Food For The Poor Joins the National #GivingTuesday Movement

COCONUT Creek, Fla., (Oct. 30, 2012) – Food For The Poor has joined #GivingTuesday, a first of its kind effort that will harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners – charities, families, businesses and individuals – to transform how people think about the giving season.

Coinciding with the Thanksgiving holiday, the first #GivingTuesday will be Nov. 27, 2012, and will use the power of social media to create a national movement.  Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become synonymous with shopping, and the goal is to make #GivingTuesday synonymous with giving back, and to kick off the season of sharing. 

“Food For The Poor is extremely excited and proud to be a part of this movement, where dozens of nonprofits working in the United States and in various countries are spreading the news about the beauty of giving back,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “It is my hope that individuals who learn about #GivingTuesday will support their charities and causes of choice and take part in helping to create a better world.”  

To join Food For The Poor’s #GivingTuesday initiative, visit www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesday.

View our gift catalog video at www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesdayvideo for creative ideas that will continue to change lives long after the holiday season has ended. For $10, you can give the gift of a fruit tree, or you can choose to give farm animals such as chickens, pigs, goats, donkeys and cows, which will provide an income and a source of nutrition for destitute families.                                                                                                     

#GivingTuesday is endorsed by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, Dorothy A. Johnson Center on Philanthropy, Giving Institute, Giving USA Foundation and InterAction. Charity Navigator and GuideStar are serving as Charity Advisors. VolunteerMatch is a volunteer advisor to #GivingTuesday.    

For more details about the #GivingTuesday movement, visit the #GivingTuesday website www.givingtuesday.org, Facebook page www.facebook.com/GivingTuesday or follow the #GivingTuesday hashtag on Twitter.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

YB Afraid Foundation and Food For The Poor Assist Hurricane Sandy Victims in Jamaica

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
10/30/12

	YB Afraid, Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake's foundation, made a monetary donation that was matched by Food For The Poor to assist families that were affected by Hurricane Sandy in Fruitful Vale and Norwich, in Portland.
Related Information: More Photos on Facebook

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct 30, 2012) --- Hurricane Sandy victims in Fruitful Vale and Norwich in Portland, Jamaica, were relieved when a caravan of containers and trucks maneuvered past downed power lines and debris to bring them emergency relief assistance on Sunday, Oct. 28. YB Afraid Foundation and Food For The Poor partnered to bring the critically needed supplies to approximately 700 people in urgent need of assistance.

YB Afraid, Yohan Blake’s foundation, made a monetary donation that was matched by Food For The Poor, and assisted in the delivery of food, WATA brand water bottles, mattresses, blankets, and shoes to soaked Hurricane Sandy victims. In November, Blake will lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Proceeds from the 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The presence of the 28 Food For The Poor staff members and volunteers wearing the charity’s and YB Afraid Foundation shirts offered residents comfort and hope.

“No other organization has come in to help since the passage of the hurricane,” said Kedine White, a Fruitful Vale resident. “This is the first form of help we are getting, I am truly appreciative and I know the other residents are too.”

In Portland, many residents reported having the roofs of their homes ripped off, and creeping ocean flood waters seeping in around windows and doors, filling homes with mud. The hurricane strength wind gusts and merciless rain bands have magnified the need for safe, permanent housing in Jamaica.

"My daughter and I were badly affected by the Hurricane,” said White. “I am so thankful to Food For The Poor for the help, especially the mattress, because we have been sleeping on a damp bed since the hurricane and my daughter's asthma has been acting up ever since. Now we have somewhere dry to sleep at night."

The storm's aftermath will be difficult for the island's farmers who report that ripe fruit was stripped from trees, banana trees were flattened, and pepper plants submerged in mud. Many impoverished Jamaicans rely on the land for food, as they cannot afford to purchase food items. Once the fallen fruit has been eaten, many will face malnutrition.

