needs. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 35 million Americans, including more than 12 million children, are hungry or on the edge of hunger.

In 1985, MAZON was founded as a national nonprofit organization that raises funds from the Jewish community and allocates them to organizations that alleviate and prevent hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.

MAZON granted a total of $2,050,000 to 157 hunger relief organizations in the United States, Israel and other countries this fall.

“For too many Americans, hunger is a debilitating daily struggle,” Dr. H. Eric Schockman, president of MAZON, said. “MAZON is honored to partner with anti-hunger leaders across the country as they stand up and make a difference for millions of hungry families.”

Since 1986, MAZON has granted over $47 million in support of anti-hunger programs and advocacy working to end hunger and supply aid to needy families throughout the United States, Israel and other countries.

For further information on MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, please visit www.mazon.org.