Orlando Gala Success

Orlando Gala Raises Roofs for 28 Families in Haiti

	(L to R) Nicole Nasrallah and Dr. Lynne Nasrallah. During A Celebration of Hope gala, Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma recognized Dr. Lynne Nasrallah as an Ambassador For The Poor.
Related Items: Watch a Video of Life in Manneville Donate and Help Complete the Village

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 9, 2014) – Twenty-eight families in Haiti will receive Food For The Poor homes thanks to Orlando-area residents who attended the charity’s 15th annual A Celebration of Hope gala in Orlando on Saturday, Sept. 13. The permanent Food For The Poor homes will be constructed in Manneville, Haiti.

During A Celebration of Hope gala, presented by Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Food For The Poor Executive Director Angel Aloma recognized Dr. Lynne Nasrallah as an Ambassador For The Poor and presented her with a statue of Christ as a beggar. 

“It’s amazing to think that for 15 years, we have been changing the lives of the poor, lifting them out of poverty and giving them hope for the future,” said Dr. Nasrallah, the gala Chairwoman and member of Food For The Poor's Board of Directors. “Working with Food For The Poor, Orlando donors have built eight villages, and more than 864 homes. With your compassionate hearts, you have rescued the lives of thousands of vulnerable people; they were living in shacks, exposed to the elements, starving, desperate for a better life. Thank you for your generosity.”

Dr. Nasrallah closed her acceptance speech by introducing a video of her last trip to Haiti.

“I want all of you to join me on my pilgrimage back to Haiti, through a video,” said Dr. Nasrallah. “You are going to see what I saw when I was there last year; the needs of the poorest people in the poorest country, and what you have done to impact their lives.”

Master of ceremonies for this year’s A Celebration of Hope gala was Tom Sorrells, an Emmy award-winning meteorologist for WKMG Channel 6.

“I'm honored to participate in so many wonderful community events, but the Food For The Poor gala stands out in my mind as an evening that touched my heart and opened my mind,” said Sorrells. “I think the organization did a wonderful job of making sure that its meaningful work was the focal point of the night. The fact that I met so many wonderful people, and that the food and entertainment were both top-notch was just a bonus. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to host this worthwhile event, and look forward to watching it grow into the future.”

In addition to bidding on silent auction items, the attendees learned about Food For The Poor’s ongoing projects in Haiti from Food For The Poor’s Haiti Project Manager Delane Bailey-Herd.

In Haiti, Food For The Poor builds two-room, concrete block homes with zinc roofs, locking doors, and a front porch. The homes also include access to clean water, solar-power technology, and a bathroom with a flush toilet and shower stall.

To invest in the house-building initiative, please call 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

The gala’s presenting sponsor is Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Gala sponsors include Central Florida Marriott Business Council, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, McCoy Federal Credit Union, Orlando City Soccer, QuestMark Flooring, and S1-Safety 1st Drug Testing.

A Celebration of Hope gala executive committee members include Anibal and Maritza Beltran, Cynthia Hawkins, Patty Holland, Rebecca James, Marie Morales Johnson, Anis Khalaf, Kathy Kinchla, Brad Levine, Bernadette McComb, Rob and Elizabeth O’Brien, and Ryan Shaughnessy. Additional committee members include Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, The Compas Family, Janice Chong, Trevor and Freda Dieffenthaller, Jason Gingras, Nicole Nasrallah, Lisa Padilla, Nancy Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Anne Pinkosh, The Santana Family, Kelly Wilkes, Holly Wilson, and Jean and Donna Wilson.

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.

Orlando Gala Emcee

Channel 6’s Tom Sorrells to Emcee A Celebration of Hope Gala

	Tom Sorrells, of WKMG Channel 6, will serve as master of ceremonies at the Orlando gala.
Related Items: Reserve Your Seat Tour a Manneville Home

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (July 16, 2014) – Tom Sorrells, an Emmy award-winning meteorologist for WKMG Channel 6, will serve as master of ceremonies for Food For The Poor’s  A Celebration of Hope gala in Orlando on Saturday, Sept. 13. The 15th annual event will feature dining, music, dancing, and a live house rally.

A Celebration of Hope gala attendees will be invited to help build critically-needed houses for families in Manneville, Haiti, during the charity’s live house rally. For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope gala, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $175 per person, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who serves on the Food For The Poor Board of Directors and as the gala’s Chairwoman, has traveled to Manneville several times on mission trips with Orlando-area residents. They have seen firsthand the community’s deplorable living conditions, and met the families who rely on their voices to raise money to construct safe, permanent two-room houses with sanitation and access to water.