“The storm did a lot of damage in Portland,” said Blake. “A lot of people are suffering without shelter or even food to eat. I am glad to be in a position to help. Through my foundation's partnership with Food For The Poor and WATA on this project we are able to make a positive difference in the lives of those suffering."

Storm relief items from Food For The Poor-Jamaica’s warehouse in Kingston are being distributed and additional containers are expected to arrive soon. The most urgent need now is for cash donations so that food supplies can be replenished, and new homes can be built to prevent any more deaths from landslides.

You can also help by signing up online to fight hunger alongside Jamaican Olympic medal winner Blake on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Register to participate in the charity’s 5K Walk/Run online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/walk. While on the website, take advantage of free fundraising tips designed to help you reach your fundraising goal by sharing your ideas with family, friends, co-workers and contacts.

Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children 5 and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt for the first 1,500 who sign up. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the walk/run begins at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 a.m.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Contact:
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
jennifero@foodforthepoor.com

Orlando Residents Celebrate the Joy of Rebuilding Homes in Haiti

ORLANDO (Oct. 30, 2012) – Thanks to the generosity of Orlando residents attending Food For The Poor’s 13th annual A Celebration of Hope gala on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, funds were raised to construct a village in Haiti. Families who have remained homeless since the devastating 2010 earthquake will receive safe, permanent Food For The Poor homes in Emmanuel Village VII, the seventh village constructed from funds raised through the yearly gala.

“Emmanuel Village VII will be a living example of how lives can be changed and hope can be restored,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “You have made a tangible difference in the lives of those who suffer, and those who have felt abandoned by the world in Manneville, Haiti.”

In August, Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who serves on the Food For The Poor Board of Directors and as the gala’s Chairwoman, traveled to Manneville with several committee members. There they met the families who will receive the new homes.

A Celebration of Hope gala committee members included Anibal and Maritza Beltran, Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, Janice Chong, Trevor and Freda Dieffenthaller,
Cynthia Hawkins, Jackie Heaps, Marissa Iannaccone, Rebecca James, Dr. Anis Khalaf, Kathy Kinchla, Donna Larson, Bernadette McComb, Laura McDonald, Paul Mylod, Dr. Desirae Nasrallah, Nicole Nasrallah, Robin Neel, Lisa Padilla, Nancy Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Anne Pinkosh, Amira Rodriguez, Roseline and Pelfrine Saint-Fort, The Santana Family, Marie Schwarz, Ryan Shaughnessy, Kelly Wilkes, Holly Wilson, and Jean and Donna Wilson.

“A great deal remains to be done, but together with your tremendous support, we can continue to help desperate and homeless Haitians,” said Mahfood. “You will forever change the lives of those who live in cardboard shacks and fragile tents with little or no protection from natural disasters, insects and rodents.” At the gala, Winter Park Construction built a prefabricated 12-by-12 foot house in the ballroom so that guests could see first hand how a modest house in Haiti can make a significant difference in the lives of the truly destitute.

Food For The Poor builds safe, permanent two-room houses with sanitation and access to water for families in need of shelter. Thanks to the ongoing support of Orlando residents, gala proceeds have relocated more than 636 families from garbage-filled swamps, and moved them into secure two-room Food For The Poor homes.

For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope gala and future sponsorship opportunities, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.

This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Jolinda Wade’s Journey to Haiti: Mother of NBA Star Wants to Make a Difference with Food For The Poor

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2012) – It’s a hot October morning, and the sounds of shuffling feet are masked only by the joyful voices from a parade of people trotting along a well-worn path. The drum beat in the distance and a rustling wave of tree branches appear to be keeping this crowd in step.

This is a day of celebration for hundreds who were once homeless, but now have a home of their own in a new Food For The Poor built village in Olivier, Haiti. Right in the middle of this celebratory scene was Jolinda Wade, a pastor from Chicago, Ill. Pastor Wade, the mother of Heat star, Dwayne Wade, decided to take her first trip to Haiti with the international relief and development organization. She was able to see first-hand what’s being done by Food For The Poor to help the people of this Caribbean nation get back on their feet.

