Press

KIt
August 4, 2015
M. Eileen Brown

AVP/ Director of Marketing and Innovation

155 E. Algonquin
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Dear Ms. Brown,
My name is Paige Wagner and I am the Public Relations director for the non-profit organization Feed My Starving Children. This
year, I have been put in charge to spread awareness for our upcoming Halloween event at the end of October. I am writing to you
to ask for your help to help us spread the word for our organization got gain volunteers for this event or donations to our
organization.
Feed My Starving children is an organization that hand packages specifically made meals for malnourished children all over the
world. We have reached 70 countries so far and are hoping to reach more. Since we are a non-profit organization, we have no
income besides the donations that we receive. However, we use 92 percent of our donations and spend them directly on feeding.
Our event will be hosted on Sunday, Oct. 25. Generally, our organization does not hold events on Sundays but we thought this
would be a great way to start of the week of Halloween and provide a unique and fun experience for our staff and volunteers. I
am in hopes that you will help spread the word of our event.
We are looking to gain as many volunteers as possible. How we are encouraging others to volunteer is that we have flexible
volunteer hours due to the fact that we offer five shifts throughout a 12 hour period. Volunteers can be ages five and up and we
are looking for people who are motivated, hard working, outgoing, self-less and are ready to have a good time while changing
lives.
Our goal for this event is to package 1000 meals to be shipped out, equaling 200 meals per shift. The more hands we have, the
more meals we can package and the more real our goal will be. Not only do we want to promote our event to volunteers, but we
want to allow people who cannot or do not want to volunteer, to make a donation. One meal cost only 22 cents, therefore, any
amount of donation is generous and welcomed.
Something that sets apart Feed My Starving Children from other non-profit organizations is that other organizations only put 10
percent of donations and income towards the cause but we put 92 percent towards feeding malnourished children. We are trying
to do anything we can to spread the word not only about this event, but our organization in general. We will be posting
information for this event on Facebook and on flyers in local restaurants, libraries, and schools. If you can please help us spread
the word in any way possible, we would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to even help volunteer at our Halloween event and come
in your best costume!
I am enclosing a press kit that contains a news release, contacts, background information, talking points, photos from recent
events and donation and event information. Our organization is newsworthy and if we can gain more volunteers and donations,
we can reach our goal for a newsworthy event and I hope you will be able to help spread the word of this news to the community.
I am available for interviews and questions along with our Schaumburg Site Supervisor Josh Rockett and previous volunteers for
extra information and questions.
Thank you for your time and cooperation. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Paige Wagner
Public Relations Director
Feed My Starving Children
pwagner@fmsc.org
847.826.9910

Table of
Content
s
1. Press Release
2. Feature Story
3. Background Info
4. Key Players

Feed My Starving Children

1072 National Pkway.
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Josh Rockett
847-519-9614
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hunger and Saviors
Schaumburg, Ill.- Around the world are 6,200 children dying every year from starvation. In hopes that these children
will be fed soon, they sit, wait and pray for someone to help them. Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit Christian
organization was founded in 1987 by Richard Proudfit after attending a mission trip in Honduras and witnessed the
challenges children were facing with hunger.
According to staff of FMSC and previous volunteers, FMSC is a fun and rewarding volunteer opportunity. Ages five
and above from the community gather together to hand package specifically made meals for malnourished children.
These meals are then sent out to distributors who have a partnership with FMSC and are given to children in
countries facing poverty.
Last year for a Lululemon work outing, we volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, said previous volunteer
Brenna Fitzpatrick. We volunteered from 8 to 9:30 p.m. and for the whole shift hand-packed 756 meals to be
shipped out it was such a rewarding feeling and I recommend everyone take the opportunity to participate.
On Sun. Oct. 25, volunteers and staff members will gather in the Schaumburg Convention Center in the Renaissance
Hotel located off of Meacham Rd. to hand package meals to be delivered to malnourished children. From 9 a.m. until
9 p.m., there will be five shifts offered to staff members and volunteers to join in the packing.
Our goal is to package 1000 meals, said Schaumburg Site Supervisor Josh Rockett. Normally we only reach
between 700 and 800 but we are shooting for the stars we are in hopes that this Halloween themed packing event
will bring in more volunteers and create a more fun atmosphere for packaging meals.
FMSC strives to change the cycle of poverty and for only 22 cents per meal, a child is fed. With the help of volunteers
we will be able to reach our goal of 1000 meals during our event. Volunteers as young as five years old are able to
participate in this event. Feed My Starving Children advises volunteers with food allergies to not participate in
packaging the food and to take caution if near the food. Use your two hands to change a childs life, said Rockett.
Taking just two hours out of your day to help package foods to feed to malnourished children can save roughly 200
lives. FMSC asks for volunteers to register and to help turn hunger into hope with your own two hands.
To become a volunteer, register at fmsc.org and click on the register tab to sign up and secure your volunteer
position. All information regarding Feed My Starving Children can be found on fmsc.org. For general inquiries, please
email info@fmsc.org or call 763-504-2919. For volunteer or registration questions, please email Jan Kubail at
registration@fmsc.org. For interviews and personal questions, contact PR director Paige Wagner at
pwagner@fmsc.org or call 847-826-9910.

