Shining a Light on Haiti

Honoree Mary Wong and Grammy Award-Winning Reggae Star Shine Light on Haiti’s Housing Needs

	L to R: Tim Rea (Executive Vice President of Marketing for Office Depot), Mary Wong (President of the Office Depot Foundation), Robin Mahfood (Food For The Poor President/CEO).
Related Items: See Photos from the Gala Donate to Build a Home

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2015) – Mary Wong, President of the Office Depot Foundation, was named Food For The Poor’s 2015 Ambassador For The Poor at the charity’s 20th annual Building Hope Gala, Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.

Known for her philanthropic endeavors throughout the community, Wong, together with Grammy Award-winning reggae artist Shaggy and The Hot Shot Band, have helped raise awareness about the desperate need for permanent housing in Haiti.

During the gala’s live house rally, homes for 40 destitute families were pledged to be built in the area surrounding Pon Batay, Haiti. A generous Food For The Poor donor matched the number of homes raised at the gala. 

“Everyone in this room is a voice for the voiceless,” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor President/CEO, as he spoke to the crowd of more than 450 about the importance of building safe, sturdy homes for destitute families.

“The poor live in very dangerous situations,” said Mahfood. “All they need is a proper roof over their heads, a place to gather, clean water and sanitation.”

Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma presented Wong with the award, listing many of her good qualities.

“Above all, it is the tears of compassion that I have seen you shed each time you watch a Food For The Poor video or look at our photos, or even when you listen to a story from the field about our children that makes recognizing you a sincere privilege,” said Aloma, as he introduced a teary Mary Wong and presented her with a statue of Christ as a beggar.

“That type of love for children whom you may never see and from whose lips you may never hear the words thank you, is the purest type of love in this world,” said Aloma.

"I am deeply grateful to Food For The Poor for selecting me as the honoree of its 20th annual Building Hope Gala and applaud this outstanding organization's dedication to providing homes and hope for the residents near Pon Batay, Haiti,” said Wong. “The Office Depot Foundation has partnered with Food For The Poor in our National Backpack Program for several years and is proud to know that, together, we have given thousands of children essential tools to succeed in school."

Thanks to the Office Depot Foundation, more than 14,000 sackpacks have been donated to Food For The Poor’s Angels Of Hope program. Over the past 15 years, the Office Depot Foundation has distributed more than 3.3 million backpacks and sackpacks to deserving children. This achievement will be recognized when the foundation is inducted into the PR News CSR Hall of Fame on March 12 in Washington, D.C.

Gala guests included Jay DiPietro, President/COO/General Manager of Boca West Country Club; The Honorable Franz Hall, Jamaica's Consul General to Miami; Dale Jones, Jamaica’s Deputy Consul General to Miami; and Miss Jamaica Diaspora (Florida) Kimar Muir.

DiPietro received the 2014 Ambassador For The Poor award for his contribution to Food For The Poor’s rebuilding effort in Haiti with the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA).

At the end of the evening, Shaggy treated the crowd to a memorable performance that included Boombastic, Angel, It Wasn’t Me, and songs from his Grammy-nominated reggae album, Out of Many, One Music.

In time for Valentine’s Day, sponsor J.R. Dunn Jewelers offered gala attendees an exclusive way to contribute to build critically needed houses for destitute families in Haiti. For a $100 donation at the event, one guest won a $5,000 shopping spree at J.R. Dunn Jewelers.

For additional information regarding the Building Hope Gala, or to support the home building-initiative, please call 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/boca.

The Building Hope Gala Chairwoman is Rene Turner-Mahfood, and additional committee members include Wedler Alexandre, Carlos Bodden, Matthew Bryant, Becky Carlsson, Ronda Ellis Ged, LaMae Klos, Susan Krassen, Julie Mahfood, Tashia Rahl, Kara Seelye, Deborah Shapiro and Renee Stetler.

