'Survive to Thrive' Is Goal of 5th Annual National Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run

ST. LOUIS, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the poverty rate going up -- double in the last 15 years, based on the U.S. Census Bureau -- some 20,000 people will put their foot down this fall. In fact, they're expected to put both feet down when they participate in the 5th Annual National Friends of the Poor® Walk/Run on Saturday, September 29, sponsored by the nonprofit National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP).

All proceeds and donations from the event will directly benefit the people served by SVdP in the communities in which the monies are raised, and there are no administrative fees associated with the event. Anyone interested in learning more, participating, or making a pledge can log on to http://www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.org. Participants also can make an online pledge.

The event in each community is designed and run by the St. Vincent de Paul chapter in that area, so details such as the time and date will vary by location. A "Walk/Run Locations" tab on the website displays a map showing the various Friends of the Poor® Walk/Runs around the country. Most are held near September 27, the feast day of the Society's patron, St. Vincent de Paul, who ministered the poor in Paris in the 17th century.

National sponsors of this year's event are:

• Ascension Health, one of the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health systems;

• Catholic Financial Life, the second largest Catholic financial services organization in the country; and

• First Catholic Slovak Ladies Association, an 85,000-member fraternal benefit organization that ranks among the top fraternal societies active in the United States today.

Last year, some 18,000 walkers, representing about 145 locations in 35 states raised more than $1.4 million. So far this year, people in some 60 new locations have signed up to participate. Since the event began in 2008, almost $5 million has been raised to address poverty and need.

"The participants and the donations have grown, which is welcome, but so has the need for funds," said Sheila Gilbert, national president of SVdP. "Statistics show that the number of people living in poverty has outpaced everyone's expectations and have challenged our ability to keep up. Our hope is that this event will help put a spotlight on the issue. We want Americans to see those living in poverty as people, not statistics, and that their involvement can take people from survive to thrive."

Roger Playwin, chief executive officer for SVdP, said: "Every dime raised by the participants and donors in each community stays in their communities to benefit their friends and neighbors. That's been one of the strongest advantages this event enjoys."

One of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (http://www.svdpusa.org) is a nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of approximately 700,000 men and women who volunteer to seek out and provide person-to-person aid to the needy and those living in poverty in 142 countries on five continents. With the U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, Mo., membership in the United States totals more than 141,000 in 4,600 communities. Programs include home visits, housing assistance, disaster relief, job training and placement, food pantries, dining halls, clothing, transportation and utility costs, care for the elderly, and medicine. SVdP provides more than $660 million in tangible and in-kind services, makes more than 843,00 home visits, and delivers more than 10 million service hours to those in need.

Media inquiries only:
Charles B. Henderson
Office: (314) 576-3993, ext. 214
Mobile: (314) 623-6505
[email protected]

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SOURCE Society of St. Vincent de Paul