Feeding South Florida’s 3rd Annual Happy Harvest Recognition Breakfast Honors its Hurricane Heroes
The Feeding South Florida 3rd Annual Happy Harvest Recognition Breakfast: Hurricane Hero Edition, presented by Hoffman’s Chocolates was held on Wednesday, November 8th at The Signature Grand. More than 100 local notables were in attendance to celebrate the outstanding food donors, corporate, and foundation partners who ensure Feeding South Florida fulfills their mission of ending hunger in South Florida.
During the event, Executive Director of the Marlins Foundation Alfredo Mesa accepted the Foundation Partner of the Year award. Other honorees include Humana and Publix who were honored as Corporate Partners of the Year, BJ’s Wholesale Club was honored as Retail Partner of the Year, Amazon was named Food Industry Partner of the Year, Thomas Produce Company was named as Produce Partner of the Year and Town of Palm Beach United Way was honored as Feeding Palm Beach County Partner of the Year.
As Feeding South Florida continues their Hurricane Irma relief efforts, Feeding South Florida also recognized the companies and foundations who responded quickly in such a difficult time for so many. Their efforts helped ensure Feeding South Florida was able to mobilize as needed throughout South Florida. President of Florida Panthers Matthew Caldwell accepted the Outstanding Sports Partner honor. In addition, General Manager at WSVN Robert Leider accepted the Outstanding Media Partner award, The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood was honored as Outstanding Event Partner, Hoffman’s Chocolates was honored as the Sweetest Partner and Wawa was honored as Outstanding Food Industry Partner. Other Hurricane Heroes included Orange Bowl Committee, Rooms to Go, Calder Casino, Sur La Table, Rapids Waterpark, MyCeviche, Tap 42, Weinberg Foundation, Hauck Charitable Foundation, Jon Bon Jovi Foundation, Broadway Cares, and Norfolk Southern Foundation.
“We are extremely grateful for the community support we receive throughout the year, especially during and after Hurricane Irma”, said President & CEO of Feeding South Florida Paco Vélez. “If it wasn’t for our supporters, volunteers and staff, we wouldn’t have been able to distribute more than 80 full truck loads of necessary food and supplies to those in need and we are still responding to the increased need of those impacted by Irma locally, as well as supporting the evacuees from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands”.
WSVN Chief Meteorologist Phil Ferro served as emcee and Charlene Marko-Heim from Wawa conducted an inspiring keynote speech. The event was presented by Hoffman’s Chocolates and sponsored by Events on the Loose, and Mike Sipe Entertainment.