###
It is 6:00 on a Monday morning and you wake up to the bold smell of coffee. You sit up in your bed thinking about
what you are going to eat for breakfast and then pause. You remember how many children in the world are
malnourished and you feel guilty for even considering the thought of eating. Slowly, you get out of bed and make
your way to the kitchen and pour yourself a fresh hot cup of coffee and sit at the table. What can I do to help feed
the people who cant feed themselves?
Google search opens on your phone and you type in feeding malnourished children. The third link shown reads
Feed My Starving Children. You click on it and read more about how it is a Christian non-profit organization that
packages food to be delivered to malnourished children. How do I sign up? You see a register to volunteer tab in
the right hand corner and click. Its that easy? Every year, there are 6,200 children who die from starvation.
Throughout the country, there are locations that hold volunteering opportunities to help hand package foods that are
specifically made for malnourished children. Six days a week, 12 hours a day, and five different shifts allow flexible
opportunities for people to give back to countries and children suffering from poverty.
Founded in 1987 by Richard Proudfit, FMSC has delivered over one billion meals to malnourished children in 70
countries. Using a fortified rice soy casserole, FMSC is able to deliver meals once a week to starving children all over
the world for only 22 cents per meal. In a typical week, volunteer packing events are held Mondays through
Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. with five separate shifts. But, this year, FMSC is switching it up and holding a
private packing event to kick off the Halloween week with packaging meals, costumes, and contests.
A large suburban city in Illinois, Schaumburg, is one of the volunteer packing locations for Feed My Starving Children.
The Renaissance Hotel includes a convention center inside where the volunteers gather to pack the meals. This year
in October, volunteers and staff members will gather in the Schaumburg Convention Center on a rare Sunday, to kick
off the week of Halloween and pack meals to be shipped to countries in poverty. Schaumburg Site Supervisor Josh
Rockett has a goal of 1000 hand packaged meals during this event in order to change the cycle of poverty. There is
something about the sound of laughter and packaging tape that puts the biggest smile on my face and the warmest
sensation into my heart, said Rockett with a smile on his face.
FMSC allows volunteers of ages five and above. This allows for a large dynamic for the people that help package the
food during events. For the upcoming Halloween event at the end of October, volunteers and staff members will be
given the opportunity to attend the event dressed up in their favorite costume in the spirit of the beginning of the
Halloween week. Witches, superman, and ninja turtles will be seen throughout the convention center and will be
entered into the best dressed costume contest being held at 9 p.m. after the last packing shift.
I think adding a new twist to the packing events will motivate volunteers to register and to encourage others that they
know to join in on the fun, said excited Senior Team Leader Julie Provenza. I am excited to see all different kinds of
people dressed in all different kinds of costumes to create diversity and bring Halloween into our rare Sunday event.
If you could just open your fridge, and stop to think about all of the hungry children in the world who are unable to
feed themselves, would you volunteer? Does that motivate you to make a difference? A child with sadness and
hunger in their eyes with their bellies popping out so far because they havent eaten in days should be enough
motivation to register to volunteer for FMSC. For only two hours, you are giving child hope. With your own two hands,
you are helping change the cycle of poverty. Turn hunger into hope with your own two hands.

Backgroun
d
Info
Feed My Starving Children began in 1987 after being founded by Richard Proudfit on a mission
trip to Honduras. He witnessed the hardships that the children were facing and wanted to do his part in the
world and make a change. Proudfit says he heard God say If you see my starving children, feed them.
After six years of searching for the right formulized food to feed to malnourished children, the correct Rice
Formula was finalized in 1993 as a nutritious fortified rice soy casserole for children averaging the age of 5.
Today, FMSC has reached 70 countries and continues to feed todays starving children through volunteer
events held through the non-profit organization.
Five days a week, FMSC holds volunteer opportunities for people to come together and make a difference in
the world. For twelve hours a day and with five shifts throughout the day, FMSC gives flexible availability for
people all over the state and the world, to join in the change. There is no fee to become a volunteer for
FMSC, all you need are your own two hands.
What sets FMSC apart from other non-profit organizations is that they spend 92 percent of donations on
feeding. It costs only 22 cents to make a meal, therefore, all the money being spend on feeding is going
directly to malnourished children in countries suffering from poverty and saving many lives every day.
In 2014, FMSC passed one billion made and delivered meals throughout their history. FMSC continues to
strive to change the cycle of poverty by turning hunger into hope with our and your own two hands.

KEY
PLAYERS
Allison Schwartz, Communications Manager
Allison has been with the organization for almost six years. She communicates with the distributors and all
departments of the organization to keep everyone on track and on the same page. Her role in the organization is
crucial in making sure the food is distributed to the correct locations and that every ounce of product is delivered.

763 846 0058

Josh Rockett, Schaumburg Site Supervisor

With the organization for 3 years, Josh lives in Niles, IL and supervises volunteer events
at the Schaumburg convention center five to six days per week. He helps set up events by
making sure all needed materials are in stock and makes sure everything is running
smoothly during packing events.

847 519 9614

Julie Provenza, Schaumburg Senior Team Leader
With the organization for 10 years, Julie helps with the public relations and marketing
department by helping plan packing events and making sure events run smoothly. She leads the
volunteers by showing them how to correctly pack the food along with how to have fun doing it.
She brings life and fun to the events and gets the job done.

847 519 9613