UPS work in DR

	The community of Rancho Nuevo is in dire need of potable water. The majority of the residents there are currently getting their drinking water from local springs, a water source that looks clean, but is contaminated with life threatening bacteria and parasites.
Related Item: See Photos of the Projects

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2013) – UPS is helping to improve the lives of dozens of families in the Dominican Republic with the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.   

The UPS project will provide for the installation of a 12,000 gallon concrete water tank, which will house and pump clean well water for the tiny community of Rancho Nuevo, near Puerto Plata, and the construction of a 3,000 square-feet greenhouse in Batey Antonci, Monte Plata.

Helping families to become self-sustaining by way of agriculture is a key strategy of Food For The Poor. The greenhouse in the farming community of Batey Antonci will produce 2,400 pounds of fruits and vegetables four times a year, providing the community with a year-round supply of nutritious foods and agricultural training. This greenhouse project will be operated by local farmers, which will be a source of employment for many of the town’s residents.

“Food For The Poor began working in the Dominican Republic 13 years ago and is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in the Caribbean country by creating opportunities for people to help themselves,” said Robin Mahfood, President and CEO of Food For The Poor. “It is important to educate those in the farming communities on how to plant, grow and harvest a better crop for a self-sustaining food source, and as a source of income.”

The greenhouse facility also will have a drip irrigation system fed by a water reservoir and underground supply lines, which will be installed by Food For The Poor.

The community of Rancho Nuevo is in dire need of access to potable water. The majority of the residents there are currently getting their drinking water from local springs, a water source that looks clean, but is contaminated with life-threatening bacteria and parasites. Many of the children suffer with diarrhea and a variety of waterborne health problems as a result.

Food For The Poor’s development team has determined it will take 30 days to install the water project.  Once the water tank is fully operational, piping installed from the tank will run water lines to as many homes as possible or to a community location, providing clean water with the twist of the faucet.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

       

Inmates go home for Christmas

	(L to R) Sandra Ramsey and a prison guard at Tower Street Adult Correctional Centre in Jamaica release an inmate in time to spend Christmas with his family.
Related Item: See More Photos on Facebook

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2013) – Thirty-three prisoners received a second chance from Food For The Poor at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre in Spanish Town, Jamaica, on Dec. 13. Only after the inmates were escorted from their cells to the center’s Chapel did they believe that generous Food For The Poor donors had paid the fines for their nonviolent offenses, and that they would be released in time to spend Christmas with their families.     

In addition to releasing a total of 37 inmates from three prisons in Jamaica, Food For The Poor also will release prisoners in Guyana (15), Haiti (10) and Honduras (22) in time for them to spend Christmas with their families.

At the St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre’s newly refurbished chapel, the inmates were greeted by The Very Reverend Burchell McPherson, Bishop of Montego Bay, Jamaica; Father Richard Martin, pastor at Church of the Nativity, in Burke, Va.; Jevene Bent, Jamaica’s Commissioner of Corrections; and Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor.

“We pray the released inmates will recognize that God is merciful, and He is a God of second chances,” said Mahfood.

During the dedication of the chapel, the inmates received words of advice from the distinguished guests. Bent encouraged the inmates to use their experience in prison to influence someone to become a better person, and cautioned them never to return and lose their freedom again.

“I was thankful Food For The Poor intervened to release the men and women who could not afford to pay their meager fines,” said Bishop McPherson.

“I see the real stars in front of me right now,” said Fr. Martin, to the inmates at St. Catherine Adult Correctional Centre. “Stars give light and you have given me that light. I feel like I am living out the scriptures today as outlined in Mathew 25. You have a great future ahead and you can shine even brighter than you are already doing.”

Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program is based on the scripture, “When was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you…” (Matthew 25: 31-46).

“I have been commissioner for just under six months now and everywhere I go, every penal institution I visit, all I hear is Food For The Poor,” said Bent.  “We have had many partners over the years but Food For The Poor stands out not only in terms of material provision to the prisons and inmates but also the spiritual component that you bring. Food For The Poor, may God continue to bless you and expand your boundaries.”

In developing countries, the destitute sometimes have no way to feed their families other than to steal food. The consequence often is imprisonment without first appearing before a judge, or receiving a prison sentence. Sometimes, by the time they are tried, they have spent years longer in jail than their prison sentence requires.

“Prison conditions and poverty are drastically worse in developing countries than they are in the United States,” said Mahfood. “Overcrowded prisons are common, and perpetuate the spread of disease and violence.”

Twice a year – during the Christmas and Easter seasons – it is a Food For The Poor tradition to release nonviolent inmates who have been incarcerated due to their inability to pay the required fines for committing minor offenses.

Since the inception of Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program in 1998, the charity has assisted in freeing, training and reintroducing prisoners back into the community as productive citizens.

To support Food For The Poor’s Prison Ministry Program, checks payable to Food For The Poor can be mailed to 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, Fla. 33073. Please include reference number “SC# 74122” to ensure your donation is correctly routed.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

        

Pre-party for gala

	The community of Rancho Nuevo is in dire need of potable water. The majority of the residents there are currently getting their drinking water from local springs, a water source that looks clean, but is contaminated with life threatening bacteria and parasites.
Related Item: See Photos of the Projects

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2013) – UPS is helping to improve the lives of dozens of families in the Dominican Republic with the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.   

The UPS project will provide for the installation of a 12,000 gallon concrete water tank, which will house and pump clean well water for the tiny community of Rancho Nuevo, near Puerto Plata, and the construction of a 3,000 square-feet greenhouse in Batey Antonci, Monte Plata.

Helping families to become self-sustaining by way of agriculture is a key strategy of Food For The Poor. The greenhouse in the farming community of Batey Antonci will produce 2,400 pounds of fruits and vegetables four times a year, providing the community with a year-round supply of nutritious foods and agricultural training. This greenhouse project will be operated by local farmers, which will be a source of employment for many of the town’s residents.

