23rd ANNUAL BENEFIT LUNCHEON FOR FRIENDS OF MUSTARD SEED COMMUNITIES SLATED FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2013
New York, NY (August 26, 2013) — Friends of Mustard Seed Communities is celebrating 23 years of charity work at its annual luncheon benefiting Mustard Seed Communities throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa. The 23rd Annual Benefit Luncheon will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2013, 12:30 pm, at the New York Hilton and Towers, 1335 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue at 54th Street), New York City. Tickets are $130.00 each and are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law with proceeds benefiting Mustard Seed Communities initiatives supporting orphans, children with special needs, families with HIV/AIDS, battered women and other vulnerable persons.
This year’s event honors two organizations for their long-standing and dedicated efforts supporting Mustard Seed Communities and the needy throughout the world:
Dare to Care Home for Children With HIV/AIDS
The Dare to Care flagship home was established in 2000 in Jamaica to provide care for twenty orphaned and abandoned children living with HIV/AIDS, as no facility existed in the country that catered to the needs of such vulnerable children. Today there are three such homes that have provided loving care to approximately 100 children, 10 of whom succumbed to the disease and approximately 20 reintegrated with relatives. Most of the children placed in Dare to Care facilities were left to die but with treatment and a caring home Dare to Care children are now living longer, healthier and normal lives; the Homes have not experienced a death in the past nine years.
Grace Kennedy & Company Limited
The mantra of “We Care” has been a guiding phrase for Grace Kennedy since its inception in 1922. In 1979, management and staff saw the widespread poverty and lack of opportunity, in inner city and created the Grace and Staff Community Development Foundation. At present, the Foundation assists in sending over 400 young people to school. In 1982, the Grace Kennedy Foundation was born to support educational and environmental programmes through scholarships and bursaries. Through both its Food and Finance Divisions, the entire span of education – from Basic School to Tertiary, is supported through a myriad initiatives, including school feeding programmes, adopting schools and refurbishing of school facilities badly in need of same.
The 23rd Annual Benefit Luncheon attendees will be hosted to an array of music and lifestyle entertainment. The Cambria’s Quartet, youngsters ages 11, 12 and 13 from the Cambria School of Excellence in Queens, will perform a selection of their favorites showing off their versatility on instruments including the steel pan, saxophone, guitar and cello. Fashion expert and author, Walter Greene, once again curates a celebration of this year’s fashion must-haves in Style Alive, showcasing designers from Africa, The Caribbean and The Americas. Also returning to support Mustard Seed Communities is DJ Runner who will spin audience favorites bringing them to their feet for some dancing fun.
Once again there is an outpouring of support for the Mustard Seed Communities in the form of donations for the benefit’s silent auction, and this year the organizers are pleased to announce the Friends of Mustard Seed Raffle Grand Prize is a trip for two to a JetBlue destination on JetBlue Airways, provided by the airline. The contribution for raffle tickets is $5.00 each and $25.00 for a book of six tickets.
To book your seat at this year’s luncheon, visit the Mustard Seed Communities website [http://bit.ly/MustardSeedBenefit] or contact the benefit chairperson Daphne Mahoney at 212-477-2848.
About Mustard Seed Communities
Mustard Seed Communities International is a not-for-profit organization that began in 1978 as a home for children with disabilities who had been abandoned or orphaned to the streets of Jamaica, West Indies. More than 30 years later, Mustard Seed Communities provides Caring, Sharing and Training to children, youth and adults in 14 communities throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa, with over 20 outreach programs. At the forefront of Mustard Seed’s expansion is the creation of village communities for orphaned babies, children with disabilities and special needs, families living with HIV/AIDS, pregnant teens and battered women.
Mustard Seed Communities, Inc. (USA) exists to financially and spiritually support Mustard Seed Communities International. Established in 1996 as a not-for-profit, federally tax Exempt Corporation, the organization’s goal is to improve the economic, social and spiritual conditions of the communities served. Mustard Seed Communities, Inc. (USA) sends volunteers, donated goods and money to the countries served and provides support for the various economic initiatives established in these countries. For additional information visit www.MustardSeed.com or keep up with Mustard Seed Communities on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MustardSeedCommunities or on Twitter at @MustardSeedComm.
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