Increased aid and efficiency key to fighting poverty
Coconut Creek, FL (April 23, 2009) – The nation’s largest international relief and development agency continues to ship ever-increasing amounts of aid to the poor while raising the efficiency of its operations.
In the battle against poverty, Florida-based Food For The Poor says 2008 was a year of record-breaking success on many fronts but the needs of the destitute are enormous and continue to grow.
“With the generosity of our donors, a lot of hard work and God’s grace, we have been able to deliver more help and more hope to the destitute than ever before,” said Food For The Poor’s President and CEO, Robin Mahfood. “As always, we are ready to face the challenges ahead of us.”
According to Food For The Poor’s just released 2008 Annual Report:
* In 2008, Food For The Poor reduced its expense ratio to a mere 2.26 percent – ensuring that more than 97 percent of every donation goes directly to help the poorest of the poor.
* Last year, Food For The Poor distributed more than $1.5 billion in support to destitute children and their families throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
* 2008 saw Food For The Poor deliver nearly 33 million pounds of rice, more than 11 million pounds of beans, 1.6 million pounds of canned foods, and 19.5 million pounds of other life-sustaining foods to feed malnourished children and their families.
* In 2008, Food For The Poor constructed 8,417 housing units for families in need of adequate shelter – and it has built more than 55,000 housing units since its inception in 1982.
* Following last year’s devastating hurricane season, Food For The Poor shipped 363 tractor-trailer loads of emergency aid and supplies to storm victims throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
* Last year, Food For The Poor sent 625 tractor-trailer loads of vital medicines and medical supplies and 508 trailer loads of educational supplies to the needy.
* In 2008, Food For The Poor continued its work to bring clean water to the poor, build schools and clinics, and support the elderly in nursing homes and children in orphanages.
* Food For The Poor gave hope to thousands of poor people through self-sustaining fishing villages and tilapia ponds, by planting fruit tree nurseries, and by providing livestock and training in animal husbandry and other agricultural programs.
Food For The Poor recently achieved another milestone when the nation’s foremost independent charity evaluator, Charity Navigator, announced that Food For The Poor was the first nonprofit in its database to earn a four-star rating for eight consecutive years – showing that Food For The Poor operates “in the most fiscally responsible way possible.” Also in 2008, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Food For The Poor as the largest international relief organization in the United States.
Others, too, give high marks to Food For The Poor. In its latest ranking of the 200 largest U.S. charities, Forbes Magazine gave Food For The Poor an efficiency ratio of 98 percent contrasted with an industry average of 90 percent. Ministry Watch gave Food For The Poor its highest possible score of five stars, and the Better Business Bureau says Food For The Poor meets the extensive standards of America’s most experienced charity evaluator.
Food For The Poor is the largest international relief and development organization in the nation. With more than 97 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help those in need, Food For The Poor provides nourishing food, safe shelter, necessary medical care, educational materials, support for orphans and the aged, and much more to the poorest of the poor in 17 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Contact:
Hugh Graf, Food For The Poor
(954) 427-2222 x6610