“Food For The Poor began working in the Dominican Republic 13 years ago and is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in the Caribbean country by creating opportunities for people to help themselves,” said Robin Mahfood, President and CEO of Food For The Poor. “It is important to educate those in the farming communities on how to plant, grow and harvest a better crop for a self-sustaining food source, and as a source of income.”

The greenhouse facility also will have a drip irrigation system fed by a water reservoir and underground supply lines, which will be installed by Food For The Poor.

The community of Rancho Nuevo is in dire need of access to potable water. The majority of the residents there are currently getting their drinking water from local springs, a water source that looks clean, but is contaminated with life-threatening bacteria and parasites. Many of the children suffer with diarrhea and a variety of waterborne health problems as a result.

Food For The Poor’s development team has determined it will take 30 days to install the water project.  Once the water tank is fully operational, piping installed from the tank will run water lines to as many homes as possible or to a community location, providing clean water with the twist of the faucet.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

       

Designers set for show house

	The exclusive Designer Show House 2014 VIP Reception will be Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. in Lighthouse Point, Fla.
Related Items: Get Show House Tickets See Photos of the Designers

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2013) – Lighthouse Interiors is pleased to announce the South Florida designers selected to join Bridget Conway, Principal of Lighthouse Interiors,  in the design of a multi-million dollar Lighthouse Point waterfront home, Feb. 20-23, 2014. Proceeds from the unique event will be used to build Food For The Poor homes in Haiti.

Designers include Bridget Conway, Principal of Lighthouse Interiors; Bernard and Stephanie Molyneux, owners of ACP Home Interiors; Kenneth Crawford of Kenneth Crawford Interiors; Ellen de Vos of Michael Taylor Designs; Frances Herrera of Frances Herrera Interior Design; Sonia Lise Longchamp ASID, Kay Smith, and Gene Valentino of Sklar Furnishings; Kendall Marcelle of Kendall Marcelle Design Associates Inc.; and Sabrina Wilson of Lighthouse Interiors.

The exclusive Designer Show House 2014 VIP Reception will be Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., at 2316 NE 30 Court, Lighthouse Point, Fla., 33064. The ticket price is $150 per person.

VIP guests will enjoy savories and cocktails as they tour the new construction of a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, coastal-inspired home on the Ibis Waterway. El Tamarindo Café’s Head Chef Néstor "Alex" Amaya will prepare samples of his signature cuisine in the home’s gourmet kitchen. The evening will also include a specialty Bacardí rum bar, silent auction, fashion show and music by Miami’s DJ UP.

The Designer Show House 2014 event will be open to the general public on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Each day will feature a different event, and the ticket price is $30.

• On Friday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m., guests will enjoy an exclusive wine tasting.
• On Saturday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m., champagne and sweets will be served.
• On Sunday, Feb. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., guests will be treated to the melodies of a steel pan, and a fashion show hosted by Noelle Swimwear.

The 10,000-square-foot residence, designed by Conway, boasts separate guest and pool houses, as well as unbelievable waterway views from almost every window. From the dock, boat owners will have quick access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Hillsboro Inlet and lighthouse.

“This exceptionally stunning project is full of classic lines and clean elements, built with today’s lifestyle in mind,” said Conway. “The spectacular lighting with several chandeliers and an abundance of sconces throughout the home complement the rooms’ natural lighting.”

Sponsors include Campbell & Rosemurgy Real Estate, The Bay Branch Foundation, and The Prenner Team — Cathy and Jack Prenner.

For additional information and tickets, please call 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/showhouse.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Man to walk 500 miles

	Daniel Valdez has spent recent months preparing for his second 500-mile walk from Lovington, N.M., to Chihuahua, Mexico, starting on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013.
Related Items: Support Daniel with a Donation See More Photos of Dan

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Dec. 9, 2013) – With a whole lot of faith and a desire to raise awareness about the needs of those who are often forgotten, Daniel Valdez is preparing to embark on a great adventure on Dec. 20, 2013. It is one that will have him walking through 16 U.S. cities, and across the border and into Mexico.

"Helping others makes me feel that I am doing God's will,” said Valdez. “When I see hope
in others, I feel happy.”

The idea of helping the poor was nearly a decade in the making for Valdez, who has been running in regional races for 10 years. It was during one of these runs from Hobbs, N.M., to his hometown of Lovington, N.M., with longtime friend and priest, the Rev. Manuel Ibarra; he felt the call to action and thought a walk would be the way to do it. After some encouraging words from his friend and with the support of his wife, four children and his congregation in the tiny town of Lovington, his first 500-mile walk started on Dec. 21, 2012, and ended in Chihuahua, Mexico, 16 days later.

The 51 year-old Valdez has spent recent months preparing for his second 500 mile-walk, which will be taking the same route. Walking approximately 33 miles a day, he’s hoping to beat last year’s time and reach Chihuahua in 15 days. He plans to use this year’s walk as an opportunity to speak about the needs of orphans, the elderly, and the poor to all who will listen.

“My wish is to connect people in my path with a heart of charity,” said Valdez. “Building a human chain of people connected with the same heart is not easy, but it’s not impossible.”

Valdez is seeking to raise funds for the poor through Food For The Poor and two charities in Mexico. He learned about the international relief and development organization from a speaker who visited his parish at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, and from the organization’s “Least of These” television program that’s airing on a number of networks across the country. To see video clips from the “Least of These” visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/aop.

“When we learned about Mr. Valdez’s plan we were moved by his compassionate desire to raise awareness about the needs of the truly destitute,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “The fact that he will be walking 500 miles to fundraise for food is truly amazing, and on behalf of the people we serve we want to sincerely thank Mr. Valdez for his generosity.”

Valdez’s walk will begin after morning Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church located at 1301 North 9th Street, Lovington, N.M., 88260 at 7 a.m., Friday, Dec. 20, 2013.