Gala sponsors include Club Managers Association of America, Dennis Charley & Associates, Blackbaud, DKB Trade Concepts Inc., Harcourt M. & Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, Innovvaire, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, Leslie L. Alexander Foundation, McFFe Group, MOR Printing, Oceans 234, Office Depot Foundation, Premier Aircraft Sales, Seaboard Marine, TD Bank, Teemlink Ltd., The Calmark Group, The Levitetz Family Foundation, Trinity Direct, United Healthcare, Vitas Innovative Hospice Care, and The Boca Raton Observer.

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.

Boca Raton gala one week away

Grammy Award-Winning Reggae Star to Perform in Boca

	Grammy-award winning reggae artist Shaggy, and The Hot Shot Band, will perform at Food For The Poor’s 20th annual Building Hope Gala, Feb. 6, 2015, at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida.
Related Item: Reserve Your Seat

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2015) – It’s only one week until Grammy-award winning reggae artist, Shaggy, and The Hot Shot Band will perform at Food For The Poor’s 20th annual Building Hope Gala, Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Shaggy is currently up for another Grammy Award with his reggae album, “Out of Many, One Music.”

Mary Wong, President of the Office Depot Foundation, will be recognized as Food For The Poor’s 2015 Ambassador For The Poor at the gala for her philanthropic endeavors throughout the community. This year’s theme is old Hollywood glamour.

In time for Valentine’s Day, one of this year’s sponsors, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, in Lighthouse Point, Florida, will offer gala attendees an exclusive way to contribute to build critically needed houses for destitute families in Haiti. For a $100 donation at the event – with only 100 chances available – one guest will win a $5,000 shopping spree at J.R. Dunn Jewelers.

Attendees at the 20th annual Building Hope Gala will be invited to create a charitable legacy by pledging to build Food For The Poor houses for people in desperate need of adequate shelter in the area surrounding Pon Batay, Haiti. A gift of $3,200 will move a destitute family from their dirt-floor makeshift shack, into a permanent home.

“I would like to thank Shaggy, Mary Wong, and the Building Hope Gala committee members and sponsors for their dedication to build a tremendous amount of homes in Haiti at the gala’s 20th anniversary,” said Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood.

Bidding on silent auction prizes such as artwork, electronics, jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages also offer opportunities for guests to shop and support the cause. Silent auction prizes at the gala will range from a five-night stay at the beautiful Couples San Souci Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, to the opportunity to be Sheriff for a Day with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

Live auction prizes will also be available exclusively to attendees. In addition to a ride in the clouds for two aboard the Goodyear Blimp based at the Pompano Beach Airpark; and a seven-day stay at one of Interval International’s member resorts; Chef Ron Duprat, a star on the reality TV show “Top Chef” has offered to share his passion for cooking to help build homes in his homeland of Haiti. At the Building Hope Gala, attendees can bid on a 12-course dinner for 25 guests prepared by the French-trained executive chef at the home of the winning bidder.

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

The Building Hope Gala Chairwoman is Rene Turner-Mahfood, and additional committee members include Wedler Alexandre, Carlos Bodden, Matthew Bryant, Becky Carlsson, Ronda Ellis Ged, LaMae Klos, Susan Krassen, Julie Mahfood, Tashia Rahl, Kara Seelye, Deborah Shapiro and Renee Stetler.

Gala sponsors include Club Managers Association of America, Dennis Charley & Associates, Blackbaud, DKB Trade Concepts Inc., Gregory's Fine Jewelry, Harcourt M. & Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation, Innovvaire, J.R. Dunn Jewelers, Leslie L. Alexander Foundation, McFFe Group, MOR Printing, Oceans 234, Office Depot Foundation, Premier Aircraft Sales, Seaboard Marine, TD Bank, Teemlink Ltd., The Calmark Group, The Levitetz Family Foundation, Trinity Direct, United Healthcare and The Boca Raton Observer.

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.

