Current “Challenge” Nearing End For Hunger and Health Coalition Donations Through April 30 Will Go “A Long Way” By Sherrie Norris With just days left to participate in the Feinstein Challenge, Compton Fortuna, executive director at The Hunger and Health Coalition in Boone states, “We are off to a great start and have had a very positive response from the community. We are especially excited about the support and involvement we have received from not only generous individuals, but also groups in the community, such as local faith communities, the school system and Appalachian State University.” With time quickly slipping away for the challenge, the need for more donations of food and funds to support the Food Assistance programs is still present. “We can provide a box of food for approximately $3.41. Boxes are typically 25 – 30 pounds. This is an incredible return on investment for every donor dollar.” While Fortuna states that the challenge we first told you about earlier this month “is not a 100% matching opportunity,” the foundation will make a gift based on the amount collected by the local organization. So far, Fortuna states, details about the size of gift her agency will receive has no been disclosed, nor does the Coalition have a specific goal in mind as far as a dollar amount they hope to raise through the opportunity. As always, however, every single donation will “go a long way,” bit even farther through month’s end. Fortuna added that her agency participated in this challenge in 2001, raising over $5,900 that year in response to the foundation. Just as the winter food drive supplies dwindle to a serious low on the Coalition’s pantry shelves at the agency, news of the challenge by the Feinstein Foundation of Cranston Rhode Island was perfectly timed in Boone. In a press release from the foundation, Alan Shawn Feinstein shared his commitment to again divide $1million among hunger-fighting agencies nationwide using it to help them raise funds during March and April, 2007. “Agencies should simply inform their donors that the more of a donation they make to their agency - from March 1 to April 30- the more of the Feinstein money will be added to their donation!” Only donations received between those dates and from use of the Feinstein challenge should be counted, and can include cash, checks and food items (that can be valued at $1 per item or pound) as well as pledges, as long as they were obtained only in response to the challenge. Fortuna and her staff are required to keep a record of what they raise and from whom, should verification be requested. Feinstein’s office states, “Our million dollars will then be divided proportionately among all agencies with a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $50,000. Checks will be mailed from the Foundation by August 1. Feinstein’s past $1 million challenges to fight hunger have raised a record $620 million for agencies nationwide. Fortuna excitedly tells The Mountain Tines that her agency’s donors toward this campaign make them partners “in the most successful grassroots campaign to fight hunger of all times,” a fact in which each can take great pride. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the Hunger and Health Coalition to bring in resources from other states to assist the people we serve locally. As food donations have been dwindling, the Feinstein Challenge could not occur at a better time. We hope this will encourage the community to make donations to benefit the Food Assistance programs we offer.” Fortuna agrees that this would be a perfect time for schools, businesses, civic organizations and families to sponsor a food drive, knowing that each can or box of food that is brought into the Coalition will be automatically increased by month’s end. For the last nine years, Alan Shawn Feinstein, CEO of The Feinstein Foundation, has been giving away $1 million each year to anti-hunger agencies throughout the country. Because, he says, “I believe each of us was put here on earth to do what we can to help those in need . . . Your donation makes you a partner in it with me! My money started this campaign but it is you who will help decide how many needy people in your city or town will be fed this year. I’m only here to give you some support and to remind you of this: That all that will matter to us someday is what we did while we were here to help those who needed us.” Feinstein, founder of the Feinstein Foundation, is a nationally known philanthropist and humanitarian. He has made an indelible impact on American education and public service that has spread throughout the country, believing that “Helping to better the lives of others, regardless of race, creed or color, is the greatest of all achievements.” For more information, contact The Hunger & Health Coalition, Inc.,141 Health Center Drive in Boone, (828).262-1628.; hungerc@bellsouth.net; www.hungercoalition.com