The walk will continue through the following cities in New Mexico, Texas and Mexico: 1. Lovington, N.M. 2. Hobbs, N.M. 3. Eunice, N.M. 4. Jal, N.M. 5. Kermit, Texas  6.Wink, Texas 7. Pyote, Texas 8. Coyanosa, Texas 9. Alpine, Texas 10. Marfa, Texas 11. Shafter, Texas 12. Presidio, Texas 13. Ojinaga, CH, Mexico 14. Aldama, CH, Mexico 15. Chihuahua, CH, Mexico 16. Delicias, CH, Mexico.

Valdez’s parents will trail him on his journey, driving in the family’s RV, which is where Valdez will sleep at night.

To help Valdez reach his goal to feed the poor, visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/danielvaldez and make a secure online donation.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Quarters for Haiti

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 26, 2013) – What can you buy with a quarter in 2013? Let’s see… a single gumball from a candy machine, maybe a couple pieces of candy from a local convenience store, or a few moments of dryer time at your local laundromat. But the truth of the matter is that about a quarter here doesn’t go very far, but it is all it takes to feed, not one, but four hungry children a meal in Haiti.

“In Haiti, more than half of the population, including two-thirds of the children, suffers from malnutrition. About 1 in 14 children die before reaching their fifth birthday,” said Robin Mahfood, President and CEO of Food For The Poor. “Many people are suffering in the world today, but it’s the truly poor who suffer the most; they’re often overlooked or simply forgotten. Many will be surprised to learn that this organization can feed four people one meal for less than 25 cents, and with a roll of quarters, we can feed a child a meal a day for about five and a half months.”

Food For The Poor has been helping to feed the poor in Haiti for 27 years. Through Food For The Poor’s “Quarters for Haiti” campaign, you can now help feed hungry Haitian children a meal of rice and beans for only 6 cents.

Food For The Poor is using social media to spread the word about the “Quarters for Haiti” campaign. A Facebook page was created to promote and explain how Food For The Poor is able to provide a meal for just 6 cents, and the impact it’s having on the countries we serve: www.facebook.com/QuartersForHaiti.
As a part of the “Quarters for Haiti” campaign if you text “quarters” to 25383, a roll of quarters (or $10) will be donated to help feed Haiti’s hungry.

It only takes six seconds to send a text, and if followed up by sending a tweet to friends and family, Food For The Poor can feed even more children.

Please donate your quarters and give lifesaving food to hungry Haitian children today:
www.FoodForThePoor.org/quarters.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

        

#GivingTuesday

COCONUT Creek, Fla., (Nov. 25, 2013) – We have a day for giving thanks, why not a day for giving back? For the second year, Food For The Poor has joined #GivingTuesday, an initiative to harness the collective power of a unique blend of partners – charities, families, businesses and individuals – to transform how people think about, talk about, and participate in the giving season.

Coinciding with Thanksgiving, and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday will inspire people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities. It will also inspire many to give back in better and smarter ways to the charities and causes they support, and help create a better world.

Taking place Dec. 3, 2013, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday will use the power of social media to create a national movement around the holidays, similar to how Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become days synonymous with holiday shopping.

“Food For The Poor is extremely honored be a part of #GivingTuesday. It is quickly becoming a global movement, which celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support nonprofit organizations,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “It’s great to know that so many nonprofits, within the United States and internationally, are working together to make life better for as many people as possible.”

In 2012, more than 50 million people worldwide spread the word about #GivingTuesday resulting in a milestone trending on Twitter. The collective efforts of partners, donors and advocates also helped to fuel a marked increase in charitable giving.

Visit www.foodforthepoor.org/givingtuesday to support Food For The Poor’s #GivingTuesday initiative. You can also view the charity’s catalog video 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 can provide an income and a source of nutrition for destitute families.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.


        

Show house Partners

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2013) – Lighthouse Interiors has partnered with some of South Florida's top designers to design and showcase a multi-million dollar Lighthouse Point waterfront home, February 20-23, 2014. Proceeds from the event will be used to build Food For The Poor homes in Haiti.

Bridget Conway, Principal of Lighthouse Interiors, is supported by designers from ACP Home Interiors, Kenneth Crawford Design, Ellen de Vos of Michael Taylor Designs, Frances Herrera, Sonia Longchamp, Kendall Marcelle Design, and Sabrina Wilson of Lighthouse Interiors.

The exclusive Designer Show House 2014 VIP Reception will be Thursday, Feb. 20, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., at 2316 NE 30 Court, Lighthouse Point, Fla., 33064. The ticket price is $150 per person.

VIP guests will enjoy savories and cocktails as they tour the new construction of a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, coastal-inspired home on the Ibis Waterway. El Tamarindo Café’s Head Chef Néstor "Alex" Amaya will prepare samples of his signature cuisine in the home’s gourmet kitchen. The evening will also include a spectacular silent auction, fashion show and music by Miami’s DJ UP.

The Designer Show House 2014 will be open to the general public on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Each day will feature a different event, and the ticket price is $30.

• On Friday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m., guests will enjoy an exclusive wine tasting.
• On Saturday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m., Champagne and sweets will be served.
• On Sunday, Feb. 23, from 2 to 4 p.m., guests will be treated to the melodies of a steel pan, and a fashion show hosted by Noelle Swimwear.

The 10,000-square-foot residence, designed by Conway, boasts separate guest and pool houses, as well as unbelievable waterway views from almost every window. From the dock, boat owners will have quick access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Hillsboro Inlet and lighthouse.

“This exceptionally stunning project is full of classic lines and clean elements, built with today’s lifestyle in mind,” said Conway. “The spectacular lighting with several chandeliers and an abundance of sconces throughout the home complement the rooms’ natural lighting.”

The free-standing tub in the master bathroom, and large shower adorned with iridescent Rivershell, or mother of pearl, embraces the home’s coastal, West Indies design.