“Language-wise they may not understand everything you’re saying, but they do understand hopes, dreams, family and Food For The Poor,” said Jolinda Wade.
No stranger to hard times, Pastor Wade speaks and writes openly about her past struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and her time in prison.  She also knows what it is like to be homeless. When an elderly woman invited her inside her crumbling mud hut, with only a few modest items and a wafer-thin mattress on a dirt floor, Pastor Wade stood speechless for a moment before sharing a brief glimpse into her past experience.  

“When I was in a homeless situation, we got into a building that we had to call home, and we had to sleep on a mattress, such as the mattress she has to sleep on,” said Pastor Wade. “We had to eat what we could eat, we had to bathe the best way we could bathe, and we had to use the bathroom the best way we could use the bathroom. But, I can say this here – never was one of those instances as bad as where I am now.”

Just as night is followed by the light of a new day, Pastor Wade and her four children have moved beyond that dark time in their lives. Son Dwyane Wade has been called one of the best NBA players in the world, and Jolinda is now dedicated to helping those less fortunate. She believes that with God, anyone can overcome their circumstances if they’re given an opportunity to do so – and she’s determined to help as many as possible to do just that.


“Pastor Jolinda Wade is a tremendous woman. She has such a passion for life and for making life better for others,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “There are many reports about what’s not being done in Haiti, so we’re honored that Pastor Wade was willing to travel with us to see how our caring, compassionate donors have enabled this organization to help one person, one family and one village at a time."
It was the loving support of the Building Hope Gala committee members from the communities of Boca Raton and Parkland, Fla., that helped to make the village in Olivier, Haiti, a reality for the hundreds of grateful new homeowners. Pastor Wade also had the privilege during her visit to present keys to the new homeowners and to tour the new houses. While in Haiti she also visited the Food For The Poor feeding center, Bernard Mevs Hospital and the Little Children of Jesus home for disabled orphans near Port-au-Prince.
“My time in Haiti has been bittersweet.  I laughed and cried a lot. As devastating as their lives had become, the thing that brought tears to my eyes was the faith of these people,” said Pastor Wade.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.

This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 
For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

All-Nighter Empowers Students, Unites Campuses, Fights Hunger

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 18, 2012) – In South Florida, students at Broward College (BC), Florida International University (FIU) and the University of Miami (UM) are organizing campus events to commemorate World Food Day in partnership with the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.

“I am eager to work with this organization to help raise funds for Guatemala through All-Nighters for the Poor,” said Javonia Robinson, a freshman majoring in public relations at BC’s South Campus. “No matter how different our geographic regions or cultures, we all affect one another in a major way.”

On Thursday, Oct. 25, BC South Campus will host A Taste of Guatemala from noon to 2 p.m. for $5 a plate. At 12:45 p.m., history professors Edward Cornejo and Rudy Jean-Bart will lead a discussion on the historical and current economic and political issues in Guatemala. Participating groups include ENC1102, ASPIRA and Phi Theta Kappa. Plan to enjoy traditional Guatemalan dishes and a slice of flan with your friends in the Southern Breezes Café in Building #68 at 7200 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

FIU’s Student Alumni Association is organizing All-Nighter events to take place Friday, Nov. 9, at the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami and Modesto A. Maidique Campus in western Miami-Dade County. That same night BC North Campus’ Caribbean Student Association (CSA) will host their All-Nighter. UM’s CSA and Butler Center for Volunteer Services and Leadership Development will schedule the campus’ All-Nighter in either November or December.

Students are encouraged to promote these campus events via social networking sites, and to register online at www.AllNighterForThePoor.org.
The goal of the All-Nighter program is to encourage students nationwide to host events on their campus to increase awareness about malnutrition and to fund self-sustaining solutions to poverty – such as tilapia ponds and animal husbandry projects – to alleviate hunger in developing countries.

