By Patty Courtright
Philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein again has issued another fundraising challenge in his fight against hunger.
The president of Rhode Island-based Feinstein Foundation has pledged $1 million if U.S. Rotary clubs will donate at least that amount to food banks, food pantries and soup kitchens across the country during a 15-day period beginning on World Hunger Day, Oct. 16.
Feinstein's contribution will be distributed proportionately among participating Rotary clubs, and is to be disbursed among the emergency food providers in their areas.
"When I thought of Rotary for the challenge, I thought it would be a perfect way for the emergency food providers to raise funds without having to ask their own contributors," Feinstein says. "This way, they won't have to tap into their usual fundraising sources."
In February, a Feinstein pledge of $1 million attracted another $33 million in donations to local food banks and soup kitchens.
Feinstein says he chose to work with Rotary's network of 7,491 clubs because of the group's strong commitment to helping others and its current mission to alleviate hunger.
"This is more than just to raise funds," Feinstein says. "My objective is to end hunger in America."
An April 1998 survey conducted by the Feinstein Foundation found that 2,000 of the 3,200 food providers polled reported a crucial need for more funding.
Feinstein is urging Rotarians to hold fundraising events between now and October to meet the challenge. He's also urging club members to call their elected officials in Washington, D.C., to ask that they make ending hunger in the United States a priority.
Feinstein describes the challenge as a three-armed approach to the problem: creating public awareness through the Rotary Clubs, bringing the concern about hunger to legislators' attention and persuading food providers to provide nutritional and referral information.
For information about the challenge, call (401) 751-0177 or (401) 351-2881.
Patty Courtright can be reached at
pcourtright@mindspring.com