For additional information and tickets, please call 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/showhouse.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

        

Jaci Velasquez

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 19, 2013) – “Behind these beautiful mountains is hidden some of the worst poverty you’ll ever see in your life,” said Jaci Velasquez, contemporary Christian recording artist and actress, as she stood in a lush flower-laden valley in the mountainous region of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.    

The poverty Velasquez witnessed in late October is a stark contrast to the 34-year-old entertainer’s daily life in Nashville, Tenn., where she’s an on-air personality on the Christian radio station 94 FM The Fish. Velasquez traveled to the Central American country with Food For The Poor to support the international relief and development organization’s radio feeding campaign.

During the three-day visit, Velasquez saw some of the best of what the country has to offer, but it was during a stop at the Piedra Rana Garbage Dump in Quetzaltenango that she also saw true poverty. She met Mercedes Gonzalez, a 31-year-old woman and her five young children, foraging through filth in search of anything that could be sold.     

“I am very poor and I don’t have anything. We work in the dump all day and we all sleep under a rock nearby at night,” said Gonzalez. “All that I earn here from the recycling is all that I have to feed my children.” 

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Velasquez has been singing professionally for 17 years, has sold more than 4 million albums and has had 16 number-one radio hits. The singer has graced the cover of 50 magazines and even had a role in the 2002 movie, Chasing Papi. A wife and a mother of two young boys, Velasquez says nothing has impacted her more than what she saw in the garbage dump that day.

“I’ve been on many mission trips, but this mission trip is the hardest thing I’ve seen and experienced because of the extreme poverty and the extreme need. This is their reality – I can’t even put it into words,” said Velasquez. “I know I am going to get a warm shower when I get home, but they can’t even get a clean glass of water. It doesn’t seem fair.”

For 13 years, Food For The Poor’s Radio Marketing department has traveled with its on-air personalities and radio hosts from across the United States to Jamaica, Haiti and Guatemala. As the radio hosts campaign for funding to help feed and house the poor, they also educate their listeners about the poverty that plagues parts of the Caribbean and Latin America.

“A celebrity like Jaci Velasquez could easily have written a check and moved on, but she took the time to travel to Guatemala with us and to see firsthand what daily life is really like for families who are truly destitute,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “We are extremely grateful that she has chosen to work with this organization and to help us help the poorest of the poor to receive some of the basic necessities in life such as clean water, food, and a safe place to sleep at night.”

Like the bright colors woven into the fabrics worn by the meekest of Guatemala’s citizens, their gracious spirit shines through, leaving a lasting impression on all who meet them.  

“They always send a blessing to us first, praying that God will protect us and keep us safe. They think of other people more than themselves. They are in need and we need to do something to help them,” said Velasquez.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

        

Race Helps Feed Children

	(L to R) Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at noon; Yohan Blake, Jamaican Olympic Gold medalist; and Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor's Executive Director.
Related Items: Help Feed Families Watch Highlights from the Race See Race Photos on Facebook

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2013) – More than 500 walkers and runners participated in Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood, Fla. on Saturday, Nov. 2, alongside Olympic medalist Yohan Blake. Participants raised funds to provide more than a million meals; enough to feed more than 3,400 children for an entire year in the Caribbean and Latin America.
 “I know what it is to be hungry and so I respect what Food For The Poor is doing,” said Blake, one of the world’s fastest sprinters.

The Honorable Franz Hall, Jamaica’s new Consul General to Miami, Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon, and Jamaican Diaspora members were among those who helped make the event a success.
To make a donation or to watch video highlights from the event, please visit the charity’s website.

The 5K Walk/Run event sponsors included Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Charter Schools USA, Consul General of Jamaica, Dennis Charley & Associates, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, KPA Promotions, Orange Theory Fitness, Panda Express, Polyglass, Runners Depot, Sun-Sentinel, Tri-Rail, Vector Security, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, WATA, and Wells Fargo.

Bottles of WATA, Yohan Blake’s official sponsor, were distributed at the walk/run. Refreshments were provided by Corner Bakery, Dandee Donuts and Winn-Dixie.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. 

Chronicle of Philanthropy ranking

	Children concentrate on their studies at a school in Jamaica supported by Food For The Poor donors.
Related Items: How to Help Donor Testimonials

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 24, 2013) – The Chronicle of Philanthropy today named Food For The Poor the largest international relief and development organization in the United States. The annual survey lists the top charities that raise the most money from private sources.

“We are grateful for the many donors who feel moved to serve the poor, and in doing so help us reach an ever-wider circle of need,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “Because of them, last year we were able to distribute more than $900 million in aid.”

The charity watchdog survey also ranked the Christian-based ministry, Food For The Poor, as the 10th largest overall charity out of 400 nonprofits surveyed nationwide. On the state level, Food For The Poor retained the number one slot as the largest charitable organization in Florida. The rankings appear in the 22nd edition of The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s annual “Philanthropy 400” report.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Jamaica's New Consul General

	(L to R) Dale Jones, Deputy Consul General; Franz Hall, Jamaica's Consul General to Miami; and Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor's President/CEO.
Related Item: Register for the 5K Walk/Run

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 24, 2013) – Food For The Poor’s President/CEO met with Jamaica’s new Consul General to Miami at the charity’s headquarters in Coconut Creek, Fla., Tuesday to discuss how the Jamaican Diaspora could continue to support the nonprofit’s initiatives. 

“Food For The Poor reaches into every aspect of Jamaican life and maintains a commitment to aiding Jamaica’s poor,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO, as he thanked Consul General Franz Hall for meeting with Food For The Poor representatives within weeks of starting his new appointment.

Mahfood and Hall agreed that the key to breaking the cycle of poverty is education. In celebration of Jamaica’s 50 years of independence in 2012, Food For The Poor committed to build or improve 50 schools in 50 months across the island. This campaign is ahead of schedule, with 17 more schools to be completed.

“Food For The Poor’s Jamaica 50 Campaign is creating avenues for teachers to deliver their craft,” said Hall, after he learned that the charity also pays to train the teachers.

