Hispanic Federation and Ford Fund Launched Ninth Edition of Joint Hunger Relief Campaign with CREAR Acción Event and Unveil Vehicle Donation
BROOKLYN, NY – Hispanic Federation (HF) and Ford Motor Company Fund – the philanthropic arm of Ford – launched the ninth year of Lucha Contra El Hambre, a hunger relief campaign to provide food to some of New York’s most vulnerable families this holiday season. Hispanic Federation and Ford Fund distributed an estimated 4,000 pounds of food and 3,600 meals to 100 families in need at the kick-off event held at the Spanish Speaking Elderly Council (RAICES) Times Plaza Senior Center in Brooklyn.Following the kick-offadditional distributions took place throughout New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, New York.
“We are proud to work with the Ford Motor Company Fund to provide meals to vulnerable families during the holiday season and beyond, “said José Calderón, President, Hispanic Federation. “Food insecurity affects so many in our community, and it is through broad partnerships like the one we have with Ford that we are able to ensure our families have the sustenance they need to lead healthier and better lives. Gracias, Ford, for continuing to say ‘presente’ to our community.”
The launch was held in conjunction with HF’s CREAR Futuros college success program’s Latino Leaders Day. The event built awareness about the importance of community service and food insecurity in the Latino community, as well as highlighted careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with engineers from Ford’s Hispanic Network.
Following brief remarks and the unveiling of a new Ford Transit Connect van to deliver the donations, CREAR Futuros’ students from 5 City University of New York (CUNY) campuses, along with Ford representatives, distributed bags of food to community residents in need.
The Lucha Contral El Hambre campaign began in New York in 2011 and has since grown into a national program providing more than 1 million meals to Latinos living in some of the most underserved communities.
Lucha Contra El Hambre’s success is due in large part to the Transit Connect van donated by Ford to the Hispanic Federation, and this year the partnership unveiled a new vehicule. The van provides Hispanic Federation with mobility across the New York region and will be used extensively over eight weeks during the holiday season to both pick up and drop off food donations.
“This year, Ford Fund marks 30 years of empowering Hispanic communities through important programs like Hispanic Federation’s Lucha Contra el Hambre,” said Joe Ávila, community development manager, U.S. and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Ford Fund is committed to empowering communities, in New York and beyond, in the fight against hunger.”
Thanks to the Lucha Contra El Hambre hunger relief initiative, the following Hispanic Federation partner agencies in New York will receive food:
1. Adelante of Suffolk County
2. Circulo de la Hispanidad
3. Coalition for Hispanic Family Services
4. Community Resource Center
5. Comunilife
6. Davidson Community Center
7. Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre
8. Puerto Rican Family Institute
9. Southside United Housing Development Funding Corp. (Los Sures)
10. Spanish Speaking Elderly Council (RAICES)
11. The HopeLine
12. Violence Intervention Program
13. We Stay / Nos Quedamos Community Development Corporation
Those interested in becoming a collection site to help bring relief to those who need it most, please contact 1(866) HF AYUDA / 1 (866) 432-9832. To learn more about Lucha Contra El Hambre please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.