The gala’s presenting sponsor is Rosen Shingle Creek and Rosen Hotels & Resorts. Gala sponsors include Almar Travel, Greenburg Trauig, Central Florida Marriott Business Council, PTE Productions and S1-Safety 1st Drug Testing.

A Celebration of Hope gala executive committee members include Anibal and Maritza Beltran, Shoshana Cohen, Cynthia Hawkins, Patty Holland, Rebecca James, Marie Morales Johnson, Anis Khalaf, Kathy Kinchla, Brad Levine, Bernadette McComb, Rob and Elizabeth O’Brien, and Ryan Shaughnessy. Additional committee members include Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, Janice Chong, Trevor and Freda Dieffenthaller, Jason Gingras, Laura McDonald, Paul Mylod, Nicole Nasrallah, Lisa Padilla, Nancy Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Anne Pinkosh, The Santana Family, Kelly Wilkes, Holly Wilson, and Jean and Donna Wilson.

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.

Orlando Residents Celebrate the Joy of Rebuilding Homes in Haiti

ORLANDO (Oct. 30, 2012) – Thanks to the generosity of Orlando residents attending Food For The Poor’s 13th annual A Celebration of Hope gala on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, funds were raised to construct a village in Haiti. Families who have remained homeless since the devastating 2010 earthquake will receive safe, permanent Food For The Poor homes in Emmanuel Village VII, the seventh village constructed from funds raised through the yearly gala.

“Emmanuel Village VII will be a living example of how lives can be changed and hope can be restored,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “You have made a tangible difference in the lives of those who suffer, and those who have felt abandoned by the world in Manneville, Haiti.”

In August, Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who serves on the Food For The Poor Board of Directors and as the gala’s Chairwoman, traveled to Manneville with several committee members. There they met the families who will receive the new homes.

A Celebration of Hope gala committee members included Anibal and Maritza Beltran, Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, Janice Chong, Trevor and Freda Dieffenthaller,
Cynthia Hawkins, Jackie Heaps, Marissa Iannaccone, Rebecca James, Dr. Anis Khalaf, Kathy Kinchla, Donna Larson, Bernadette McComb, Laura McDonald, Paul Mylod, Dr. Desirae Nasrallah, Nicole Nasrallah, Robin Neel, Lisa Padilla, Nancy Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Anne Pinkosh, Amira Rodriguez, Roseline and Pelfrine Saint-Fort, The Santana Family, Marie Schwarz, Ryan Shaughnessy, Kelly Wilkes, Holly Wilson, and Jean and Donna Wilson.

“A great deal remains to be done, but together with your tremendous support, we can continue to help desperate and homeless Haitians,” said Mahfood. “You will forever change the lives of those who live in cardboard shacks and fragile tents with little or no protection from natural disasters, insects and rodents.” At the gala, Winter Park Construction built a prefabricated 12-by-12 foot house in the ballroom so that guests could see first hand how a modest house in Haiti can make a significant difference in the lives of the truly destitute.

Food For The Poor builds safe, permanent two-room houses with sanitation and access to water for families in need of shelter. Thanks to the ongoing support of Orlando residents, gala proceeds have relocated more than 636 families from garbage-filled swamps, and moved them into secure two-room Food For The Poor homes.

For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope gala and future sponsorship opportunities, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

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.

Orlando residents answer need for housing in Haiti

Orlando’s 13th annual A Celebration of Hope gala will raise money to build safe, permanent Food For The Poor homes for at least 50 Haitian families who remain homeless more than two years after the devastating earthquake. Committee members invite those interested in rebuilding and learning about Haiti to attend the Caribbean-themed gala at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa on Oct. 13.

Winter Park Construction will build a prefabricated 12-by-12 foot house in the ballroom so that guests can see how a modest house makes a significant difference in the lives of the truly destitute. Food For The Poor builds safe, permanent two-room houses with sanitation and access to water for families in need of shelter.

In August, Dr. Lynne Nasrallah, who serves on the Food For The Poor Board of Directors and as the gala’s Chairwoman, traveled to Manneville, Haiti, with several committee members. There they met the families who are relying on their voice to raise the money necessary to construct 50 two-room homes in Emmanuel Village VII.

“The impact of sheltering just one poor family reverberates from the heart of that family directly to the heart of God,” said Nasrallah. “I never tire of seeing a rusty tin shack being replaced by a sturdy Food For The Poor home.”

A Celebration of Hope gala will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, house rally, and a memorable dinner with friends. Bidding on silent auction prizes, such as exclusive art and collectibles from the Caribbean and Latin America, designer jewelry, luxury vacations, and golf and dining packages, offers opportunities for guests to support and donate to the cause.

