As Nevada struggles to return to more prosperous times, a growing focus of Barrick’s philanthropic work in Nevada is helping families in need.

The responsibility for providing essential services, such as emergency food assistance, is increasingly falling to the private sector, and Barrick is answering the call. By supporting Three Square, southern Nevada’s only food bank, Barrick has joined with other companies and philanthropists to help nearly 100,000 food-insecure Nevadans each month, including approximately 40,000 children.

Established in 2007 and modeled on best practices from top food banks in Feeding America’s national network, Three Square has quickly become one of the most innovative and productive food banks in America. It is also Southern Nevada’s largest hunger-relief organization, serving Las Vegas and four rural counties encompassing over 40,000 square miles.

Barrick’s role in the fight against hunger is critically important in Nevada as Three Square has become a national-model food bank. Three Square is piloting new initiatives aimed at getting more food to more hungry people – faster and more efficiently. Once tested, these new initiatives will be replicated by other Feeding America food banks across the country.

“We’re very proud of our partnership with Barrick,” says Julie Murray, Three Square’s president and CEO. “Together, we are providing food – and hope – to Nevada’s most vulnerable residents when they need our help the most.”

Barrick is also supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in southern Nevada through event sponsorship. Barrick was a Platinum Sponsor for the 10th annual five-kilometer Run for the Wish event held on Feb. 5, 2011. Michael Brown, Barrick’s vice president of Public Affairs in the United States, was among more than 6,000 runners who participated in the event. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that grants wishes to children from two to eighteen years of age with life-threatening medical conditions.