The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is the recipient of a $125,000 donation from Tucson Electric Power (TEP), after earning the most votes in TEP’s recent Powerful Choice Challenge online voting contest.  

The Community Food Bank received 5,450 votes and earned the charitable donation through TEP’s 10-day contest, where customers voted for the agency they would like to receive the top charitable donation. The contest was held in conjunction with TEP’s celebration of 125 years of service to the community.

Powerful Choice Challenge runners-up who also received charitable donations from TEP include Tucson Values Teachers, $20,000; Junior Achievement of Arizona, $10,000; Primavera Foundation, $5,000 and Habitat For Humanity Tucson, $5,000.

“TEP is proud to support these five organizations,” TEP President and CEO David G. Hutchens said in a press release. “Their remarkable efforts and programs enrich and improve the quality of life in our community.”

The Community Food Bank donation will help to support the Food Bank’s Caridad Community Kitchen in providing culinary jobs skills training to low income individuals. The Caridad Community Kitchen prepares over 150,000 nutritious meals each year for children, seniors, the working poor and the homeless.

According to TEP, the company will contribute approximately $1.5 million to local charities this year which will come from its corporate resources.