Samaritan's Feet Receives Three-Year Grant From National Service Agency

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Samaritan's Feet has been selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that leads the nation's volunteering and civic engagement efforts, as the recipient of a three-year grant ($106,000 a year) to serve 6,000 underprivileged children and adults in 12 strategic cities across America. These events will be held in January in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s National Day of Service, promoting community service and volunteerism.

"The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service shines a spotlight on service and volunteering as powerful forces to strengthen our communities," said Kim Mansaray, Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "This national day of service provides Americans an opportunity to put their citizenship into action by volunteering in their communities, and we are thrilled that Samaritan's Feet has joined us in this effort to engage more citizens in service to help children and families in need this MLK Day."

With the help of several other partners, Samaritan's Feet is expanding the 2018 National Day of Service campaign to serve over 11,000 individuals in 22 cities, mobilizing approximately 2,000 volunteers. Additionally, Sanford Health has matched the grant in the amount of $300,000, allowing Samaritan's Feet to serve at least 36,000 individuals over the next three years. Sanford Health has partnered with Samaritan's Feet since 2015, supporting shoe distribution events across the Midwest. Samaritan's Feet founder, Manny Ohonme, is a member of the Sanford International Board.

"Samaritan's Feet has established a strong presence in the Midwest and made a significant impact on children here," said Mike Begeman, vice president for public affairs and corporate administration at Sanford Health. "Their mission aligns directly with our values, and we are blessed to be affiliated with such a wonderful organization."

"Samaritan's Feet is honored to receive this grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and support from Sanford Health enabling us to engage thousands of volunteers while we serve those in need with new shoes and a message of hope," said Manny Ohonme, CEO and Co-Founder of Samaritan's Feet. "We anticipate that this joyful spirit of doing for others will be contagious and spread far beyond our events in January. We hope that these events inspire a movement of generosity and kindness in our nation in 2018."

Local government officials, civic leaders, and business leaders have been invited to attend and volunteer at their respective city event. At all events, individuals will receive a new pair of shoes and socks and have their feet washed by community volunteers. Approximately 500 pre-registered individuals will be served in each city. Below are the cities and dates of all National Day of Service Samaritan's Feet events in 2018:

• January 3: Sioux Falls, S.D.
• January 11: Charlotte, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; Ravenel, S.C.
• January 13: Charlotte, N.C.
• January 14: Ferguson, Mo.; Houston, Texas
• January 15: Baton Rouge, La.; Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Ky.; Washington, District of Columbia
• January 17: Montgomery, Ala.
• January 19: Selma, Ala.
• January 20: Birmingham, Ala.; Pine Bluff, Ark.
• January 22: Selma, Ala.
• January 23: Atlanta, Ga.
• January 24: Houston, Texas
• January 25: Indianapolis, Ind.
• January 27: Dayton, Ohio; Dover, Del; Little Rock, Ark.
• January 31: Fallston, N.C.; Indianapolis, Ind.
• February: Kansas City, Mo.; Lexington, Ky.

To learn more about these events or get volunteer information, visit SamaritansFeet.org/Together.

In recognition of Dr. King's incredible legacy of service to call, Congress designated Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service in 1994, and charged CNCS with leading this effort. Participants in the agency's AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs are leading and joining in projects across the country. Americans may visit MLKDay.gov to find a service project for MLK Day or a year-round volunteer opportunity in their own community.

About Samaritan's Feet International

Samaritan's Feet is a 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid organization that serves and inspires hope in children by providing shoes as the foundation to a spiritual and healthy life resulting in the advancement of education and economic opportunities. Over 1.5 billion people are infected with diseases that are transmitted through contaminated soil (World Health Organization, 2017). The goal of Samaritan's Feet is to create a world with zero shoeless children. Since its founding by Manny and Tracie Ohonme in 2003, Samaritan's Feet and its partners have served more than 6.5 million people in 90 nations. For more information about Samaritan's Feet International, visit SamaritansFeet.org. 

About the Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service is the federal agency that leads the annual MLK Day of Service and oversees volunteering, service, and civic engagement. The agency engages millions of Americans in citizen service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

About Sanford Health

Sanford Health is one of the largest health care systems in the nation, with 44 hospitals and nearly 300 clinics in nine states and four countries. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and serving the Upper Midwest, with nearly 1,400 physicians, Sanford Health is dedicated to several initiatives, including global clinics, genomic medicine and specialized centers researching cures for type 1 diabetes, breast cancer and other diseases. Sanford Health has 28,000 employees, making it the largest employer in the Dakotas. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford over the past decade have transformed how Sanford Health can improve the human condition. For information, visit sanfordhealth.org.

For more information:

Deni Avant: 704-200-2204 |[email protected]

CNCS Representative: 202-606-6775 | [email protected]

Related Links

Samaritan's Feet National Day of Service Events

SOURCE Samaritan's Feet