Hall pledged to show his support for Food For The Poor’s 2013 5K Walk/Run For Hunger, which will be led by Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake on Saturday, Nov. 2, at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood, Fla. Hall and Jamaican Diaspora members will walk or run to raise money to feed starving children and celebrate afterward with Blake. Last year approximately one thousand participants were motivated to cross the finish line by Blake and Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon.

For more information about the 5K Walk/Run For Hunger, please call 954-427-2222, ext. 6854. Registration starts at 7 a.m., the walk/run begins at 8 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 9 a.m. Parking is free. To participate, you can register and donate online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/walk. A generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Haiti Hospital to Get Water

	Brenda Wood and Garvin Stewart.
Related Items: See Photos from the Event Donate to Help Build Hospital Tour the Hospital

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 17, 2013) – Hundreds of Atlanta-area residents attended Food For The Poor’s 6th annual Caribbean-themed Dreams Across The Sea Gala, presented by W Atlanta-Midtown, Saturday, Sept. 28, to deliver life saving medical resources and clean water to Haiti.

“Making a difference is one of the greatest privileges we enjoy,” said Saurel Quettan, a gala co-chairman. 

Brenda Wood, co-anchor for 11 Alive News and The Daily 11, served as the gala’s master of ceremonies. The Emmy-award winning anchor conveyed to guests the critical importance of raising money to update the water and sanitation systems at Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The hospital has to truck in clean water for the doctors and patients, and in some parts of the hospital there is no running water at all. In a country that has lost approximately 8,300 lives to cholera since 2010, clean water is critical to minimizing the spread of infection and improving the overall healthcare at the hospital.

Food For The Poor also supplies Bernard Mevs Hospital with high-tech diagnostic equipment, hospital beds, and pharmaceuticals. The hospital’s top surgeons, Dr. Jerry Bitar and Dr. Marlon Bitar, have committed their lives to serving the poor.

“They are doing a great job,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO, in a video that shows the hospital’s needs and work.

Guests also enjoyed an elegant evening of exceptional dining and live music. Bidding on silent auction prizes, such as electronics, jewelry, luxury vacations, golf outings and dining packages, offered another opportunity for guests to support the cause.

Afterward, the guests participated in a water rally to raise money for the project to provide clean water for some of the hospital’s youngest and most vulnerable patients.

Dreams Across The Sea Gala Co-Chairmen are Saurel Quettan and Garvin Stewart. Additional committee members include Dr. Paula Nelson Adesokan, Scott and Kari Bardowell, Verlyn Britton, Treza Brooms-Johnson, Ed Buckley, Chris Curry, Gina Frasier, Nekeidra Frederick, Jean Hanges, Sheryl McCalla, Sylvia McClure, Marie-Ann Perez, Dr. Jason Regis, and Michelle Wattley.

To make a donation to bring access to clean water to the Bernard Mevs Hospital, please call 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/atlanta.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Charity Wins Major Award

	Food For The Poor wins the Direct Marketing Association's prestigious 2013 International ECHO™ Ultimate Team Award. The international relief and development organization was honored for its direct mail campaign “A Stitch and a Prayer” during the 2013 ECHO™ Awards Ceremony & Gala at the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago, Ill., Tuesday night.

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2013) – The Direct Marketing Association has awarded Food For The Poor its 2013 DMA International ECHO™ Ultimate Team Award. The international relief and development organization was honored for its direct mail campaign “A Stitch and a Prayer” during the 2013 ECHO Awards Ceremony & Gala at the McCormick Place West Convention Center in Chicago, Ill., Tuesday night.
Introduced in 1929 as the “Best in Direct Mail” contest, the DMA International ECHO™ Awards honor excellence in creativity, marketing strategy, and response results in direct marketing campaigns. 

“We are truly honored and humbled to have received the DMA’s golden trophy for the Ultimate Team category, because it really was a team effort for our organization to come up with this beautiful and powerful idea for this direct mail campaign,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “More importantly, through a ‘Stitch and a Prayer’ more than 1,500 families will receive safe and secure two-room homes.” 

The campaign “A Stitch and a Prayer” focused on the life-threatening conditions of the poor living in areas of Nicaragua, Honduras and Jamaica. It highlighted the Reyes family’s ramshackle, makeshift hovel in Nicaragua that was literally stitched together with string. When Food For The Poor’s research team came across the Reyes’ home, the “A Stitch and a Prayer” was born. The charity’s Donor Relations department followed through with a strategic phone campaign.

DMA represents thousands of companies and nonprofit organizations that use and support data-driven marketing practices and techniques in 40 countries. With entries submitted by direct response agencies worldwide, DMA’s annual ECHO™ Awards recognize every type of media used in direct and interactive marketing campaigns.
DMA acknowledged that the number of entries in this year’s competition made the selection process particularly challenging for its judges.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

Plans for Basic School

	Kate and Chris Davitt, President of Ruppert Landscape.
Related Items: See Photos from the Event Donate to Help Build School Watch a Video of 2013's Building Trip

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 16, 2013) – D.C. and Baltimore-area residents attended an exclusive rooftop cocktail reception on Thursday, Oct. 3, to raise money to construct a Food For The Poor basic school in St. Elizabeth Parish, Jamaica.

Many of the guests at the private reception high above Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., have journeyed to Jamaica with the charity, and recounted about their past building trips. John Gerold, Senior Vice President of RBC Wealth Management in Chevy Chase, Md., was inspired to host the reception after he traveled with the group earlier this year. Gerold and his daughter, Lyndsey, have traveled twice with Food For The Poor.

“Twelve years ago, I traveled to Jamaica with Chris Davitt and Craig Ruppert on their first building trip with Food For The Poor,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “Their passion for the cause is evident in their continued commitment to return year after year, with more and more families and friends to participate in the construction of schools and homes built in partnership with the charity.”

“Even though I have traveled with Food For The Poor many times, I always return reminded of the vital importance of the charity’s work,” said Craig Ruppert, Founder and CEO of Ruppert Landscape. “The impoverished in Jamaica treat us like we are family, which is just one reason we want to continue to return.”

