Food For The Poor and Hope For Haitians’ 5K Walk/Run Provides Scholarships
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (May 15, 2015) – Food For The Poor’s fourth annual Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education in Geneva, Illinois, attracted a crowd of more than 250 walkers and runners on May 10. The combined proceeds from the 5K, and the pre-event screening of Girl Rising, at The Arcada Theatre in Saint Charles, Illinois, will provide life-changing educational opportunities for 200 children in Haiti.
“When I give generously, I am overcome with a feeling of wellbeing. And it’s not only spiritual, but also physical, psychological and emotional,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “It is my prayer that the happiness the 5K participants experienced was intensified by the great cause they came out to support. Every child is worthy to receive the gift of literacy.”
The 200 children will receive scholarships for a year in “Hope Friendship Village” in Chastenoye, in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. This village was built by Hope For Haitians donors. In addition to paying for the students’ tuition, the event proceeds also will cover a year’s worth of uniforms, socks, shoes, and school supplies.
This year, the fastest male at the Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education was Bart Curtin, 26, with a time of 20:14, and the fastest female was Lily Stavropoulous, 12, with a time of 22:49.7.
Additional money was raised through raffle prizes to support the cause, thanks to these companies: Anailogy, Aurelio’s Pizza, Bread Smith, Buttermilk, Cadence Fitness and Health Center, Claddagh, Cocoon, Colonial Café, Colourline, Daisy Nails, FoxFire, Fresh Market, Geneva Park District, Gina’s Subs & Pizza, Giordano’s Pizza, Glenn Chiropractic, Graham’s Chocolate, HomeWatch, Houlihans, Hughes Creek Golf Club, Luxury Nails, McDonald’s, Mel’s Diner, Old Towne Pub, Medfitness, Pamper Nails, Spa La Vie, Starbucks, Synergy Kettle Bell, Tanna Farms Golf Club, The Last Crave, and The Lodge.
Since 2001, Food For The Poor and Hope For Haitians have collaborated to improve the lives of destitute families in Haiti. Through the construction of new homes with access to safe drinking water, the implementation of sustainable development projects, and the funding of medical and education programs, the lives of hundreds of thousands of the poor have been positively transformed throughout the country.
5K Walk/Run for Education Committee: Event Chairmen: Pat Bachrodt, Bill Clancy and Tom Lorden. Event Leads: Amy McTeague and Bob Pfundstein. Event Committee: Kathy Abbott, Chris Bethel, Colleen Burgert, Carolyn Campbell, Jetze Campos, Sharon Clough, Patti Cottrell, Karen Dix, Chandra Hayden, Alice Farrell, Sandee Jensen, Bill Knotts, Sarah-Eva Marchese, Dave Markel, Greg McQueary, Pam Papp, and Cathy and Tony Restaino.
5K Walk/Run event sponsors include Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall, Chevrolet, Volkswagen and BMW, the Lorden Family, Savant, Chick-Fil-A, Dr. Dickens, Mason and Kissel Dentistry, Geneva Travel & Cruise, Kelly Orthodontics, and St. Charles Bank and Trust.
For more information on the Hope For Haitians 5K Walk/Run For Education, contact Rachel Piering at [email protected].
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.
Jennifer Leigh Oates
Food For The Poor
Public Relations Associate
954-427-2222 x 6054
[email protected]