Menu for Hope III, the FINAL total $60,925.12

A final bit of good news to ring in the new year on a high note. Our Menu for Hope III announces the final tally today at $60,925.12. That's right dear friends, together we've raised over sixty thousand dollars!

If you're wondering how we came to that lofty number, let me explain it for you. On December 22, Menu for Hope closed our raffle at $58,256.70. That number fluctuated a bit in the following days, due to a few credit card processing issues, some of which have been subsequently corrected.

This morning, First Giving, the company that manages the donation for the current and all previous Menu for Hope campaigns, donated 1% of the total amount we raised this year to show their support. That brought the total to $58,925.70.

Then, a secret angel -who happens to be a good friend of mine- saw that we were edging ever so close to the $60K mark, so he donated $2,000 to put us over the top. His donation was accepted because he did not want to participate in the raffle -which has been closed to new donations since Dec 22.

So here we are, sixty thousand nine hundred twenty five dollars and twelve cents!!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,

Pim
--on behalf all the Menu for Hope organizers

Regional Hosts:
Sam Breach, Becks and Posh (US: West Coast)
Kalyn Denny, Kalyn's Kitchen (US: Central)
David Lebovitz, DavidLebovitz.com (Europe)
Adam Robert, The Amateur Gourmet (US: East Coast)
Helen Yee, Grab Your Fork (Asia Pacific/Australia/New Zealand)
Jasmine, Cardamom Addict (Canada)
Alder Yarrow, Vinography (Wine blog host)

Raffle Master:
Derrick Schneider, An Obsession with Food

Prize Tzars:
(Two very important people who will help ensure that the right prizes are sent to the corresponding lucky donors.)
Brett Emerson, In Praise of Sardines
Fatimeh Khatibloo, Gastronomie SF

Asia Pacific Media Contact:
Aun Koh, Chubby Hubby

Beneficiary:
The UN World Food Programme

And participating food bloggers everywhere.

tag(s):food | Menu for Hope | Menu for Hope | WFP | fundraising | World Food Programme | food bloggers

Comments

[beastmomma]

that is wonderful. What a fantastic way to start the new year!

[kayenne]

I'm sooooooooo thrilled at this! =D First time I joined something like this online. It's been a great blessed month for me, I hope that this radiates to everyone else!

Happy Great New Year, everyone!

[Rasa Malaysia]

Bravo Pim...cheers, a toast to the success of MFH3 and may you have a very Happy New Year.

[Kung Foodie]

Gosh...this just almost brought me to tears. How awesome! Bloggers rawk!!!

[paristriptips]

That is so exciting. Thank you for all your hard work, and for the opportunity to participate. What a great New Year's gift!

[Pim]

Thanks everyone. This is a great way to begin the new year. Thanks for everyone for taking part and making this campaign a tremendous success. Bravo us!

cheers,
Pim

[Gene - Seattle Wine Blog]

Pim, Wow! Over sixty thousand raised for the the World Food Program - that is mindblowing! If I may, I have a suggestion for next year's beneficiary - the Samaritans! This apolitical law-abiding organization, based in southern Arizona, is devoted to providing humanitarian aid (food, water and first aid)to Mexican migrants who are lost in the desert or returned back to Mexico. All of the aid is passed through to migrants. This is strictly a volunteer organization -there is no paid staff. Why should Menu for Hope consider supporting the Samaritans? If you think about it, virtually all of the wine and food we drink and eat (apples,grapes,strawberries, meat, etc.) is grown, harvested, and processed by Mexican workers, legel and not.
As a restauranteur, you know how many people in the kitchen hail from Ecuador, Guatamala, Mexico, etc,. Couldn't this be a way of thanking them and their families for all their hard work on our behalf, a way of providing food to those less fortunate than ourselves? Just an idea! Congratulations on a spectacular job! BTW,check out my post on "Mexican" wine. Thanks!