Special to the Dispatch



CORDELE — Alan Feinstein has money — lots of it — to give away to organizations like the Fishermen For The Hungry that fight hunger all over the U.S.A. needs the public’s help to do even greater works.

Since 1999, Fishermen For The Hungry, with the help of good neighbors and organizations like Feinstein's has been raising money for hunger relief with the top-notch bass tournaments it sponsors in Georgia.

As of a few weeks ago the "FFTH" surpassed $12 million raised for the Food Banks the organization supports.

For 12 years, Feinstein, a Rhode Island philanthropist, has donated $1 million annually to anti-hunger agencies through his nonprofit Feinstein Foundation. But he requires some participation on the agency's part.

Here's how it works: Charities like Fishermen For The Hungry across the country work to raise donations from March 1 to April 30 by letting donors know the money they raise will dictate how much they receive from the Feinstein challenge.

At the end of the two months, the charities' efforts are calculated and each gets a cut according to how much it raised and how many charities participated. In 2009, the foundation's gifts ranged from $250 to $40,000.

It's a simple concept that has had tremendous results. Last year, 1,700 organizations took part, raising $197 million for the hungry. And since the foundation issued the first call a dozen years ago, 2,000-plus agencies have raised more than $1 billion.

For the Fishermen For The Hungry, the opportunity to beef up its contributions comes at a dire time because there is more need than ever in communities.

It takes about $65,000 a year to run the nonprofit organization, which helps the Food Banks feed thousands of needy families weekly.

“ We're seeing more and more people who were in the work force for 20, 25 years who've lost their jobs,” FFTH spokesman Dewey Mitchell said. “They've sold their possessions, lost their homes in foreclosure. Some are even living out of their cars."

This is poverty's new face, brought about by a double-digit unemployment percentage. And with a recession that continues to sputter along, nonprofits and the people they serve are hurting.

Fishermen For The Hungry has no employees or payroll and its staff is 100% volunteers. Each tournament has to stand on its own and at the end of each event the net funds are contributed to the Food Banks it supports.

“For each and every dollar we contribute to our Food Banks, they distribute an estimated $23 dollars worth of food to the needy,” Mitchell revealed.”Using this formula, for each $10 we contribute, the Food Banks distribute $230 worth of food.”

Mitchell said the organization also purchases top quality tee-shirts with the FFTH logo on them and sell them for $10 each with all the net funds going to the food banks.

“This is a great way for our supporters to help spread the word about what we are all about and also gives purchasers a chance to contribute to the food banks and get something in return,” Mitchell said.

“With Feinstein’s continued support, we know his challenge will certainly increase what we can contribute to the food banks.

“We at FFTH have been very lucky during our lives to have had ample food and a place to stay but we have not forgotten from where we came either. This is why we are excited about working with the Feinstein Challenge to produce more funds for our food banks.”

Feinstein's foundation, established in 1991, also encourages school children to get involved in charitable projects. So far, there are more than 160 "Feinstein Leadership Schools" in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that benefit financially from participating in programs that help their communities. Feinstein also provides scholarships to students.

He makes his $1 million anti-hunger challenge simple to encourage involvement. "We've seen agencies increase their fundraising efforts by two to three times their usual returns from this initiative," he says.

Fishermen For The Hungry is asking supporters to spread the word about the challenge, and the added value of March and April donations through e-mail, social media networks, the workplace and churches.

“There's no denying the present economic needs of our communities because the lines grow longer and the donations get smaller,” Mitchell said. “Finding the $1 million Feinstein challenge was a huge blessing and opportunity for us."

On a local level, Mitchell said 40 percent of the Southwest Georgia population is at risk and that 200,000 people — one-fourth of them children— are below poverty level. Another 100,000 people, including 25,000 children, face food insecurity on a daily basis.

“Please consider a small donation to the Food Bank of your choice or to the Fishermen For The Hungry during March and April,” Mitchell implored. “These gifts will be matched by the Feinstein organization and together we can eliminate hunger in our communities.”

Interested persons may contact Mitchell at P. O. Box 4002, Cordele, or by telephone at 229-273-0579, 229-273-2591, 229-425-3336 (cell) and 775-719-8064 (Fax).

















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