Marianne Williamson

Project Angel Food Turns 20

They Thank Their Volunteers, Donors, and Community for Cooking and Delivering 6 Million Meals and Look to Engage the Next Generation for Life, for Love, for as Long as it Takes
From a press release in Hollywood, CA, June 23, 2009

In 2008, volunteers contributed 53,372 hours of service cooking in the kitchen, delivering meals, and working at special events. Their tireless efforts have equalled that of 27 full-time staff.

“Since providing its first meals in 1989, Project Angel Food has grown to become a pillar of nourishment and support for the people of Los Angeles County struggling with life-threatening illnesses. We are honoured to recognize—to celebrate—our first twenty years of service and the many volunteers and donors who have made our vital, loving work possible,” said Don Fracchia, Chair, Project Angel Food Board of Directors and EVP, Wells Fargo. Project Angel Food celebrates 20 years of service throughout 2009 to bring new awareness, raise funds, and pave the way for their next years of service.

Project Angel Food was founded in 1989 by Marianne Williamson, lecturer on A Course in Miracles and best-selling author of A Return to Love and The Age of Miracles, when she realized that many people she knew struggling with life-threatening illnesses were also severely debilitated by malnutrition. Thanks to a devoted group of volunteers—many of who are still involved today—Project Angel Food was soon cooking and delivering hundreds of meals to people struggling with HIV/AIDS. The majority of Project Angel Food’s history has been serving men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Then in 2004, the Board of Directors expanded the agency’s mission to serve those with all life-threatening illnesses. Today, the agency’s mission statement reads, “Project Angel Food nourishes the body and spirit of men, women, and children affected by HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.”

To date, Project Angel Food has cooked and delivered nearly 6 million meals, free of charge to people in need throughout Los Angeles County. With a corps of 1,500+ active, dedicated volunteers, the agency provides more than 11,000 meals a week to those for whom a healthy meal, delivered with a warm smile, is truly lifesaving. Project Angel Food is the only daily free meal delivery program serving Los Angeles County.

The majority of the people served by Project Angel Food led productive lives and careers prior to their disability from life-threatening illness. Our clients come from a wide range of occupations previously held including school teachers, nurse assistants, welders, carpenters, legal secretaries, engineers, accountants, truck drivers, computer technicians, hair stylists, and salesmen, and many others. While some are chronically debilitated by illness, others find our meals key components to regaining their health and returning to work.

With founding Board members David Kessler and Ed Rada, Project Angel Food created some of its signature events in its very first years—such as Angel Art and Divine Design. Those popular and important events continue to this day and have been joined by Angel Awards, Bowling for Angels, and Dining Out for Life as ways the community can support Project Angel Food’s vital loving work.

Even in these challenging economic times, Project Angel Food is committed to stay the tide of hunger and malnutrition among the men, women, and children they serve every day. Project Angel Food is able to be of service to some of the most fragile members of their community because of their partnerships with the community, their donors, and volunteers. For the 20th Anniversary of Project Angel Food, the agency will host its signature events as well as participate in new city-supported partnerships to bring awareness and funds to the agency’s work. Volunteers and supporters are also hosting private dinner parties asking that their friends “Bring a Gift for Project Angel Food” to celebrate 20 years of service.

In 2008, volunteers contributed 53,372 hours of service cooking in the kitchen, delivering meals, and working at special events. Their tireless efforts have equalled that of 27 full-time staff.

“Project Angel Food is one of Los Angeles’ most beloved and effective not-for-profits,” states CEO Margaret Steele. “Beloved because we are an agency of compassion and humanity expressed through the most basic of human gestures—providing food for someone who is ill. Effective, because we are structured around the daily involvement of our devoted volunteers and a determined staff and engaged (volunteer) Board of Directors, all of whom bring great enthusiasm to their work.”

As long as there are people in Los Angeles County diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses Project Angel Food will be needed and will exist. Malnutrition is a serious health issue in itself: when people do not have the right amount of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, healthy tissue and organ function are detrimentally affected. Couple malnutrition with a life-threatening illness and overwhelming challenges can develop. As a result, the majority of the people Project Angel Food serves are too weak to even carry a pot of water to the stove, let alone go shopping for groceries.

The agency encourages everyone in Los Angeles County to become involved with their mission. Project Angel Food will be welcoming the next generation of volunteers and supporters through annual events, new outreach throughout various Los Angeles communities, via social media networks, and with the involvement of and support of some of Hollywood’s newest and brightest actors and actresses.

For more information on the history of Project Angel Food and how to get involved, please log on to www.projectangelfood.org, or phone (323) 845-1800, or email: dev@angelfood.org. For more information on Marianne Williamson visit www.marianne.com or email: contact@marianne.com.