UM Canes Raise Awareness For Poor

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (Nov. 9, 2009) – University of Miami students stayed up all night partying with one goal in mind – raising awareness for the poverty-stricken who struggle to survive in developing nations.

It was a late Friday night for the dozens of Coral Gables students who sang, salsa-danced, ate a simple meal of rice and beans and played video games to keep themselves awake way into the early morning hours. Members of the United Methodist Ministry, the UM Catholic group and S.T.E.P. (Students Together Ending Poverty) banded together to draw attention to their cause and raise money for Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the United States.

By posting messages on Twitter and Facebook, and e-mailing all of their contacts, the Canes For The Poor raised almost $3,000 for Food For The Poor.

“I can sacrifice $9, not go to the movies, and give it to Food For The Poor where somebody can actually eat for the day,” said Rachel Tucker, a UM student and Canes For The Poor team member.

For $9, Food For The Poor can actually feed a family of three for an entire month. In fact, it takes only a nickel to provide a starving child with a meal in the 17 countries where the charity currently works.

University of Miami was one of several universities, colleges, and even high schools, throughout the country that chose to participate in “All-Nighter for the Poor.” Food For The Poor employees created the initiative to commemorate World Food Day, on October 16. The purpose is to encourage students to think about possible food-shortage solutions for the 1 billion people going hungry each day.

“Over 35 colleges took part in the All-Nighter,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor. “We are not only excited about the funds raised, but also about the awareness that comes about. We need that, too. Awareness is very important in the battle against hunger.”

UMTV student reporter Erin Butherus covered the “Canes For The Poor All-Nighter” event for the university’s newscast. Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxyqBeZmm98 and watch the news clip.

For more information about participating in the next “All-Nighter for the Poor” call 1.877.654.2960, ext. 6988.

Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. We provide 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, visit www.foodforthepoor.org.

Contact:
Aimee Vignola
Public Relations Associate
(954) 427-2222 x 6079