Shaggy to Perform at Gala

Grammy award-winning reggae star Shaggy to celebrate gala milestone

	Shaggy (left) talks with Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood. Shaggy, a longtime supporter of the South Florida based-nonprofit, will perform at the 20th annual Building Hope Gala Feb. 6, 2015.
Related Item: Reserve Your Seat

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 29, 2014) – Come build homes and provide hope for Haiti with award-winning reggae artist, Shaggy, at Food For The Poor’s 20th annual Building Hope Gala, Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton. Attendees will be invited to create a legacy by pledging to build critically needed houses in Pon Batay, Haiti.

“Shaggy is a true friend of Food For The Poor,” said Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood. “Thanks to Shaggy, the determination of Building Hope Gala committee members, and the South Florida community, Food For The Poor is positioned to build even more homes to commemorate the gala’s 20th anniversary.” 

Shaggy a longtime supporter of the South Florida based-nonprofit Food For The Poor, will perform at the 20th annual Building Hope Gala. Shaggy’s philanthropic giving is based on the premise that “to whom much is given, much is required.”

“The gift of a safe, secure home is a tremendous blessing for a family who lives in a crumbling one-room shack, and does not know where there next meal will come from,” said Mahfood. “A home offers more than shelter to a destitute family – it offers hope.”   

Since inception, Food For The Poor has built more than 91,000 housing units for people desperately in need of adequate shelter. A gift of $3,200 will move a destitute family from their dirt-floor makeshift shack in Pon Batay, into a permanent home. The community’s dire living conditions are compounded by the lack of clean drinking water in the area. Pon Batay residents must walk miles to the nearest community to fetch water from a well.

Supporters who donate a Food For The Poor home in advance of the Building Hope Gala will be entered into a drawing to win two tickets to New York Fashion Week in September 2015. The winner and guest will travel to New York in style, wearing custom-made dresses, selected by an A-List wardrobe stylist. Hotel and airfare accommodations are included in the package. Each home donated between Nov. 1 and midnight on February 5, 2015, will generate an entry for the drawing. The winning ticket will be pulled during the gala.

At the event, attendees will be able to bid on additional silent auction prizes, such as electronics, jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages at Boca West Country Club, 20583 Boca West Drive, Boca Raton, Fla. 33434. This year’s theme is old Hollywood glamor.

The Building Hope Gala committee has organized a pre-event party on Nov. 13 at Shop DNA, Royal Palm Place, 1000 Plaza Real S., Suite E, Boca Raton, FL 33432. A portion of the proceeds from sales will be donated to Food For The Poor. Lea Black, from the cast of The Real Housewives of Miami Season 3, will attend the event. Please call Hillary Wallace at 888-404-4248 to request an invitation.

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

Committee members include Wedler Alexandre, Carlos Bodden, Matthew Bryant, Becky Carlsson, Gregory Fried, Ronda Ellis Ged, Erin Heit, Susan Krassen, Julie Mahfood, Rene Mahfood, Dan Overbey, Tashia Rahl, Candace Rojas, Kara Seelye, Dr. Deborah Shapiro, Renee Stetler and Max Tucci.

Gala sponsors include Leslie L. Alexander Foundation, Boca Raton Observer, Club Managers Association of America, Dennis Charley & Associates, Inc., Gregory’s Fine Jewelry, Oceans 234, Seaboard Marine, TD Bank, and Trinity Direct.

Shaggy won a Grammy for his album “Boombastic,” and was nominated for “It Wasn’t Me,” “Intoxication,” “Hotshot,” and “Summer in Kingston.” Shaggy has sold more than 20 million albums and has had seven number-one albums. Shaggy has also had eight number-one hit singles.

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.

Reggae star shakes up Building Hope Gala’s house rally, sets new record

Thanks to the compassion of 375 South Florida residents at Food For The Poor’s Building Hope Gala on Saturday, Feb. 4 at The Polo Club of Boca Raton, enough money was raised to construct 100 houses, a community center, and an animal husbandry project of 20 cows in Olivier, Deuxieme Plaine, Haiti. The gala coincided with Food For The Poor’s 30th anniversary, which will be celebrated on Sunday, February 12.