For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope gala, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $150 per person, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

Tropical Storm Isaac’s recent path over the Caribbean nation reminded many of Haiti’s vulnerability, and of the hazardous living conditions still being endured by the approximately 390,000 Haitians who still live in tents and makeshift shacks. Thanks to the past support of Orlando residents, gala proceeds have relocated more than 636 families from garbage-filled swamps, and moved them into secure two-room Food For The Poor homes.

“There are so many more families that urgently need our help,” said Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor. “Dilapidated shacks made of scraps of wood, plastic and cardboard offer families little or no protection from natural disasters, insects and rodents.”

Since the 2010 earthquake, Food For The Poor has escalated its homebuilding initiative, and has built more than 3,523 permanent two-room homes for displaced families.

A Celebration of Hope gala committee members include Anibal and Maritza Beltran, Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, Janice Chong, Cynthia Hawkins, Jackie Heaps, Eva Pegan Hill, Marissa Iannaccone, Dr. Aida Jimenez and Isabel Jimenez, Rebecca James, Kathy Kinchla, Donna Larson, Paul Mylod, Desirae Nasrallah, Nicole Nasrallah, Nancy Padilla, Lisa Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Amira Rivera, Diane Rogers, Roseline and Pelfrine Saint-Fort, The Santana Family, Marie Schwarz, Kelly Wilkes, Jean and Donna Wilson, and Holly Wilson.

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

Orlando residents to present findings from Haiti at annual gala

Residents from the Orlando area are committed to rescuing Haitian families who call garbage-filled swamps “home.” Central Florida residents interested in Haiti’s rebuilding process are encouraged to attend Food For The Poor’s 12th annual fundraising event, A Celebration of Hope, Nov. 12, at Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa. Proceeds from the annual Orlando gala have built homes for more than 586 families.

“The impact of sheltering just one poor family reverberates from the heart of that family directly to the heart of God,” said Lynne Nasrallah. “I never tire of seeing a rusty tin shack being replaced by a sturdy Food For The Poor home. I have witnessed many fathers’ hands trembling with emotion and many mothers’ tears streaming from their eyes as they are given keys to their new front door. This scene is ‘a celebration of hope’ – a hope that tells the poor that God has indeed remembered His People.”

The evening will include live music, a silent auction, house rally, dancing, and a memorable dinner with friends. Bidding on silent auction prizes offers opportunities for guests to shop and donate to the cause at the same time. Prizes include exclusive art and collectibles from the Caribbean and Latin America, designer jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages.

Event proceeds will be used to construct critically needed homes and water projects in Haiti. Last year’s event raised enough funds to build 42 two-room Food For The Poor homes in Haiti.

For additional information regarding A Celebration of Hope event, sponsorship levels, and tickets, available at $150 per person, please call 1-888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/orlando.

A Celebration of Hope event sponsor, Winter Park Construction and their staff, will build a prefabricated, 12-by-12 foot house in the ballroom, to afford guests the opportunity to appreciate the significance a modest house makes in the lives of the truly destitute. For $6,400, Food For The Poor can build a safe, permanent two-room house with access to water and sanitation. A certificate of appreciate will be mailed to donors along with a photo of the house and housing recipients.

Committee members include: Anibal & Maritza Beltran, Linda Bonnewitz, The del Campo Family, Janice Chong, Cynthia Hawkins, Jackie Heaps, Dr. Aida Jimenez and Isabel Jimenez, Kathy Kinchla, Donna Larson, Tom Murphy, Paul Mylod, Desirae Nasrallah, Nicole Nasrallah, Robin Neel, Nancy Padilla, Lisa Padilla, Patricia Perfito, Amira Rivera, Diane Rogers, Roseline and Pelfrine Saint-Fort, The Santana Family, Marie Schwarz, Kelly Wilkes, Jean and Donna Wilson, and Holly Wilson.

In September, two Orlando residents traveled to Haiti on a Food For The Poor mission trip to witness first hand the conditions of the people and to see how the nonprofit continues to improve lives and living conditions throughout the country. The visitors traveled through swamps, blessed Emmanuel Village V, visited a home for handicapped children and the neonatal unit at Bernard Mevs Hospital, and learned how sustainable initiatives empower villages and increase in-country production of food. These initiatives include tilapia ponds, chicken rearing and animal husbandry projects.

“As pilgrims with Food For The Poor, we begin to personally understand the command: Love one another,” said Nasrallah. “We show our love by the way we look into the eyes of the poor, or by the way we greet them or by the way we clasp their hand. This love lends value to our action.”

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