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.
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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

Former WNBA Star Awarded for Making a Slam Dunk for Education

For nearly a decade, Simone Edwards dominated the sport of women’s basketball, where she was known by many as the ‘Jamaican Hurricane’ and finished as the team’s all-time leader in rebounds. When Edwards played in the WNBA for the Seattle Storm, she captured the hearts of both fans and spectators.

But it’s a project off the court that’s dear to Edwards’ own heart that’s putting her back in the spotlight. The former pro athlete and current assistant coach of the George Mason University women’s basketball team says she’s passionate about giving back. So she established the Simone4Children Foundation, a nonprofit created to uplift underprivileged children.

"It’s important to give back; it’s something I feel very strongly about," said Edwards. "I started my foundation because I believe it’s a way to help children to become self-sustaining adults."

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, her dream to build a learning center in St. Andrew quickly became a reality due to a chance meeting and help from Food For The Poor.

One day in 2006 the president of the Women’s National Basketball Association was on a flight; seated next to her was Fr. Tony Palazzolo who works as a speaker with Food For The Poor. The priest was put in contact with the player, and he helped to orchestrate Edwards’ next move toward building a school.

In 2007, the new Hermitage Learning Center officially opened its doors. It’s a place where remedial work is offered in preparation for important school examinations. In the evenings, the facility is used for adult literacy education. In addition to the new facility, which has the capacity to comfortably house 50 students and their teachers, Food For The Poor has donated office and classroom furniture, plus a furnished kitchen. More than 100 students have benefited from Hermitage’s homework, masonry and skills training programs.

“I have always known about Food For The Poor, being from Jamaica, but I didn’t realize the charity did so much. I am extremely grateful for all they have done to help me build this school, and to help the children of Jamaica,” said Edwards.

Since the early 1990s, Edwards’ talents on the hardwood in college, the WNBA, and now as a college basketball coach, have earned her countless awards. But on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, the Immaculate Conception High School Alumnae Association, New York Chapter will present her with the Ad Astra Award for using her sport to uplift others and for being a shining example for Jamaicans and Caribbean Diasporas.

“We can celebrate with Ms. Edwards and the residents who live in the community of Hermitage because they now have a sturdy structure in which to learn,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “They no longer have to sit under tents during classes, or worry about classes being cancelled when it rains. When her organization requested our assistance in constructing a safe, sturdy building for the Hermitage school, Food For The Poor was eager to answer this call for help.”

Food For The Poor, the third-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.