Ferdinand Mahfood
In 1982, Ferdinand Mahfood began Food For The Poor to aid the poor and downtrodden in Latin America and the Caribbean. Members of many Christian denominations, including Episcopalian, Lutheran and Roman Catholic, provide the core of the organization, preaching and personally distributing necessary items in the poor countries, while going abroad to seek more donations. Members of the laity are also heavily involved, providing aid and resources both alongside clergy and in places where there are few or no clergy members.
Since 1982, Food For The Poor has distributed approximately $9 billion worth of food, medicine, housing materials,water and other aid to the poor of the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2007, the charity migrated its headquarters from Deerfield Beach, FL to Coconut Creek, FL. Currently, FFP employs more than 300 people out of its Coconut Creek location, in addition to employing numerous members of the Clergy as speakers across the United States.
Fundraising:Food For The Poor aids the poor through donations of money and supplies, often from the United States and Europe. Clergy and lay people go on trips in such regions to ask for donations. A vast majority of the organization's revenue is from donated goods.
In 2011, 96.3% of all donations to FFP went directly to programs that help the poor, while 2.9% went to fundraising costs and .8% to administration.
In 2011, 96.3% of all donations to FFP went directly to programs that help the poor, while 2.9% went to fundraising costs and .8% to administration.
Food For The Poor provides, as its main objective, nourishment to needy people. The organization also erects homes for homeless families, supplies medicine and health care in hospitals and clinics, subsidizes orphanages, teaches children and adults by providing knowledge and training for the careers.