Movers and Shakers Honor

Food For The Poor Supporter and Charity to Receive Special Honor

	Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President of Seaboard Marine, will be honored by South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers.
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COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Sept. 26, 2014) – The 2014 South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers will be honoring 12 civic-minded individuals, including longtime donor and supporter of Food For The Poor, Jose Perez-Jones, Senior Vice President of Seaboard Marine.  For more than three decades, Seaboard Marine has shipped thousands of containers filled with food and supplies, provided by Food For The Poor, to families in need throughout 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.

Perez-Jones, born in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, came to the United States when he was 11. Never forgetting the impression his Uncle Humberto Del Valle made on him 45 years ago, Perez-Jones’ dream of a shipping company became a reality in 1983. Today, Seaboard Marine serves 40 ports, including PortMiami, in 28 countries. Because of his compassion for the truly destitute, Perez-Jones formed a bond with Food For The Poor that continues to this day to benefit tens of thousands of families each year.

“For over 30 years, Seaboard Marine has nurtured and solidified a very meaningful and heartfelt friendship with Food for the Poor. We will proudly continue to support this outstanding and significant union by remaining motivated, committed, and action-driven,” said Perez-Jones. “It is in this spirit and culture that we have continued to have a lasting and caring relationship with the hopes of influencing a better life for all.”
The South Florida Caribbean American Movers and Shakers also will present this year’s Humanitarian Award to Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.

“With the vast majority of our work taking place in the Caribbean it’s truly humbling to know that the South Florida community, especially those with a heritage that’s linked to the region, are responding to the wonderful work Food For The Poor is doing there,” said Aloma. “Thanks to the support of our compassionate and dedicated donors, this charity is impacting lives throughout the Caribbean in a very positive way.”
Since its inception, Food For The Poor has built more than 96,000 housing units and installed nearly 1,900 water wells or water components. The organization also builds schools and feeds thousands daily, and is committed to creating projects that ultimately place families onto the path toward self-sufficiency.

Perez-Jones’ commitment to the charity’s mission goes beyond shipping. Seaboard Marine has been a supporter of the organization’s annual Building Hope Gala in Boca Raton, Fla., since 2005. For the first time this year, Seaboard Marine will sponsor the organization’s annual 5K Walk/Run for Hunger on Saturday, Nov. 8, at T.Y. (Topeekeegee Yugnee) Park, 3300 North Park Road, Hollywood, Fla.
                                                                       
“Seaboard Marine considers all opportunities to assist those in need a social responsibility and a loving mandate. As consequence, we are always ready, engaged, and willing to contribute, specifically now with the 5K Walk/Run for Hunger,” said Perez-Jones.

Aloma and Perez-Jones are two of the 12 honorees, which include entertainers Gloria and Emilio Estefan. The event will be at the Frost Art Museum at 10975 SW 17th St., Miami, on the campus of Florida International University, Oct.10, 2014, 6 - 9 p.m.

This event is being held in conjunction with FIU’s Caribbean Student Association, one of the largest multi-cultural student associations in the nation. Click for a preview of the honorees www.foodforthepoor.org/honorees.

The 2014 Caribbean American Movers and Shakers Networking Series include award events throughout the year in Atlanta, New York City and Miami.

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.

All-Nighter Empowers Students, Unites Campuses, Fights Hunger

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Oct. 18, 2012) – In South Florida, students at Broward College (BC), Florida International University (FIU) and the University of Miami (UM) are organizing campus events to commemorate World Food Day in partnership with the international relief and development organization Food For The Poor.

“I am eager to work with this organization to help raise funds for Guatemala through All-Nighters for the Poor,” said Javonia Robinson, a freshman majoring in public relations at BC’s South Campus. “No matter how different our geographic regions or cultures, we all affect one another in a major way.”

On Thursday, Oct. 25, BC South Campus will host A Taste of Guatemala from noon to 2 p.m. for $5 a plate. At 12:45 p.m., history professors Edward Cornejo and Rudy Jean-Bart will lead a discussion on the historical and current economic and political issues in Guatemala. Participating groups include ENC1102, ASPIRA and Phi Theta Kappa. Plan to enjoy traditional Guatemalan dishes and a slice of flan with your friends in the Southern Breezes Café in Building #68 at 7200 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

FIU’s Student Alumni Association is organizing All-Nighter events to take place Friday, Nov. 9, at the Biscayne Bay Campus in North Miami and Modesto A. Maidique Campus in western Miami-Dade County. That same night BC North Campus’ Caribbean Student Association (CSA) will host their All-Nighter. UM’s CSA and Butler Center for Volunteer Services and Leadership Development will schedule the campus’ All-Nighter in either November or December.

Students are encouraged to promote these campus events via social networking sites, and to register online at www.AllNighterForThePoor.org.
The goal of the All-Nighter program is to encourage students nationwide to host events on their campus to increase awareness about malnutrition and to fund self-sustaining solutions to poverty – such as tilapia ponds and animal husbandry projects – to alleviate hunger in developing countries.

“Throughout the world there are people that are not as fortunate as we are,” said Pratima Ramdeo, BC North’s CSA President. “CSA wants to give these families in Guatemala the privilege of not having to worry about where they'll get food to feed their kids or even themselves.” 
Funds raised during the 2012 All-Nighter for the Poor will provide destitute families in Guatemala Everything for Families with Nothing, including:
• Safe and secure homes with sanitation
• Rice and beans for one full year
• School supplies for two children per household (including books and uniforms)
• Clothing and shoes
• A self-sustainable project for a source of income and nutrition.

The campus that raises the most funds will have a street in the new Food For The Poor village named in its honor.

Are you ready to change the world? To learn more, visit www.AllNighterForThePoor.org. For more information, please call 1-877-654-2960, ext. 6069 or email moniques@foodforthepoor.com.
Funds from past events have gone to life-saving projects, such as:

• All-Nighter I (2009):   Funded the Harvesting Hope For Haiti Tilapia Farm in Delogner, Haiti. It is a four-pond tilapia farm, with each pond accommodating up to 7,000 fish.
• All-Nighter II (2010):  Funded the Renewing Hope Tilapia Farm in Fond Des Blanc, Haiti. This four-pond tilapia farm has a submersible pump powered by solar panels.
• All-Nighter II (2010):  Funded the Renewing Hope II Tilapia Farm in Cuperlier, Petite Goave, Haiti.
• All-Nighter III (2011): Funded a pangasius farm in Haiti.

“The farm in Delogner alone can provide about 1,800 pounds of fish every four months,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “This is vital protein in a country that so desperately needs nutritious food. In addition, the farm provides work for villagers who cultivate and harvest the tilapia, and then use the fish to barter for necessary goods.”

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.