“I would like to suggest we are the voice for the voiceless,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor, as he addressed the guests and thanked the committee members for their commitment to the poor. “Every person here is a human key that can unlock a brighter future.”

The 2012 Grammy nominee and award-winning reggae artist Shaggy also performed at the nonprofit’s charity gala to shine a light on Haiti’s desperate need for permanent housing. He treated the crowd to Boombastic, Angel, It Wasn’t Me, and Sugarcane. Shaggy is a 2012 Grammy nominee for his new album, Summer in Kingston.

A video that documents seven of the committee members’ November trip to Haiti was shown at the gala to help those who have never traveled to a developing country visualize the inhumane living conditions of Haiti’s destitute.

“I witnessed firsthand the desperate struggle that hundreds of thousands of human beings face on a daily basis,” said Ronda Gluck, the Event’s Co-Chairperson as she shared her experience in Haiti with attendees. “Food, fresh water, toilets and shelter are things that are at a premium instead of in abundance. Food For The Poor, through housing projects like the one we are raising money for tonight, provides food for the hungry, homes for the homeless and hope for the hopeless.”

As the gala’s name implies, attendees gathered to create a legacy by pledging to build critically needed houses during the charity’s live house-rally. This year, guests pledged enough funding to construct a record 100 houses – to restore hope and to shelter the destitute in Olivier.

“No matter how much money you think has already been raised for the people of Haiti, it is simply not enough. The need is unimaginable,” said Gluck.

According to the Associated Press, the Haitian government has said the 2010 earthquake killed 316,000 people and displaced 1.5 million. On January 12, 2012, the AP reported that more than 500,000 are still in temporary settlement camps.

“My fear is that they are not safe,” said Rene Mahfood, the event’s Honorary Chairperson while in Haiti. “They don’t have a house, and they don’t have a door to keep people out. That is what they need – they need a home. They need a place where they can feel safe, where they can go to school and where they can learn and grow.”

Food For The Poor can build a permanent houses with a latrine for just $3,200. Food For The Poor homes are built with a strong corrugated zinc roof, a solid concrete foundation, cement block walls, windows for ventilation and a front door that can be locked.

Additional committee members include Cathy and Abdol Moabery (Event Co-Chairpersons), David Gluck (Event Co-Chairperson), Francis Mahfood (Honorary Chairperson), Becky Carlsson, Ronda Ellis Ged, Michele Greene, Julie Mahfood, Pamela Matsil, Kara Seelye, Natasha Singh, Allison Venditti, Patricia Wallace, and Traci Wilson.

The Building Hope Gala committee members invite you to join them on May 3 at Arrigo Fiat of West Palm Beach at 7:30 p.m. as they pull the winning raffle ticket for a Gucci Fiat 500C 2-door black automatic convertible. Raffle tickets, starting at $50, can be purchased through the charity’s secure website www.FoodForThePoor.org/fiat. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the car is $28,200. The Gucci Fiat 500C raffle sales will be used to continue building in Haiti.

This year’s committee devised a unique way to inspire gala attendees to contribute toward making a difference in the lives of others. For a donation, 100 guests pulled a playing card to see what they would win. Each card represented a unique gift. The grand prize was a pair of beautiful diamond earrings donated by Gregory’s Fine Jewelry in Boca Raton. Gregory’s Fine Jewelry also donated gift certificates for each bag.

Media master of ceremonies was Calvin Hughes, an Emmy Award-winning newscaster for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 News. For years, he has reported how nonprofits such as Food For The Poor continue to improve lives and living conditions throughout the world.

