Bangkok--Feb 4--WFP
WASHINGTON, DC Two of the NFL's leading football players, New York
Giants' quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Amani Toomer, are
traveling to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia this month to help the United
Nations World Food Program in their work to feed hungry families there.
The World Food Program (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and feeds average of 90 million people each year across the globe. In Indonesia and Sri Lanka, two of countries hardest hit by the tsunami, WFP is feeding more than one million people.
"We are thrilled to have the help of the National Football League, the NFL Players Association, and these two great players in raising awareness about
the critical work we do in Asia, as well as the rest of the world," said Judith Lewis, WFP's Director for US Relations. "Both Kurt and Amani will be lending their physical support to the people affected by the tsunami, but they will also be drawing attention to the needs of so many vulnerable families in other parts of the world."
Both Warner and Toomer and their wives Brenda and Yola, respectively, will arrive in Indonesia on February 11 and will immediately depart for Banda
Aceh, where they will visit some of the most devastated areas. While living in tents, they will help load C-130 aircraft and distribute food to families. The players will work on the front-lines alongside WFP staff, known worldwide for their excellent emergency response capacity.
The Toomers will also travel to Sri Lanka on February 16 to help pitch in with reconstruction work on that island nation. Currently, WFP is helping
feed more than 850,000 people in Sri Lanka, with a large logistics network spread throughout the country.
Lewis noted that the Warners and Toomers would take back their experience on the ground in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and help draw attention to the millions of hungry people, particularly children, who go to bed hungry in other parts of the world, including Africa and Latin America.
Today, more than 800 million people are undernourished, including more than 300 million children.
NFL players have been active with the WFP throughout the tsunami crisis.
The Indianapolis Colts donated $50,000 and a further $60,000 was raised by fans at a game between the Colts and the Denver Broncos on January 9.
Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb volunteered their time to record a commercial for WFP, which aired during the NFL playoff games in
January. The commercial was shown during five playoff games, with the airtime, valued at millions of dollars, donated by the NFL.
Both players are available for interviews prior to their departure on February 9. Both Toomer and Warner are available in New York City.
Contact Jordan Dey at 202-653-0010.
WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: each year, WFP provides food aid to an average of 90 million people, including 56 million hungry children, in more than 80 countries.
WFP Global School Feeding Campaign ? For just 19 US cents a day, you can help WFP give children in poor countries a healthy meal at school ? a gift of hope for a brighter future.
Visit our website: www.wfp.org.
For more information please contact
(email: [email protected]):
Christiane Berthiaume, WFP/Geneva,
Tel: + 41 229178564. Mob: + 41 792857304
Heather Hill, WFP/Indonesia,
Mob: + 62 811864383 or +66 17019208
Inigo Alvarez, WFP/Indonesia,
Mob: + 62 811864415
Mia Turner, WFP/Indonesia,
Tel: +62 215734311 ext. 106, Mob: +62 811864383
Caroline Hurford, WFP/Rome,
Tel: + 39 06 65132330, Mob: + 39 3481325018
Trevor Rowe, WFP/New York,
Mob: +1 646 8241112, Tel: +1 212 9635196
[email protected].
Jordan Dey, WFP/Washington,
Tel: +1 2026530010 ext 1149, Mob: +1 2024223383 End.