AMERICA’S
FOOD PARTNERSHIP, INC.
|
|
PETER HEWITT
The Inception of a New
Idea
 In 1968, during the Vietnamese War, my wife and I adopted a Vietnamese family, through Foster Parents Plan, and we helped support them, until Foster Parents Plan was forced out of Vietnam.
I had started traveling to Korea for business, so in
1969 we adopted a Korean family and I was able to visit them from 1969 until 1989, when I left my company. Throughout the years, I watched our Korean foster-daughter grow, get married,
and have two children. Unfortunately, just this year, at the young age of
37 she died in her sleep of heart failure.
|
 |
In 1971, I started the first fundraising project for Public Schools in New York City called Project 785, which was the number of students at P.S.
6 at the time. It took approval from the principal, superintendent of schools, and the city attorneys, since Public Schools
were “not supposed to raise money, since they were public,” I was told. The first year we raised $5,000.
(Click
here to view Project 785 recognition award.) About 10 years ago, I had occasion to be at P.S.
6 and was informed that Project 785 is still in existence, today, over
35 years later, with the same name. That year (I think it was 1996), they raised over $250,000. Project 785
has also served as a model for many public schools throughout New York City.
In 1979, along with several other interested people, we were able to place a poster on the subways of New York, asking for donations to help organizations fighting the starvation going on in
Cambodia at the time. (Click
here to read The Hunger Project recognition letter.)
In 1985, again, along with several other interested people, we were able to introduce a postage stamp, bringing awareness to the issue of hunger in the United States.
Also, in 1985, as President of the trade organization of our industry (The International Hardwood Plywood Association), I
started “The President’s Fun Run.” Funds were raised, and were donated to the charity of choice by that year’s President. It still exists today,
22 years after first being created.
In 1992, Barbara and I founded AMERICA’S FOOD PARTNERSHIP (AFP). As expressed in
this magazine article (click
here to read article), perhaps these words best express what I am trying to accomplish, above everything else:
“Our motivation is to have an impact on the world, to leave our personal mark.” In the 5 years we actively worked the program (1992-1997), AFP provided over 350,000 meals to hungry men, women, and children throughout the United States and Canada.
(Click
here to view American Red Cross award.)
In 1998, with approval from NABOR, I created Realtors® Make A
Difference, which successfully involved the real estate community in Naples contributing towards building a Habitat for Humanity
home in Naples. (Click
here to read designation letter from Governor of the State of
Florida.)
From 2001 to 2007 AFP raised sufficient donations to provide over 1.5
million servings of food, and to date AFP has provided over 2
million servings of food to over 200 different organizations in 42
different States.
We sincerely hope you will help turn the tables on hunger in your community.
Click here to donate and help make a
difference today!
|
|
|
| Over 33 million Americans, including over 13 million children, live in households
that experience hunger or are at the risk of hunger. Click
here to get
the facts.
|
| The issue of hunger is
overwhelming, and lots of people want to help others, but often do
not know what they can do. THE AFP DIFFERENCE provides the way by
allowing each of us, doing just a little, to make a significant, personal difference in the lives of those in need.
Click here to learn how you can help make a difference. |
|
|
