Huntington Partners with Andersons and WTOL to Collect School Supplies for Area Backpack Distribution for Needy Children

Collection bins to be set up at The Andersons Retail locations in Maumee, Toledo and Woodville; Yark; 55 Huntington Bank branch locations and WTOL studios in downtown Toledo.

TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Huntington (NASDAQ: HBAN; www.huntington.com) announced today that it will donate 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to schoolchildren in need throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The donation is part of Huntington's Annual Backpack Index giveaway that will provide 30,000 backpacks to needy families throughout the five states Huntington serves.

Locally, Huntington has partnered with United Way agencies to identify families that will benefit from this project in Lucas, Wood, Ottawa, Defiance, Williams, Henry, Fulton and Lenawee (SE Michigan) Counties.

Huntington is working with The Andersons, Yark, K100, Star 105.5 and WTOL to collect much needed supplies for the backpacks. From July 11 to July 24, all Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan Huntington branches, four The Andersons retail locations, Yark and WTOL will have bins available to collect supplies. Items requested include: erasers, markers, colored pencils, crayons, rulers, pens, pencils, notebooks, tissues, glue/glue sticks and folders.

A fund has also been established to accept cash donations. Monetary contributions can be made at any Huntington branch and directly deposited into the Huntington NW Ohio Backpack Project. Donations will be accepted until July 29 and collected funds will be used to purchase additional items to fill the backpacks.

"During these difficult economic times, many families do not have the necessary resources to provide their children with the supplies that they need as they begin the school year," said Sharon Speyer, Regional President of Huntington's Northwest Ohio Region. "We are grateful for the generosity of our partners and the community support of this initiative."

"We are pleased to partner with Huntington for such a worthwhile cause," said Mike Anderson, Chairman and CEO of The Andersons. "These types of community opportunities are consistent with the mission of our company."

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $53 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. The Huntington National Bank, founded in 1866, provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; mortgage banking services; treasury management and foreign exchange services; equipment leasing; wealth and investment management services; trust services; brokerage services; customized insurance brokerage and service programs; and other financial product and services. The principal markets for these services are Huntington's six-state banking franchise: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The primary distribution channels include a banking network of over 600 traditional branches and convenience branches located in grocery stores and retirement centers, and through an array of alternative distribution channels including internet and mobile banking, telephone banking, and over 1,300 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state banking franchise area and selected New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

About The Andersons, Inc.

The Andersons, Inc. is a diversified company with interests in the grain, ethanol and plant nutrient sectors of U.S. agriculture, as well as in railcar leasing and repair, turf products production, and general merchandise retailing. Founded in Maumee, Ohio, in 1947, the company now has operations across the United States, in Puerto Rico, and has rail equipment leasing interests in Canada and Mexico. For more information, visit The Andersons online at www.andersonsinc.com.


    Source: Huntington Bancshares Incorporated

Released July 13, 2011