Event sponsors include Gregory’s Fine Jewelry, Arrigo Fiat of West Palm Beach, Allison and Peter Venditti, TD Bank, N.A., Regal Home Health, Premier Aircraft Sales, American Nicaraguan Foundation, Jeffrey and Agnes Stoops, Dennis Charley & Associates, Quadriga Art. Inc, Haiti Shipping Lines, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, Seaboard Marine Ltd., Dusco Doors, The Pereira Family, Bernuth Agencies, Inc., United Healthcare, Boca Home Care Services, Comerica Bank, The Ross Group of UBS, Mailing Service of Pittsburg, and Jox Sox.

Food For The Poor, 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/boca.

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

Grammy award-winning reggae star, Shaggy, shines light on Haiti’s housing needs

The 2012 Grammy nominee and award-winning reggae artist, Shaggy, has partnered with the South Florida based-nonprofit Food For The Poor to help build homes in Haiti. Shaggy is scheduled to perform at Food For The Poor’s annual Building Hope Gala on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012 at The Polo Club of Boca Raton.

Attendees will be invited to create a legacy by pledging to build critically needed houses during the charity’s live house-rally. For additional information regarding the Building Hope Gala, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $225 per person, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/boca.

Shaggy won a Grammy for his album “Boombastic,” and was nominated for “It Wasn’t Me,” “Clothes Drop,” “Intoxication,” and “Hotshot.” Shaggy won Billboard’s Male Artist of the Year and Male Album Artist of the Year in 2001 and was nominated at the 2002 American Music Awards as the Favorite Male Pop/Rock Artist, Rap/Hip-Hop Artist and International Artist of the year. Shaggy has sold over 20 million albums to date and has had seven number one albums. Shaggy has also had eight number one hit singles with “Boombastic,“ “In the Summertime,” “Angel,” “It Wasn’t Me,” “Church Heathen,” “Bonafide Girl,” “Feel the Rush,” and “Sugarcane.” Currently, Shaggy is a 2012 Grammy nominee for his new album “Summer in Kingston.”

Although tremendously successful in his business ventures and his music, Shaggy has always lived on the premise that “to whom much is given, much is required.” With this belief, Shaggy has also taken on the role of philanthropist.

Similarly, in November, seven committee members from the Boca Raton/Lighthouse Point communities left the comfort of their homes to travel to Haiti with Food For The Poor. While in-country, the committee members decided this year’s Building Hope Gala goal would be to raise enough money to construct 100 housing units, a community center, and to initiate an animal husbandry project to include 20 cows in Olivier, Deuxieme Plaine, Haiti.

“It was a very sad day, but a great experience – a life adjusting experience,” said Rene Mahfood, the event’s Honorary Chairperson, after her first day in Haiti. “What we saw today puts everything in perspective. You think about how expensive life is back home and all the things you can’t afford. Then you realize that all those material things don’t matter. None of it matters. All that matters is having a roof over your head, being able to clothe your children and having food to eat.”

Committee members include Cathy and Abdol Moabery (Event Co-Chairpersons), Ronda and David Gluck (Event Co-Chairpersons), Rene and Francis Mahfood (Honorary Chairpersons), Becky Carlsson, Ronda Ellis Ged, Michele Greene, Julie Mahfood, Pamela Matsil, Kara Seelye, Natasha Singh, Allison Venditti, Patricia Wallace, and Traci Wilson.

Media master of ceremonies will be Calvin Hughes, an Emmy Award-winning newscaster for WPLG-TV ABC Local 10 News. For years, he has reported how nonprofits such as Food For The Poor continue to improve lives and living conditions throughout the world.

Event sponsors include Gregory’s Fine Jewelry, Arrigo Fiat of West Palm Beach, TD Bank, N.A., Regal Home Health, Premier Aircraft Sales, American Nicaraguan Foundation, Jeffrey and Agnes Stoops, Dennis Charley & Associates, Quadriga Art. Inc, Haiti Shipping Lines, Seaboard Marine Ltd., Dusco Doors, The Pereira Family, Bernuth Agencies, Inc., United Healthcare, Boca Home Care Services, Comerica Bank, The Ross Group of UBS, Mailing Service of Pittsburg, and Jox Sox.

Food For The Poor, 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