Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber pledges donations from gala to help rebuild Haiti

For the second year in a row, the Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber has chosen Food For The Poor as the recipient of silent auction proceeds at its Imperial Banquet at the Intercontinental Hotel at Doral on May 20.

FFP CEO Robin Mahfood and international visitors.

The invitation-only gala is in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month in May. The chamber has invited the award-winning Taiwanese Chef Liu, who has represented the nation at several cooking demonstrations in Europe, to present an eight-course dinner based on the unique cuisine of Taiwan.

“In good times, we always remember those less fortunate than us,” said Pedro Cheng, Vice President of the Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber. Food For The Poor is celebrating its 30th year of service to the truly destitute.

In recognizing Food For The Poor’s President/CEO Robin Mahfood at last year’s event, Cheng said, “Mr. Robin, you are my hero. You defend the weak and the poor. You give them food when they are hungry, you give them drink when they are thirsty and you clothe them when they are naked; and you visit them when they are sick.”

Food For The Poor and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) have partnered since 2005 to collaborate on joint initiatives in six countries, including Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and El Salvador. These projects include the in-country production of food through agriculture, farm-raised fish and livestock breeding – self-sustainable initiatives that teach people how to earn a living. The two organizations also have partnered to provide computers to children, enhancing their education.

“At Food For The Poor we believe that every human being deserves the simple dignity of having sufficient food, clean water, adequate shelter, an education, medical attention and the opportunity to become self-sufficient,” Mahfood said. “We will be forever grateful for the help the people of Taiwan offered the poor with their gifts of rice during some of the very worst times, including after the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti.”

The money donated from last year’s dinner was used to support Food For The Poor projects in Haiti. For more information about the event, email doralcbc@gmail.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.

Contact:
Kathy Skipper
Food For The Poor
Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6614
kathys@foodforthepoor.com

Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber gives second chances

Performers in brightly colored, authentic lion costumes welcomed guests to the second annual Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber gala Saturday night. Event award recipients included Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor, and Chinese-Jamaican businessman, Livingston ‘George’ Yap, CEO of LEASA Industries Co, Inc.

Mahfood and Yap were introduced as givers of second chances. Mahfood emphasized Food For The Poor’s passion for giving as freely as the charity receives. The majority of LEASA's employees are former welfare recipients, high school dropouts and those who were once in the penal system.

Yap surprised the audience during his acceptance speech, dropping to one knee to ask Lisa Hu Barquist, one of the evening’s presenters, to marry him. Yap told Mahfood from the stage that he would make a donation to Food For The Poor, if she accepted. The audience erupted with applause when she said yes.

“Mr. Robin, you are my hero,” said Pedro Cheng, Vice President of the chamber, as he presented Mahfood with the humanitarian award for his service to the less fortunate. “You defend the weak and the poor. You give them food when they are hungry, you give them drink when they are thirsty and you clothe them when they are naked; and you visit them when they are sick.”

Food For The Poor and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) have partnered since 2005 to collaborate on joint initiatives in six countries, including Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and El Salvador. These projects include the in-country production of food through agriculture, farm-raised fish and livestock breeding – self-sustainable initiatives that teach people how to earn a living. The two organizations also have partnered to provide computers to children, enhancing their educations.

“At Food For The Poor we believe that every human being deserves the simple dignity of having sufficient food, clean water, adequate shelter, an education, medical attention and the opportunity to become self-sufficient,” said Mahfood. “We are committed to these goals and embrace the belief that their attainment will positively transform the lives of the poor.”

Mahfood thanked Taiwan’s delegates and the first lady for rolling up their sleeves in Food For The Poor’s Port-au-Prince feeding center to serve rice donated from the people of Taiwan to Haiti’s destitute. For three years, Taiwan worked through Food For The Poor to send 40 containers of rice each month to Haiti. Then, immediately after the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake, Taiwan again stepped up to assist by donating more than 400 tons of rice.

Master of ceremonies, CBS Channel 4’s Emmy Award-winning news anchor Shannon Hori, celebrated her father’s birthday and Japanese heritage at the annual event commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Dozens of students from the Miami Chinese Language School in Coral Gables thrilled attendees with several culturally rich dance performances.

Event sponsor Coca-Cola announced the 2011 Coca-Cola Scholar award recipient was Charlton Cheng, and William Dukes was the Educator of Distinction recipient.

“After learning about how Food For The Poor helped Haitians build new homes, our chamber donated enough money to build one home for a Haitian family,” said Charles Cheng, CEO of the chamber.

For more information please contact the Doral Overseas Chinese Business Chamber:

Charles Cheng, CEO
305-421-8978
doralocbc@gmail.com

Pedro Cheng, VP
305-793-8673
doralocbc2pedrocheng@gmail.com

Food For The Poor, the third-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 agency 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

Taiwan ICDF Honors Commitment to Nonprofit

The government of Taiwan, through their International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), has partnered with Food For The Poor to outfit schools and orphanages in Haiti with 1,020 computer workstations.

The Taiwanese embassy will work closely with the international relief and development organization to select schools that are eligible to receive the computer workstations. Recognizing that education and technology are crucial to break the cycle of poverty, the Taiwan ICDF has pledged technical support, and to develop grade-level specific software to assist teachers and students in the classroom.

In addition to educational supplies, Taiwan ICDF also is donating much-needed rice. At one time, Taiwan ICDF shipped 40 containers of rice a month to Food For The Poor-Haiti for distribution. Through this joint initiative, hundreds of thousands of school children and adults in the most destitute areas of the Haiti were provided life-saving food.

Since the catastrophic Jan. 12 earthquake, Food For The Poor continues to feed an ever-increasing number of Haitians who are in desperate need of assistance. Joint initiatives with Taiwan ICDF include in-country production of food through agriculture, farm-raised fish and livestock breeding – self-sustainable initiatives that teach people how to earn a living.

A Taiwan ICDF tilapia expert worked with Food For The Poor this year to increase the production of tilapia and basa in Haiti. These fish ponds both eliminate hunger and provide an entire village with a sustainable source of food and income. Currently there are more than 30 ponds in Haiti.

“The Taiwan ICDF humanitarian commitment to Food For The Poor on behalf of the poorest of the poor has been an incredible blessing to millions,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “We are extremely grateful to the people of Taiwan and Taiwan ICDF for all they have done to help our poorest brothers and sisters.”

In October 2009, Taiwan ICDF delegates traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to meet with Food For The Poor’s President/CEO and Executive Director to discuss opportunities for future partnerships. During the trip, Taiwan ICDF delegates rolled up their sleeves to help serve some of the more than 15,000 hot meals that are cooked and distributed at Food For The Poor’s warehouse and complex, six days a week. Delegates also visited Food For The Poor-sponsored schools, orphanages and handicapped homes.

Taiwan ICDF cooperates with Food For The Poor in agriculture, aquaculture and animal husbandry projects in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency 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.