The next building mission trip is scheduled for Feb. 14-17. In addition to serving the poor, it offers opportunities for families to reconnect and strengthen their relationships. 

“I believe one unexpected benefit of these trips is that parents and children both learn that giving back is not a sacrifice at all, it’s fulfilling,” said Chris Davitt, President of Ruppert Landscape.

The annual trips also offer an opportunity to show young adults the importance and benefits of being good stewards and team players.

Annie Donatelli and Kathleen Greene spoke at the reception about their personal mission trip experiences, and how the trips have encouraged them to take a more active role to help the poor.

“Meeting the people who are going to live in the houses or schools we are building is a huge part of the experience because they are very willing to help and be a part of what you are doing,” said Donatelli, a student at Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Md. “They are very happy with what they have and that to me, really shows how grateful we should be in our lives.”

“The thing that makes Jamaica so rewarding and unique is that you get to have face-to-face interaction with those you are helping; and you get to enjoy the pleasure of seeing their faces light up with happiness because of the work that we do,” said Donatelli, who has traveled the past three years with her mom, sister and brother. “This type of direct service makes you very mindful of the struggles people are going through in different parts of the world.”

“The Food For The Poor trip to Jamaica is an opportunity to help and be helped,” said Greene, a student at Georgetown Visitation in Washington, D.C., during her speech. She has traveled twice before with the group, and plans to return in 2014. “It’s a unique and moving experience that has made a huge impact on me and my dad. I even met a piece of me that I didn’t know – I really don’t mind hard work.”

Committee members included Teri Boragno, Lou Caceres, Chris Davitt, Mary Donatelli, John Gerold, Andrew Greene, Kim and Paul Griffith, Scott Livingston, Battista Orcino, and Craig Ruppert.

Event sponsors included Ruppert Landscape (Platinum Sponsor), Duke Realty (Gold Sponsor), RBC Wealth Management (Silver Sponsor), Sandy Spring Bank (Silver Sponsor), Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (Silver Sponsor), Calvert Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center (Silver Sponsor), and Connelly School of The Holy Child (Bronze Sponsor).

To make a donation to the school building fund please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/dc.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

ABC Anchor to Emcee Gala

	TV anchor Jorge Estevez will serve as master of ceremonies for A Celebration of Hope gala.
Related Items: Reserve Your Seat See Photos of Ganthier

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2013) – Jorge Estevez, anchor for WFTV Channel 9 and WRDQ Channel 27, will serve as master of ceremonies for Food For The Poor’s  A Celebration of Hope gala presented by Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Hotels & Resorts in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 19. Estevez traveled to Haiti with Food For The Poor to report on the charity’s rebuilding efforts after the devastating 2010 earthquake.

Similarly, two groups of Orlando residents have journeyed to Ganthier, Haiti, in the past five months to witness firsthand the need. Proceeds from the gala will be used to replace the dilapidated mud-and-stick huts in Ganthier with sturdy Food For The Poor homes.

“This area is remote and utterly desolate,” said Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who serves on the Food For The Poor Board of Directors and as the gala’s Chairwoman. “The closer the van got, the more my heart ached for the inhabitants. Here, I felt like I had arrived in the deepest bowels of Haiti. The huts are primitively made out of mud, clay, twigs and discarded plastic materials. These huts offer no protection from the wind or the rain. Many, many children were scantily clothed or totally naked and mostly covered in dirt. The children ran up to us and crawled into our arms.”

One of the mothers they met lives with her five children. They sleep on a dirt floor and often have nothing to eat. All night long, the older children vigilantly attempt to swat the bugs off the smaller children. Their hut and few worldly possessions are at constant risk of flooding. During storms, the local families must evacuate to higher ground. The school is the community’s best option for shelter, even though the structure’s exterior walls do not reach from floor to ceiling.

“We are so very lucky in this country,” said Kay Rawlins, Director of Community Relations for Orlando City Soccer Club, after she returned from the recent trip to Haiti. “We have way more than we need, or use; and we should be a good neighbor and help these communities that are not so very far away.” Rawlins and the other Orlando-area travelers were in disbelief that people could survive the harsh conditions in Ganthier.

A Celebration of Hope gala attendees will be invited to help build critically-needed houses for these families during the charity’s live house-rally. For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope gala, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $175 per person, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

At the gala, Dwight and Lisa Saathoff will be honored as the 2013 Ambassadors For The Poor for their continued commitment to build critically-needed houses for families. Their passion to help the destitute also has had a profound impact on their son Patrick, 16. Last summer he chose to travel on a mission trip with Food For The Poor instead of vacationing in Hawaii. 

The gala’s presenting sponsor is Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Gala sponsors include Almar Travel, Greenburg Trauig, Jallad Family Insurance, Marriott Spirit to Serve in Central Florida, Newsome Melton LLP, Pan American Grain, Provinsure, and S1-Safety 1st Drug Testing.

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

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Yohan Blake to Lead Race

	Racers take off with Yohan Blake, center, at the starting line in last year's 5K Walk/Run.
Related Items: Register Today Walk For Hunger Facebook Page

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2013) – Jamaican Olympic medal winner Yohan Blake will lead Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 8 a.m. at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park in Hollywood, 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.

“I encourage the South Florida community to come out to support Food For The Poor’s 5K Walk/Run For Hunger,” said Blake, one of the world’s fastest sprinters. “I am looking forward to this year’s competition.”

Jason Martinez, co-anchor for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 Morning News and Local 10 News at Noon, also will join walk/run participants as they raise money to feed starving children and their families in the Caribbean and Latin America.

“I know what it is to be hungry and so I respect what Food For The Poor is doing,” said Blake, who is leading the walk for the second year in a row, and who founded his own charity, YB Afraid Foundation. “It is a cause that’s near to my heart as a Jamaican, and I’m happy to be part of something so special.”

