361 BREAST PROSTHESES DONATED BY FFP - News Release - October 22, 2015

REACHING OUT TO BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS: Participating in the presentation were (from left) David Mair, Executive Director, FFP; Carolind Graham, Chairman of Reach to Recovery; Susan Moore, Director of Recipient Services, FFP; Yulit Gordon, Executive Director of Jamaica Cancer Society and Nakhle Hado, Director of Distribution Services, FFP.

Kingston, Jamaica – October 20, 2015: In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ) donated 361 breast prostheses valued at approximately J$2.6 million, to the Jamaica Cancer Society and its social outreach arm, Jamaica Reach to Recovery, on October 14.

These breast prostheses were handed over at FFPJ’s head office located in Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine. The breast prostheses were sourced by Food For The Poor Inc in the United States and are for women who have lost their breasts to cancer.

The team from the Jamaica Cancer Society was elated to receive the donation.

Offering gratitude on behalf of the Society, Yulit Gordon, Executive Director, said, “As the country recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease, the timing of this donation is perfect.”

Gordon further stated that the Cancer Society has seen a significant increase in the number of women accessing their available mammography screening services since the start of the month. One hundred and seventy-five women have received free mammography screening at the Society since the start of the month. In addition, she shared that the Government of Jamaica has made available to the country’s most vulnerable HER2 positive breast cancer patients, Herceptin Subcutaneous, a new and effective form of Herceptin which will serve to improve the health outcome for these patients.

“Receiving this donation of breast prostheses from Food For The Poor is the icing on the cake. We will ensure that the beneficiaries are those who need it most. To be able to equip these women to enhance their lives and provide them with some amount of comfort is a blessing and we are truly grateful! ” she said.

Carolind Graham, Chairman, Reach to Recovery was as elated equally as Gordon for the donation.

“When we received that call from Food For The Poor about the donation, my first response was, ‘Yes!’ There are so many cancer survivors who have done surgery, but have no opportunity to restore their original profile, because when a woman loses a breast, it doesn’t define who she is, but it does affect how she now sees herself. We are also aware that the average person cannot afford a prosthesis, and, while it is important, it is not on the priority list when compared to other basic necessities. This donation from Food For The Poor will make a great difference in the lives of these persons. We are truly delighted to be partnering with Food For The Poor in this regard,” Graham commented.

Speaking on behalf of FFPJ during the handover, Susan Moore, Director of Recipient Services, said FFPJ was happy to donate the 361 breast prostheses.

“Food For The Poor Jamaica recognised that there was a great need in Jamaica for breast prostheses, so when our head office, FFP Inc, contacted us, we immediately thought of contacting the Jamaica Cancer Society to receive this donation. We also recognized that a prosthesis could be quite costly to cancer survivors, and Jamaica Reach To Recovery would have direct contact with most of these needy individuals. Hence, contact was made, and today Food For The Poor is happy to donate these well-needed prostheses to these two entities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is a significant demonstration of our interest in the most vulnerable groups in society,” she said at the handover.

-end-

Prepared by PRO Communications Limited

http://www.loopjamaica.com/content/361-breast-prostheses-donated-food-poor

FFP SENDS AID TO BAHAMAS AFTER HURRICANE JOAQUIN - News Release - October 15, 2015

Kingston, Jamaica – October 15, 2015: Food For The Poor (FFP) has responded to the urgent request of Bahamians to provide aid to areas of the islands devastated by Hurricane Joaquin.

Representatives of the Catholic church in the Bahamas and the South Florida Episcopal diocese appealed for immediate aid, in response to pleas from residents left with nothing.

Jamaica, the Caribbean country where FFP began over 30 years ago, was actively involved in the response. Wisynco Group Limited, which is spearheaded by Andrew Mahfood, also Chairman of FFP Jamaica, donated 2,000 cases of 330 ml Wata (water) products to the Bahamas.

“Whenever these storms strike, access to clean water is essential and we are pleased to be able to lend assistance to the Bahamians who will benefit from this donation. We wish them a speedy recovery,” Mahfood said.

Containers of essential items such as building supplies and baby items were loaded and sent immediately, but the charity needs help with a request for canned goods. Food For The Poor is asking for donations of canned meats, canned fish and canned milk, both evaporated and condensed. Perishable items cannot be accepted.

“The officials told us today what their needs are, and I need to get it there yesterday,” said Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood, in expressing the urgency of the situation. “My heart was broken when I saw the woman pleading for help for her and her neighbors. They have nothing left.”

A video of residents pleading for help was shared with the charity today. You can see it here: www.FoodForThePoor.org/bahamas.

Food For The Poor, named by The Chronicle of Philanthropy as the largest international relief and development organization in the United States, 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 programmes that help the poor. For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

For more information, please contact:

Kathy Skipper

Director of Public Relations
954-427-2222 x 6614
kathys@foodforthepoor.com

http://www.foodforthepoor.org/newsroom/news/bahamas-hurricane-joaquin-relief-100615.html

RAINFOREST SEAFOODS HELPS BUILD HOMES FOR THE POOR - Corporate Hands of The Gleaner - October 8, 2015

Roger Lyn (third right), marketing manager for Rainforest Seafoods, presents the keys to the family.

