Atlanta residents get honor

Food For The Poor Honors Atlanta Residents

	(L to R) Patricia and Edward Buckley at the Dreams Across the Sea gala. Mr. Buckley is a recipient of the Ambassador For The Poor award.
Related Items: Help Provide Water for the Hospital Watch a Video of the Haiti Mission Trip See Photos from the Gala

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2014) – Food For The Poor’s Executive Director Angel Aloma named three Atlanta-area residents Ambassadors For The Poor at the charity’s 7th annual Dreams Across The Sea event on Oct. 24, at The InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Ambassador For The Poor honorees are Edward Buckley, managing partner at The Buckley Law Firm LLC (Decatur); the Rev. William Thomas Deneke, an Episcopal priest (Decatur); and Amanda Farahany, a partner at Barrett & Farahany, LLP (Atlanta).

Event proceeds will be used to bring clean, safe drinking water to Dalon, Haiti, through the installation of a 10,000-gallon concrete cistern, and water kiosks. Currently, residents walk more than a mile to reach the local spring, and because of the heavy reliance on this resource, residents usually have to wait 45 minutes to collect water.

Proceeds also will partially fund necessary components for a water project at the Baptist Hospital in Quartier Morin, Haiti. There is no piped water in Quartier Morin. The several shallow, hand-dug wells at the Baptist Hospital are inefficient because they are susceptible to the region’s dry spells, as they are replenished by rainfall. When necessary, water is pumped by hand and delivered in wheelbarrows to the hospital from the nearby children’s home. That well was generously installed in 2012 by Ed Buckley and members of Leadership Atlanta.

“It is our belief that the right to clean drinking water is the most fundamental of human rights, for without clean drinking water we cannot fully exercise our other God-given rights,” said Buckley. “For example, a child can’t enjoy her right to education with parasites roiling in her belly because she does not have clean drinking water. A woman can’t engage in commerce if she has to spend five hours a day hunting for clean water and bringing a five-gallon bucket back to her home, only to repeat the same thing the next day.”

In May, Buckley, Farahany and Rev. Deneke traveled to Haiti with Food For The Poor to visit several potential water project sites to benefit from Food For The Poor’s 2014 Dreams Across The Sea event.  While in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the group also celebrated the life of a Decatur, Georgia, nurse, Susan Parry, through the inauguration of a new water well and cistern at the Bernard Mevs Hospital.

“She took care of many patients during her long career,” said Buckley, who credits Parry for organizing the best nursing staff to care for him during a recent health scare. “She brought me back to the land of the living. I feel a huge debt of gratitude to her.”

To invest in a critically needed water project in Haiti, please call 1-888-404-4248, or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/water-haiti.

Paul Goodloe, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel, served as master of ceremonies.

Dreams Across The Sea Co-Chairmen are Chris Curry and Saurel Quettan. Additional committee members include Dr. Paula Nelson Adesokan, Scott and Kari Bardowell, Verlyn Britton, Edward Bruno-Gaston, Edward Buckley, Renee Corey-Lubin, Rev. Lebon Faustin, Gina Frasier, Nekeidra Frederick, Jean Hanges, Michele Jean, Loveless Johnson III, Pascale Jones, Sylvia McClure, Nnena Nchege, Dr. Jason Regis, and Garvin Stewart.

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.

Fulton County 6-Year-Old Boy Sets Giving Pace for Atlanta Gala

With his hair neatly brushed, and his button-down shirt tucked-in, Will Merchant, 6, confidently entered the W. Atlanta – Buckhead hotel to deliver an original piece of his artwork and a $500 check to representatives of the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.

Before the Atlanta gala started, Angel Aloma, Food For The Poor’s Executive Director, had not only an opportunity to speak to the bighearted boy, but also the privilege of receiving his thoughtful gifts. Later that evening, as Aloma addressed attendees, he beamed proudly as he shared Will’s message of spirit and love.

The youngster’s generosity warmed hearts and reaffirmed the importance of investing in children’s futures. Proceeds from this year’s annual Atlanta Food For The Poor event, New Hope, New Beginnings, will be used to build schools in Jamaica. As master of ceremonies, the Emmy Award Winner, Jovita Moore, from WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News, emphasized the importance of an education.

Funds raised at the event will be used to construct Mount Hindmost Basic School in Clarendon, Jamaica, and water and sanitation projects will replace dangerous pit-latrines at existing schools. Educational opportunities like safe facilities, and supplies, like folding desks and reading books, give impoverished families island-wide hope for the future.

Will was inspired to help victims of Haiti’s catastrophic earthquake when he heard other children calling Atlanta’s 104.7 The Fish, to donate their allowance or do odd jobs to raise money for the cause. To meet his goal, Will sold his paintings to neighbors, friends and family members.

When asked why he decided to help those he had never met before, Will said, “God led me in my heart to do that.”

“We were so delighted to see Will take such a heartfelt interest in helping the earthquake victims,” said Beth Merchant, Will’s mom. “Our hope is that Will remembers how meaningful this experience has been for him and others around him. We can’t wait to see where his heart takes him next.”

The evening included live music by Lethal Rhythms, a silent auction, dancing, and a memorable dinner with friends prepared by principal sponsors W Atlanta - Buckhead and MARKET. Bidding on silent auction prizes such as exclusive art and collectibles from the Caribbean and Latin America, designer jewelry, vacations, golf and dining packages offered opportunities for guests to shop and donate to the cause. Aroma Ridge, Inc. rum cakes were distributed to event guests as they left the party.

“It feels so good to support an organization that is fiscally sound; more than 96 percent of all its donations go to programs that help the poor,” said Lynn Hanna, event committee member.

“In poor Jamaican communities, schools can offer children an oasis for learning,” said Nawal Shadeed, Event Chairwoman. “School for these children is essential. Through education, they can escape the poverty that surrounds them.”

“The time I spent on the event was enjoyable and well worth it,” said Sarah Overstreet, event committee member. “A society is judged by how well we treat the less fortunate among us.”

New Hope, New Beginnings committee members include Susie Hagley, Lynn Hanna, Sylvia McClure, Kathy Murphy, Sarah Overstreet, Dr. Jason Regis, Carolyn Shadeed, Arlene Smith, Margaret Stenglein, and Michelle Wattley.

Event sponsors included: American Nicaraguan Foundation, The Coca-Cola Company, The Pereira Family and Toca Enterprises, LTd.

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.