'FOOD FOR THE POOR RAISES OVER $46 MILLION FROM INAUGURAL 5K RUN/WALK' - News Release - May 12, 2015

FOOD FOR THE POOR RAISES $46.5 MILLION: Andrew Mahfood, Chairman of Food For The Poor Jamaica, showing off the cheque which indicates the amount raised from the charity organisation’s inaugural 5K Run/Walk held on May 9. The funds raised will be used to build homes for the needy.

Kingston, Jamaica – May 11, 2015: Food For The Poor (FFP) Jamaica raised over $46.5 million from race registrations, local and overseas donations and pledges by donors from their inaugural 5K Run/Walk which was held on May 9.

The charity organisation made this announcement at Emancipation Park in Kingston, Jamaica at the end of the 5K Run/Walk.

According to Andrew Mahfood, Chairman, FFP Jamaica, his charity organisation is humbled by the outpouring of donations, sponsorships and the real feeling of love that was shown by the participants at the first staging of the 5K which was held under the theme ‘Changing Lives - Restoring Families.’

“With the help of corporate Jamaica, individual Jamaican donors, Food For The Poor Florida and our donors overseas, we have been able to surpass the amount we expected to raise. This is an objective we are extremely grateful to have been able to achieve that will benefit Jamaica, and we are excited to be able to provide 56 new homes for Jamaican families,” Mahfood said in an interview recently.

Approximately 6,000 persons have been registered for houses on FFP Jamaica’s waiting list. David Mair, Executive Director, FFP Jamaica, thanks everyone who registered, donated and participated during the event, because some of these 6,000 Jamaicans will get houses from the funds raised.

“We were very pleased with the support. We were overwhelmed with happiness. We now look forward towards making this an annual event for Jamaica,” said Mair. “We want to thank the sponsors, donors and participants because, from their support, we will be able to build approximately 56 houses for Jamaicans who are in dire need of houses.”

He emphasized that of the $46.5 million, approximately $25.7 million was donated by local sponsors and corporate Jamaica and $20.6 million from Food For The Poor Florida, which promised to match the funds raised from the FFP Jamaica 5K Run/Walk.

The winners for the 5K included: Shane Buchanan, first place male runner; Karlene Blagrove, first place female runner; Paula Sinclair, first place female walker and Ludlow Henry, first place male walker.

The sponsors of the 5K included: European Union, Courts Jamaica, Rainforest Seafoods, Wisynco, The Gleaner, Jamaica Observer, Best Dressed Chicken, Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited, RJR Group, Digicel, Jamaica Broilers, The Grand Prix, National Commercial Bank and Jamaica Producers.

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For more information, please contact: Ainsworth Morris, PROComm Tel: 926-6740 or 375-6136
Petri-Ann Henry, Public Relations Officer, Food For The Poor Jamaica. Cell: 564-2886

LET’S GO! Walkers of Food For The Poor’s 5K Run/Walk setting off after the signal was given for the start of the race on May 9 at Emancipation Park. Thanks to sponsorship from local and overseas donors, the charity organisation raised approximately $46.5 million from the 5K.

WARMING UP: Participants in Food For The Poor’s 5K Run/Walk exercising on May 9 during the warm up session, prior to the start of the inaugural race. The charity organisation raised $46.5 million from the event which will go towards building houses for persons in need.

NEW PHONE FOR FIRST PLACE WINNER COURTESY OF DIGICEL: Shane Buchanan (left), first place runner of Food For The Poor Jamaica’s 5K Run/Walk collecting his prizes and a new phone from Digicel Jamaica’s Sponsorship and Development Manager, Kamal Powell.

EU, THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT: The European Union, the largest registered team of 400 participants in Food For The Poor Jamaica’s 5K Run/Walk, collecting their prize.