“Throughout the world there are people that are not as fortunate as we are,” said Pratima Ramdeo, BC North’s CSA President. “CSA wants to give these families in Guatemala the privilege of not having to worry about where they'll get food to feed their kids or even themselves.” 
Funds raised during the 2012 All-Nighter for the Poor will provide destitute families in Guatemala Everything for Families with Nothing, including:
• Safe and secure homes with sanitation
• Rice and beans for one full year
• School supplies for two children per household (including books and uniforms)
• Clothing and shoes
• A self-sustainable project for a source of income and nutrition.

The campus that raises the most funds will have a street in the new Food For The Poor village named in its honor.

Are you ready to change the world? To learn more, visit www.AllNighterForThePoor.org. For more information, please call 1-877-654-2960, ext. 6069 or email moniques@foodforthepoor.com.
Funds from past events have gone to life-saving projects, such as:

• All-Nighter I (2009):   Funded the Harvesting Hope For Haiti Tilapia Farm in Delogner, Haiti. It is a four-pond tilapia farm, with each pond accommodating up to 7,000 fish.
• All-Nighter II (2010):  Funded the Renewing Hope Tilapia Farm in Fond Des Blanc, Haiti. This four-pond tilapia farm has a submersible pump powered by solar panels.
• All-Nighter II (2010):  Funded the Renewing Hope II Tilapia Farm in Cuperlier, Petite Goave, Haiti.
• All-Nighter III (2011): Funded a pangasius farm in Haiti.

“The farm in Delogner alone can provide about 1,800 pounds of fish every four months,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “This is vital protein in a country that so desperately needs nutritious food. In addition, the farm provides work for villagers who cultivate and harvest the tilapia, and then use the fish to barter for necessary goods.”

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Register to stomp out hunger with Olympic Medalist Yohan Blake and Food For The Poor

With only a month remaining, now is the time to register for Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger. Sign up online to stomp out hunger alongside Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Register to participate in the charity’s 5K Walk/Run online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/walk. While on the website, take advantage of free fundraising tips designed to help you reach your fundraising goal by sharing your ideas with family, friends, co-workers and contacts.

Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children 5 and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt for the first 1,500 who sign up. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the run/walk begins at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 a.m.

“I know what it is to be hungry and so I respect what they are doing,” said Blake, nicknamed “The Beast” by his teammates. “Food For The Poor is one of the most important charities in the Western Hemisphere.”

Proceeds from this year’s 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America. A generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food.

Participants are also encouraged to bring cans of food to the 5K Walk/Run to benefit needy families in South Florida. Requested Thanksgiving-themed sides include canned corn, sweet potato, green beans, pumpkin and cranberry sauce.

“We want to help spread Thanksgiving blessings to needy families in our community, too,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “With local food pantry shelves practically empty, we want to be able to bring the community together to address the need."

Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon, will join Blake at the walk/run. Martinez traveled to Jamaica in August to cover the island-nation’s 50-year anniversary of independence. While in Jamaica, Martinez saw the poverty firsthand.

Medallions will be given to top finishers of each age group. Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run will be timed by Accuchip Timing on a certified course in Quiet Waters Park.

The 5K Walk/Run is presented by Winn-Dixie.  Event sponsors are Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Corner Bakery Cafe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, PNC, Polyglass, Runners Edge, Sun Sentinel, TeamReliv, WATA, Wells Fargo, and World of Beer.

Yohan Blake limited edition commemorative WATA bottles will be distributed at the walk/run.

There will be several opportunities to help and have fun before the walk/run.

• On Sunday, Oct. 28, bring your friends to Bru’s Room in Coconut Creek to register for the walk/run and to watch the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Miami Dolphins v. New York Jets. Win prizes, and play the Quarterback toss game at Bru’s Room, 5460 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, Fla.

• Winn-Dixie, the event’s presenting sponsor, will host a wine sampling compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly on Friday, Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invite your friends and teammates to stop by to learn more about the nonprofit, and win prizes at Winn-Dixie, 5600 West Sample Road, Margate, Fla.

