FFP and RJR Communications Group partner to provide relief aid to Earthquake-Ravaged Haiti
Monday, January 25, 2010: On Friday, January 22,
2010, the RJR Communications Group and Food For the Poor (FFP) Jamaica signed
an agreement whereby the funds raised from members of the public via RJR’s
public appeal will be handed over to Food for the Poor to provide relief aid to
earthquake ravaged Haiti.
The RJR
Group was the first corporate entity to launch a public appeal for donations of
cash and kind to assist the people of Haiti in the wake of the massive
earthquake that devastated the capital Port-au-Prince and caused widespread
death and destruction.Within hours of
launching the appeal, the response from Jamaicans from all walks of life was
overwhelming as persons crowded the company’s offices to deliver the items of
donation. Within a week of opening the account, contributions of approx $10m
were made.
“We have a
responsibility to ensure that the cash that has, so far, been donated should be
put at the disposal of the Haitian people. On behalf of the people and the
companies that have given cash we consider the best candidate for our first
disbursement of cash to be Food for the Poor” explained, Gary Allen, Managing
Director, RJR Communications.In handing
over two cheques for J$10M and US$1,000, Mr. Allen continued; “FFP is at
present hosting the JDF team at their compound in Haiti-a country where they
have been working with the poor for more than 24 years.Their standard procedures meet the
requirements to account for how the funds have been spent and to give us
documented reports on this so we can share it with the public.”
In accepting the contribution from RJR, Ryan
Peralto, CEO of Food For the Poor Jamaica, said “Food For the Poor accepts the
contribution from the people of Jamaica on behalf of the people of Haiti. FFP
sees this contribution of funds as the Jamaican people's contribution, and takes
the stewardship of these funds very seriously”
In
highlighting the transparency for which the organization is known, Mr. Peralto
continued; “FFP is an international Christian organization and operates
with the highest levels of probity and transparency. We are able to achieve a
very high level of efficiency, as 96% of all contributions go directly towards
our programmes. We assure the Jamaican public that these funds that they have
contributed will be spent to impact the persons in need and that FFP will
provide an account as to how the funds are utilized.”
About 609,000 people are homeless in the
capital's metropolitan area, and the United Nations estimates that up to 1
million could leave Haiti's destroyed cities for rural areas already struggling
with extreme poverty.
In light of this, much of FFP’s assistance will be
directed toward rebuilding homes for those who are now homeless.
“The funds received today will therefore be focused
on securing massive food supplies, medical equipment and supplies, and temporary
shelter, which are desperately needed” stated Mr. Peralto.
Food For The Poor has been operating in Haiti since
1983 and has coordinated hundreds of projects in that country in the areas of Housing
& Community Development, Feeding Centres, Water and Sanitation, Education,
Fishing Villages, Agriculture and Medical.
“We therefore have an intimate knowledge of Haiti and
so the organization is well placed to ensure that the contributions get into
the hands of the people who are most in need” explained Mr. Peralto.
Food for the Poor Jamaica has
been integrally involved in Jamaica's efforts to provide relief beginning with
the contribution of eight generators which went with the first JDF craft which
landed in Haiti, and one of the major areas of support has been the offer of
the FFP's compound to the JDF as their operations base.
In addition, FFP Jamaica has provided well needed supplies to the Jamaican
medical team in Haiti.
“We are also coordinating our first shipment of nine containers of
relief items to leave Jamaica today Monday,
January 25. This includes water, clothing and canned food” Mr. Peralto said.
The partnership between FFP Jamaica and RJR is intended to be ongoing as
both entities seek to alleviate the poverty in Jamaica. “RJR is committed to
continued discussions with FFP Jamaica to collaborate to help the needy in
Jamaica on an ongoing basis” stated Mr. Allen.
“We continue
to pray for the people of Haiti and will continue to play our part in assisting
them to rebuild their lives after this period of loss and devastation “continued
Mr. Peralto.
Food For The Poor, the largest international relief
and development organization in the United States,
does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean
and Latin America. This interdenominational
Christian agency 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 96 percent of all
donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For more information
please visit, http://www.foodforthepoor.org.
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CONTACT: Janice Henlin
Tel: 984-5005; 907-3664; Mobile:
361-1498
Email:
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