Hispanic Federation and Ford Motor Company Fund Partner for Seventh Year to Provide Hunger Relief in New York
New York, NY—December 1, 2017—Hispanic Federation and Ford Motor Company Fund today launched their seventh annual partnership to provide meals to families in need through Hispanic Federation’s Lucha Contra El Hambre hunger relief initiative.
The kick-off included two food distribution events with Hispanic Federation partner agencies: Puerto Rican Family Institute in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Spanish Speaking Elderly Council (RAICES) in Corona, Queens. An estimated 4,000 pounds of food will be distributed to provide over 3,600 meals for families in those areas.
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.
“Hispanic Federation is thrilled to strengthen its partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund through our shared commitment to fighting hunger in New York and Florida,” said José Calderón, President, Hispanic Federation. “Ford’s continued support allows us to restock food pantries and provide meals to thousands of Latino households annually. Together, we are giving hope and sustenance to those families that need it the most.”
Lucha Contra El Hambre’s success is due in large part to the Transit Connect van donated by Ford to the Hispanic Federation. The small cargo 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.
"Food insecurity remains a serious issue for far too many families. At Ford, we are proud to continue our support of the Hispanic Federation’s efforts of Lucha Contra El Hambre to feed and strengthen our communities,” said Joe Avila, manager, Ford Motor Company Fund.
In the U.S., the Latino community is disproportionately affected by food insecurity. According to Feeding America, more than 1 in 5 Latinos struggle with hunger and 1 in 4 Latino children live in food insecure households. Latinos are also less likely to receive support through federal nutrition programs and are at greater risk of developing diet-related illnesses.
Thanks to the Lucha Contra El Hambre hunger relief initiative, the following Hispanic Federation partner agencies in New York will receive food:
• Adelante of Suffolk County
• Circulo de la Hispanidad
• Coalition for Hispanic Family Services
• Community Resource Center
• Comunilife
• Davidson Community Center
• Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre
• Nos Quedamos Community Development Corporation
• Puerto Rican Family Institute
• Southside United Housing Development Funding Corp. (Los Sures)
• Spanish Speaking Elderly Council (RAICES)
• Sure We Can
• The HopeLine
• Violence Intervention Program
Those interested in becoming a collection site and helping to 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 visit www.hispanicfederation.org.
About Hispanic Federation
The mission of Hispanic Federation is to empower and advance the Hispanic community. Hispanic Federation provides grants and services to a broad network of Latino non-profit agencies serving the most vulnerable members of the Hispanic community and advocates nationally with respect to the vital issues of education, health, immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement and the environment. For more information, please visit www.hispanicfederation.org.
About Ford Motor Company
Fund Ford Motor Company Fund is the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. Established in 1949, Ford Fund invests in transformational programs that advance innovation, empower people, promote social mobility and improve community prosperity. Ford Fund works with local and global partners to create opportunities in education, encourage safe driving, enlist employee volunteers and enrich community life. Ford Fund’s signature programs include Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford College Community Challenge, Ford Driving Dreams, Ford Driving Skills for Life, Ford Next Generation Learning and the Ford Volunteer Corps. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com, or join us on Facebook at @FordFund and Twitter @FordFund.
