Powerade enters March Madness arena, after fight against cholera

Powerade, March Madness’ “Official Sports Drink of the NCAA,” late last year entered another arena in a big way – the fight against cholera in Haiti. The Coca-Cola Brand donated 2,538 cases of its beverages from plants in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the United States.

Today jump-starts March Madness, and Powerade’s presence will be prominent throughout the college basketball’s tournament. The sport’s drink Game Science campaign tag line, Focus. Hustle. Hydrate. Believe., also reflects the mission of Food For The Poor’s emergency relief actions.

“The donation of Powerade has helped to give dehydrated cholera victims the strength and energy necessary to beat the waterborne illness,” said Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director. “Cholera and malaria do not kill people in First World countries where there is access to medicine. In Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, destitute children are often emaciated and their immune systems are compromised.”

Food For The Poor’s 25-year tenure in Haiti has aided the nonprofit’s response to the spread of cholera. As the threat of disease has loomed over Haiti’s recovery from January’s destructive earthquake, Food For The Poor remained committed to investing in sanitation and water projects throughout the country.

Less than 48 hours after the first cholera cases began arriving at hospitals the week of Oct. 18, Food For The Poor deployed and installed solar-powered water filtration and chlorination units that each can purify up to 10,000 gallons of water a day. To date, Food For The Poor, with the help of Water Missions International has installed 30 water filtration units in the Artibonite region where the cholera outbreak started. In response to the large number of displaced earthquake victims who have migrated to the northern city of Cap-Haitien, Food For The Poor has purchased an additional 10 water filtration units to install in the region.

"The year is off to a great start for Powerade, as the brand continues to build on its momentum from 2010," said Yolanda White, VP-Powerade brand marketing, in a release about the March Madness promotion.

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.

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

Basketball Team Learns Life Lesson off the Hardwood in Jamaica

The varsity boy’s basketball team at Pine Crest School is making a name for itself. With more than a dozen wins under their belt this season, the two-time state champions tipped off two games in January – not in the “Sunshine State,” but on an island in the sun.

Located in Fort Lauderdale, the Pine Crest Panthers were invited to participate in the Caribbean Shootout in Jamaica with matchups against Kingston College and St. Georges College on Jan.14 and 15. But this trip was about much more than basketball, said Pine Crest President Lourdes Cowgill, who traveled with the team.

“This was a wonderful educational experience for our players because they got to meet kids their age and younger who live in orphanages,” said Cowgill. “Thanks to Food For The Poor, our boys got a lesson in service. I am very proud of the way they conducted themselves both on and off the basketball court.”

The Panthers’ four-day “Journey of Hope to Jamaica” trip was made possible in part because of Food For The Poor. While on the island, the young men had the opportunity to host basketball clinics at Alpha Boys Home, and the Maxfield Park Children’s Home in Kingston. The children received basketballs and soon will receive two pallets loaded with hundreds of pairs of sneakers, uniforms, and, of course, more basketballs. This trip took on a special meaning for a couple of the team’s players, co-captains Keith Parkinson, and Traveon Henry, whose parents are from the island.

“Jamaica was the first country served by Food For The Poor in 1982, and we’ve helped many to obtain suitable housing, food, and much needed goods in kind,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “But it’s the work we’ve done in the schools and with the orphanages that touches us the most. The future of Jamaica is in the hands of its young people; it was good to see Pine Crest’s basketball team spearhead this noble initiative and to see the pride of the young men with family ties to the island.”

For the last six years, the varsity basketball team has taken annual trips to Ohio, New York, Atlanta, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and to Springfield, Mass. The Panthers’ Head Coach David Beckerman said his team not only took on two of Jamaica’s top schools in the sport of basketball, but his players got a priceless experience that will last a lifetime.

“There is more to life than a game of basketball,” said Beckerman. “We need to understand that there are people who are less fortunate, and it is our obligation to 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.

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.