Register and donate online at www.FoodForThePoor.org/walk. This year your donations will go twice as far, as a generous donor has agreed to match every dollar raised with an additional dollar’s worth of food.

Incentives for fundraising through Nov. 2, 2013 include:

• Raise $50 – receive the official 5K Walk/Run For Hunger T-shirt
• Raise $100 – receive a goody bag of prizes and the official 5K Walk/Run For Hunger T-shirt
• Raise $250 – receive a V.I.P. pass to the Caribbean Tent, an entry to win a $500 Winn-Dixie Shopping Spree, a goody bag of prizes, and the official 5K Walk/Run For Hunger T-shirt.

The fee for runners is $30 in advance, and $35 the day of the event. Medals will be given to top runners of each age group. Race timing will be provided by AccuChip. There is no fee to participate as a walker, but both runners and walkers are encouraged to raise at least $50. Parking is free.

For more information, please call 954-427-2222, ext. 6854 or email RachelP@foodforthepoor.com. You can also register the day of the event. Registration starts at 7 a.m., the walk/run begins at 8 a.m. and the awards ceremony is at 9 a.m.

The 5K Walk/Run event sponsors are Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Charter Schools USA, Consul General of Jamaica, Dennis Charley & Associates, Enterprise, Gallery 2014, Iberia Bank, KPA Promotions, Orange Theory Fitness, Panda Express, Polyglass, Runners Depot, Sun-Sentinel, Tri-Rail, Vector Security, VITAS Innovative Hospice Care, WATA, and Wells Fargo.

WATA bottles will be distributed at the walk/run, which is Yohan Blake’s official sponsor. Refreshments will be provided by Winn-Dixie and Corner Bakery.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Designer Show House Event

	The Designer Show House 2014 VIP Reception will be in mid-January.
Related Item: Reserve Your Tour

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2013) – Food For The Poor and Lighthouse Interiors have partnered with some of South Florida's top designers to showcase a multi-million dollar Lighthouse Point home, January 16-19, 2014. Proceeds from the event will build Food For The Poor homes in Haiti.

The exclusive Designer Show House 2014 VIP Reception will be Thursday, Jan. 16, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., at 2316 NE 30 Court, Lighthouse Point, Fla., 33064. The ticket price is $150.

VIP guests will enjoy savories and cocktails as they tour the new construction of a six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, coastal-inspired home on the Ibis Waterway. El Tamarindo Café’s Head Chef Néstor "Alex" Amaya will prepare samples of his signature cuisine in the home’s gourmet kitchen. The evening will also include a spectacular silent auction.

The 10,000-square-foot residence, designed by Bridget Conway, principal of Lighthouse Interiors, boasts separate guest and pool houses, as well as unbelievable waterway views from almost every window. From the dock, boat owners will have quick access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Hillsboro Inlet and lighthouse.

“This exceptionally stunning project is full of classic lines and clean elements, built with today’s lifestyle in mind,” said Conway. “The spectacular lighting with several chandeliers and an abundance of sconces throughout the home complement the rooms’ natural lighting.”

The free standing tub in the master bathroom, and large shower adorned with iridescent Rivershell, or mother of pearl, embraces the home’s coastal, West Indies design.

The Designer Show House 2014 Open House will be open to the general public Friday-Sunday, Jan. 17-19, from noon to 8:30 p.m., at 2316 NE 30 Court, Lighthouse Point, Fla., 33064. The ticket price is $30.

For additional information and tickets please call 888-404-4248.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Couple to Build Village

Ellie and Marv Walworth speak with a staff member who helps to care for 36 boys who live at the Christian Boys Home in Kingston, Jamaica. The Walworths, longtime supporters of Food For The Poor, took their first mission trip to the Caribbean country with the organization in July and will be building a village consisting of 39 two-room houses with the relief and development organization in McCooks Pen this fall.

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2013) – Jamaica is famous for its beautiful beaches and vistas. But head inland, about an hour’s drive from the capital city of Kingston into St. Catherine’s Parish between Spanish Town and Old Harbour, and you will find McCooks Pen. The rural community is just off a busy roadway, and is a world away from what beckons visitors to this tropical paradise.

Hidden on a back dirt road, nestled between overgrown weeds and a muddy creek, is a row of dilapidated houses. In the doorway of one of the unsound structures, stood an enthusiastic 22-year-old woman who dreams of attending college. Vanessa Brown talked about what life is like for her and the nine other family members living in the tiny space. She spoke candidly with Marv and Ellie Walworth, who were listening intently to her every word.

“Life here is hard, very hard,” said Brown. “But, I will not let my living conditions define who I am as a person. I refuse to give up on myself.”

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The Walworths, longtime supporters of Food For The Poor, took their first mission trip to the Caribbean country with the organization in July. While there, the couple got to witness true destitution as they visited with families in McCooks Pen.

“The attitude of the people here is truly fascinating. They may not have much, materially, yet they are amazingly optimistic about the future and tend to see good where most would see misery,” said Marv.

Moved by what they saw and heard, the Walworths have decided to build a village of 39 two-room houses. Each house will have a living space, a personal sanitation unit with a flush toilet and shower, kitchenette and access to electrical power. The village also will have a community center, which will be built in a cleared out sugar cane field in the center of town.

“Words can’t begin to express the gratitude we feel for the gift of opportunity the Walworths have decided to give to these families who are in desperate need,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “We understand that we cannot fix all the problems in Jamaica, but we are making life-changing improvements one family at a time with God’s help, and with the help of our donors. The Walworths’ legacy will live on for generations to come for those families in the McCooks Pen community.”

Married 51 years, the Walworths have four adult children and seven grandchildren; he is a retired electrical mechanical engineer and she is a retired elementary school teacher from Grand Junction, Colo. The couple learned about Food For The Poor when a speaker from the organization spoke at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church six years ago. No strangers to giving back, the Walworth family has volunteered and opened up their home to help others within their own community, but felt the calling they needed to do more.


