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
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