• On Friday, Nov. 9, The WOW Factory will give thanks and donate 20 percent of the $20 admission fee to Coconut Creek-based nonprofits. Come enjoy the attractions and play unlimited video games while benefiting charity from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The WOW Factory, 5891 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla.

• Tickets to the Miami Dolphins v. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, Nov. 25, can be purchased for $45. A percentage of the ticket sales through the nonprofit will be contributed to the walk/run’s final donation tally. To order tickets, or to request additional information, please send an email to events@FoodForThePoor.com.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.


Contact:
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
jennifero@foodforthepoor.com

Building Hope Gala committee members travel to Haiti to open doors

 Building Hope Gala committee members from the Boca Raton and Parkland communities traveled to Haiti Oct. 8-9 with the South Florida-based nonprofit Food For The Poor. They were celebrating the inauguration of newly constructed homes, built with proceeds from February’s gala, giving 50 families a new start in life.

“It is so great to know that our gala was able to build safe and secure homes for the people of Olivier,” said Becky Carlsson, gala committee member. “Because Haiti has been out of the media for a while, I think that people don’t realize that the devastation still exists. You should come and see it with your own eyes.”

In November 2011, committee members traveled to Olivier, Haiti, to see the community’s deplorable living conditions and to learn how they could help the nonprofit improve the residents’ lives.

“It’s really nice to be able to see something that you worked so hard toward,” said Allison Venditti, gala committee member. “There’s so much energy in this village. I got the impression that they feel powerful now and they believe they can do anything.”

 “I was unsure what to expect,” said LaMae Klos after her first day in Haiti. “What impressed me the most was the pride on the people’s faces. It was incredibly moving.”

Since the 2010 earthquake, Food For The Poor has built more than 3,899 permanent two-room homes in Haiti. Tropical Storm Isaac’s recent path through the Caribbean reminded many how vulnerable the poor are who live in tents and makeshift shacks.

“It was important for members of the committee to return to Olivier to rejoice with villagers on the completion of their village in only five months,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “The conditions that we have found so many needy children and their families living in are heart wrenching and unimaginable.”

The 2013 Building Hope Gala will be Saturday, February 2, at The Polo Club of Boca Raton. Attendees will be invited to create a legacy by pledging to build critically needed houses in Jamaica during the charity’s live house-rally.

Master of ceremonies, Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon, traveled to Jamaica in August to cover the island’s golden jubilee.

“I saw the poverty with my own eyes and there is much work needed to be done to provide housing and assistance to the people of Jamaica,” said Martinez.

For additional information regarding the 2013 Building Hope Gala, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $250 per person, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/boca.

The Building Hope Gala committee will host a pre-event on Dec. 6, in time for the holiday season. Join the committee for champagne and hors d’oeuvres at Gregory’s Fine Jewelry in Delray Beach’s The Addison Shops to purchase a dazzling piece of jewelry for your loved ones. A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated toward the gala’s home building efforts in Jamaica.

Committee members for the 2013 Building Hope Gala include Laurie Braden, Kelly Brauner, Becky Carlsson, Melissa Davimos, Ronda Ellis Ged, Ronda Gluck, Michele Greene, LaMae Klos, Robin Ranzal Knowles, Julie Mahfood, Rene Mahfood, Pamela Matsil, Cathy Moabery, Jill Perea, Tashia Rahl, Kara Seelye, Natasha Singh, Renee Stetler, Holly Strogoff, Allison Venditti, Patricia Wallace, and Traci Wilson.

Gala sponsors include Aljoma Lumber, AKA Printing and Mailing, American Nicaraguan Foundation, Bluegreen Corporation, Dennis Charley & Associates, Inc., Dusco Doors, Franklin Dodd Communications, Gregory’s Fine Jewelry, Haiti Shipping Lines, Inc., Quadriga Art, LLC, Seaboard Marine, TD Bank, and VITAS Innovative Hospice Care.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.