“Our family background is one of service. Both of our mothers have led us to have a spirit of service, and we have done the same with our children,” said Ellie. “Here in America there are services available for those who avail themselves of them, but in Jamaica they don’t have the big umbrella of social services, they just don’t have that. That’s why we wanted to help the poorest of the poor.”

Construction of what will be the “The Walworth Family Village” is expected to begin in the fall in McCooks Pen, St. Catherine, Jamaica, and is expected to take eight months to complete. Marv says he plans to volunteer some of his time to help in the building of the village.

“One of the biggest things that impressed me is the use of the local people in the building of these construction projects – it’s fantastic,” said Marv.

It also is Marv and Ellie’s desire that their children and their grandchildren join them in Jamaica when the village is completed and presented to the families. The Walworths believe their gift to these families living in extreme poverty is symbolic of Jesus’ words, “As often as you did it to one of the least of My brothers and sisters, you did it to Me.” (Matt. 25:40)


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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
                                                         

Hope Takes Root in Dominican Republic Greenhouses

On Sept. 12, Operation Starfish inaugurated its first project in the Dominican Republic. The 3,000 square-foot greenhouse in Pedro Santana will produce 2,400 pounds of vegetables four times a year. Built by Food For The Poor and Caritas D.R., and operated by San Francisco de Asis parish, the business model calls for using a portion of the profits to replicate the greenhouse in more locations. Nativity's Operation Starfish provided the initial capital for this self-sustaining project.

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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 30, 2013) – Dozens of families living in the rural community of Pedro Santana, Dominican Republic, are learning how to plant, grow, and harvest the fruits of their labor thanks to greenhouse projects taking root in the Caribbean country.
On Sept. 12, the latest greenhouse project was inaugurated in a meadow near Pedro Santana, which is located about 165 miles west of the capital city of Santo Domingo, near the border of Haiti. This is the eighth greenhouse built in the Dominican Republic by Food For The Poor and its local partner, Caritas D.R. Funding for this greenhouse project was provided by Church of the Nativity in Burke, Va., through Food For The Poor’s Operation Starfish program.
“Pope Francis is urging us to give priority to the needs of the poor and this project will do just that,” said Fr. Richard Martin, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity.

The Church of the Nativity has been working with the relief and development organization Food For The Poor for 15 years, and has built more than 1,000 homes in eight Nativity Villages in neighboring Haiti, but this is Nativity’s first Operation Starfishâ project within the Dominican Republic.

“It is almost impossible to put into the words the love and gratitude Food For The Poor has for Fr. Martin and the Church of the Nativity’s parishioners. Because of their loving kindness thousands of families in Haiti have a secure home and are working on self-sustaining projects and receiving vocational training,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “We are equally excited about working with Nativity on the greenhouse projects in the Dominican Republic.”

Food For The Poor began working in the Dominican Republic 13 years ago, and has built 2,786 homes there. The two-room homes provide shelter, safety and brighter futures. Food For The Poor also has Community Development Projects that include elements necessary to break the cycle of poverty. Some of these projects include the construction of rural schools, clinics and community centers, self-sustaining agriculture and animal husbandry projects, and women’s vocational training.

The greenhouse in Pedro Santana is one of those self-sustaining projects and will provide 2,400 pounds of produce, four times a year, to feed families in this mountain community. The greenhouse will be operated by local farmers with oversight provided by Fr. Keith O’Hare, the pastor of San Francisco de Asís parish in nearby Bánica. Fr. O’Hare is a mission priest from the Diocese of Arlington, Va.
“We have good farmers here, this project allows them to be even better farmers,” said Fr. O’Hare.
The business model of this latest project requires a portion of the profits from sales of vegetables to be set aside and used to replicate the greenhouse in additional locations. The greenhouse facility also has a drip irrigation system fed by a water reservoir and underground supply lines, which were installed by Food For The Poor.

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.
                                                         

Plan to Build 1,000 Homes

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2013) – Food For The Poor signed an agreement on Tuesday with Haiti’s Fonds d’Assistance Economique et Sociale (Fund for Economic and Social Assistance) to build 1,000 homes in the northern corridor of Haiti. With the support of the Inter-American Development Bank and the United States Agency for International Development, this agreement will mean construction will begin in the fall and will take approximately 18 months to complete.
Food For The Poor and the other agencies have agreed on a regional development plan anchored by Caracol Industrial Park, which opened last October, and is located between Cap-Haitien and the border of the Dominican Republic.

Food For The Poor, with the support of its generous donors, will be responsible for the construction of the homes, which will include clean water and flush toilets.  Each house will be powered with solar energy and will be built with earthquake and hurricane resistant materials. The homes will be located on three parcels of land within the Nord-Est Department of Haiti in the towns of Terrier-Rouge, Ouanaminthe, and Caracol.  The industrial park will provide work for many of the families. Schools are nearby, and there’s an opportunity for future community-related projects.

It’s been more than three years since the earthquake devastated the epicenter of Haiti. During that time, Food For The Poor has been working to help earthquake survivors with their immediate and long-term needs. With the help of its donors it has built 4,136 two-room permanent homes. While 1.3 million people were initially left homeless by the earthquake, an estimated 279,000 remain without proper shelter, according to published reports.

“Since the quake, we have escalated our homebuilding in Haiti,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “It is heartbreaking to see the conditions in which some people are living, and it is dangerous to their health and safety. By working together with FAES, IDB, USAID, and with our loyal donors, we will be able to get more people out of the tents and move them into sturdy homes of their own.” 

“These agencies want to work with Food For The Poor because the organization has worked in Haiti since 1986 and has demonstrated experience of getting results, which has earned the charity a great deal of trust,” said Alvaro Pereira, Executive Vice President of Food For The Poor. “Providing families with a home is important, but we also are committed to implementing community projects such as economic development training to become self-sustaining, and support services to train and empower families on how to maintain their homes in their new neighborhood.” 

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 95 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.