Rainforest Seafoods has partnered with Food For The Poor Jamaica on its 'Changing Lives, Restoring Families Campaign' to help build homes for impoverished families. Rainforest's initial pledge of four homes grew to five after the rewarding experience of presenting keys to a family in rural St Ann. And CEO Brian Jardim has since become a Food For The Poor ambassador.

This company's commitment is part of a Food For The Poor initiative that encourages local corporate sponsors to contribute and participate in building homes across the island, with a particular focus on rural communities. Rainforest's contribution of US$3,200 for each house is matched by Food For The Poor's head office based in Florida and the US$6,400 to build a two-bedroom unit complete with sanitation, solar lights, and a water tank.

Rainforest's first home handover took place in Borobridge, St Ann, in August. The company actively supports a number of philanthropic endeavours, particularly in the health-care and education sectors. Jardim explained that "the initiative is a remarkable and transformative approach to helping those most in need".

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151008/corporate-hands-rainforest-seafoods-helps-build-homes-poor

Roger Lyn (third right), marketing manager for Rainforest Seafoods, presents the keys to the family.

CORPORATE HANDS: BALLS FOR THE NEEDY - Corporate Hands of The Gleaner - October 8, 2015

Two special needs student athletes pose (front row from left) Dr Rebecca Tortello, education specialist, Mark Connolly, UNICEF representative; Dr Carlton Davis (second right), chairman of Special Olympics; (back row from right) David Mair, executive director and Nakhle Hado, distribution services and fisheries director, Food For the Poor Jamaica. This announcement was made on Friday, October 2, at the Special Olympics Court at the National Stadium during a press briefing. These balls were donated by the ‘One World Play Project’.

Food For The Poor, along with the United Nations Children Fund, recently announced its intent to distribute 5,000 balls to needy Jamaicans, including special-needs athletes who perform during the Special Needs Olympics.

The balls will be distributed among several youth agencies which assist children with special needs, youth in prison, children in state care, violence-prevention programmes and poverty-stricken children.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151008/corporate-hands-balls-needy

FOOD FOR THE POOR JAMAICA GOES EAST - Jamaica Observer - October 4, 2015

Debbie-Ann Gordon, Board Director of Food For The Poor Jamaica (FFPJ), engages in a light-hearted exchange with these two students of Savanna-la-Mar Primary at the third staging of the charity's health, information and distribution fair. The event was held on Friday, September 25 at Torrington Wesleyan Holiness Church in Westmoreland. Approximately 1,000 residents, including children, accessed various services, including medical examinations and dental care. Relief packages containing toiletries, food, adult diapers, children's books, toys, agricultural tools and seeds were also distributed. (PHOTO: ODEAN DORAH)

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/FFP-goes-West_19231826

UNICEF ON THE BALL WITH ONE WORLD PLAY PROJECT - Jamaica Observer - October 4, 2015

(From left) UNICEF's Mark Connolly, Food For The Poor Executive Director David Mair, and Special Olympics International Director of Sports and Development Christian Guiralt display 'One World' balls during the presentation at the SOJ multi-purpose court on Friday.

SPECIAL Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) was among sporting bodies and agencies to officially receive 'One World' balls courtesy of a partnership between United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Food For The Poor (FFP) on Friday.

The donation was possible through the One World Play Project, which involves the handover of 5,000 balls to a number of entities.

The original concept was for them to be used for football, but they are said to be versatile and can be used in other ball sports.

The presentation ceremony was staged on the SOJ multi-purpose court at the National Stadium.

Some of the other beneficiaries include Juvenile Department of Correctional Services, Child Development Agency (CDA), Breds/Treasure Beach Foundation, Ballaz International Football Camp, Netball Jamaica, and Social Development Commission (SDC).

David Mair, the executive director of FFP Jamaica, said the aim is to help to transform lives through development in sports.

"Food For The Poor is proud to be partnering with UNICEF on this venture of reaching out to the youths of our society through the 'One World' initiative.

"We hope that this mission will be a positive life-changing tool to those who will benefit, such as children with special needs, youth in prison, children in state care, violence prevention programmes, and children in extreme poverty," Mair said.

UNICEF's Mark Connolly said the contribution is all about youth development and the inclusion of various entities under one umbrella.

"This is to celebrate the right to play that all children have, and to re-emphasise and reconfirm among ourselves that, here in Jamaica, when it comes to children and sports for development, we are all on the same page," Connolly said.

Special Olympics International Director of Sports and Development, Christian Guiralt, praised Jamaica for exposing the positive impact of sports.

"You are showing to the world the capacity that sport has to make people understand the real soul of a population. What you are doing in track and field, in sports in general, and in Special Olympics is fantastic," Guiralt said.

Dr Carlton Davis, the board chairman of SOJ, was grateful for the kind gesture.

"The organisation would not have survived without a lot of help from various people. Sport is the media to make life better for people who face challenges," Davis said.

Balls will also be distributed to schools islandwide to aid their sports development programmes. The 'One World' balls are said to be virtually indestructible and are self-inflatable.

-- Sanjay Myers

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/UNICEF-on-the-ball-with-One-World-Play-Project_19231806