Contact:
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6054
jennifero@foodforthepoor.com

Government of Taiwan Donates 110 Containers of Rice to the People of Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2012) – Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) will donate 110 containers of rice, the equivalent of 2,200 tons, to the people of Haiti in November, through the nonprofit Food For The Poor. The generosity of Taiwan’s MOFA donation is magnified by floods, droughts, and crop failures that continue to cause food costs to rise globally.

In developing countries, families typically spend 80 to 90 percent of their income on food, as opposed to Americans who spend about 9 percent. Escalating food and fuel prices mean destitute families are not able to buy as much food for their families as they once were, and cases of malnutrition, especially in children, are increasingly common.

“This rice is an answered prayer,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “On behalf of those Food For The Poor serves, we are grateful to the Taiwanese government for their lifesaving donation. The volatile situation with the increasing food and fuel prices have stretched our charity's ability to get food and other supplies where they are most needed.”

Food For The Poor will distribute the donated rice to sponsored programs, one of which is Food For The Poor’s feeding center in Port-au-Prince. Approximately 15,000 hot meals are cooked and distributed from this location six days a week.

Taiwan’s First Lady Chow Mei-ching and daughter, Lesley Ma, have served rice donated from the people of Taiwan to Haiti’s destitute at this Food For The Poor feeding center. The mother-daughter humanitarian team eagerly rolled up their sleeves to serve the steaming rice and stew to the needy families.

This is the second year Taiwan’s MOFA has worked through Food For The Poor to send containers of rice to Haiti. In 2011, Taiwan MOFA stepped up to help with a donation of 40 containers of rice, which is approximately 800 tons.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Olympic Medalist Yohan Blake Gives Back to Food For The Poor

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2012) – Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake remembers how he felt when he received his first cricket bat from the nonprofit Food For The Poor.

“What makes my relationship with Food for the Poor so interesting is that as a young boy they gave me my first cricket bat,” said Blake, who professes a love for the bat-and-ball game. “I will always remember how this made me feel.  I am so proud to be a part of such an organization.”

To give back, Blake is stepping up to help more people overcome poverty by kicking-off Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

“I know what it is to be hungry and so I respect what they are doing,” said Blake. “Food For The Poor is one of the most important charities in the Western Hemisphere. The fact that Food For The Poor grew out of Jamaica is amazing. This is what I want to achieve with my foundation.”

Proceeds from this year’s 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America. A generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food.

“Earlier this summer at the 2012 London Olympics, Yohan Blake made Jamaicans everywhere proud as he and his teammates broke a world record,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “We are honored that Blake, a gold medalist, has partnered with Food For The Poor to lead the fight against hunger."

You can register online for the 5K Walk/Run at www.FoodForThePoor.org/walk. Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children 5 and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the run/walk begins at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 a.m.

Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon, will join Blake at the run/walk. Martinez traveled to Jamaica in August to cover the island-nation’s 50-year anniversary of independence. While in Jamaica, Martinez saw the poverty firsthand.

Special awards will be given to top finishers of each age group. Food For The Poor will be using AccuChip to provide state-of-the art timing and scoring. This service is used for running, triathlon, swimming, mud runs and biking events in Florida.

The 5K Walk/Run is presented by Winn Dixie.  Event sponsors are Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Corner Bakery Cafe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, PNC, Polyglass, Runners Edge, Sun Sentinel, TeamReliv, WATA, Wells Fargo, and World of Beer.

Yohan Blake limited edition commemorative WATA bottles will be distributed at the run/walk.

There will be several opportunities to help and have fun before the run/walk.
• On Sunday, Oct. 28, plan to gather at Bru’s Room in Coconut Creek to register for the run/walk and to watch the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Miami Dolphins v. New York Jets. Miami Dolphins cheerleaders will distribute prizes to fans from the team’s touchdown van at Bru’s Room, 5460 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, Fla.

• Winn-Dixie, the event’s presenting sponsor, will host a wine sampling compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly on Friday, Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invite your friends and teammates to stop by to learn more about the nonprofit, and win prizes at Winn-Dixie, 5600 West Sample Road, Margate, Fla.

• Tickets to the Miami Dolphins v. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, Nov. 25, can be purchased for $50. Fifty percent of the ticket sales through the nonprofit will be contributed to the run/walk’s final donation tally. To order tickets, or to request additional information, please send an email to events@FoodForThePoor.com.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Gold and Silver Medalist Yohan Blake to Lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2012) – Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake will lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 17, at 7 a.m. at Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Blake, nicknamed “The Beast,” is the current world champion over 100 meters and a silver medalist at the 2012 Olympics in London in the 100 and 200 meters.

“It’s really great that Food For The Poor is stepping up to help more people overcome poverty,” said Blake, one of the world’s youngest and fastest sprinters. “It is a cause that’s near to my heart as a Jamaican, and I’m happy to be part of something so special, including giving back to my country.”

Blake’s participation in the charity’s 5K Walk/Run is especially meaningful because both the athlete’s and the nonprofit’s legacies started in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Born in 1989, Blake has dedicated his life to the sport, and is currently tied as a second-fastest man in the 100 meter race after Usain Bolt. The two were part of the Jamaican 100 meter relay team that won the gold medal and broke a world record in the London Olympics. In 1982, the nonprofit started out as a small feeding program in Jamaica, and since then has grown exponentially to become the largest international relief organization in Jamaica and the United States.

“We are so honored to have a Jamaican national hero join us for this important and fun event,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “He has channeled his passion and enthusiasm so beautifully for the sport, and to serving the underprivileged. He is a true hero.”

Proceeds from this year’s 5K Walk/Run will raise money to purchase food to feed destitute families in the Caribbean and Latin America.
You can register online at www.foodforthepoor.org/walk. Cost of registration is $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 6-10. There’s no fee for children 5 and under. The registration cost includes a T-shirt. There will be refreshments, live music, balloon artists, face painters and more at this family event.

This year, a generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food. While on the website, take advantage of free fundraising tips designed to help you reach your fundraising goal by sharing your ideas with family, friends, co-workers and contacts.

Special awards will be given to top finishers of each age group. Food For The Poor will be using AccuChip to provide state-of-the art timing and scoring.  This service is used for running, triathlon, swimming, mud runs and biking events in Florida.

For more information, please call 954-596-4020 or send an email to events@foodforthepoor.org. You can also register the day of the event.  Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., the run/walk begins at 7 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 a.m.

There will be several opportunities to help and have fun before the run/walk.
• On Sunday, Oct. 28, plan to gather at Bru’s Room in Coconut Creek to register for the run/walk and to watch the 1 p.m. kickoff of the Miami Dolphins v. New York Jets. Miami Dolphins’ cheerleaders will distribute prizes to fans from the team’s touchdown van at Bru’s Room, 5460 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek, Fla.
• Winn-Dixie, the event’s presenting sponsor, will host a wine sampling compliments of Barefoot Wine & Bubbly on Friday, Nov. 2 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Invite your friends and teammates to stop by to learn more about the nonprofit, and win prizes at Winn-Dixie, 2450 N Sr-7, Margate, Fla.

• Tickets to the Miami Dolphins v. Seattle Seahawks game on Sunday, Nov. 25, can be purchased for $50. Fifty percent of the ticket sales through the nonprofit will be contributed to the run/walk’s final donation tally. To order tickets, or to request additional information, please send an email to events@FoodForThePoor.com.

The 5K Walk/Run is presented by Winn Dixie.  Event sponsors are Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Corner Bakery Cafe, PNC, Runners Edge, TeamReliv, WATA, Wells Fargo, and World of Beer. Yohan Blake limited edition commemorative WATA bottles will be distributed at the run/walk.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of the hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian ministry provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.