Friends Of The Poor Walk
Organized by The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Goes Over The Top In 2009...

Our first annual Friends of the Poor Walk, held Sunday Sept 27, 2009 was a wonderful success, thanks to all those who participated; the donors, the walkers and the volunteers.

Master of ceremonies, Colonel J.R. Compton, welcomed the crowd of 150 walkers and volunteers; Southwest District Council President Ida Fisk thanked the walkers and volunteers for their participation in this year's fundraising event. Over $12,000 was raised. All of these funds will be used to help those in need in our local community through our home visitation program.

Nationwide the total amount of funds raised was over 1.2 million dollars. We are already looking forward to next year's walk.

If you did not have the opportunity to sponsor a walker, please consider making a donation to St. Vincent's. Please visit the Ways To Give section of our website and remember, 100% of your donation stays in our community. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for Helping Us Help People.

Message from The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA:

ST LOUIS, Mo./EWORLDWIRE/Oct. 20, 2009 --- The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA today announced the 2009 results of its national, annual Friends of the Poor Walk, held this year on September 26.

"The 2009 Friends of the Poor Walk raised over $1,235,000," said Victoria White Berger, National Director of Development for the Society. "The Society had 158 Walk locations nationwide, a 56 percent increase in locations over our inaugural Walk in 2008. The 2009 Walk total revenue was up more than 50 percent. We're delighted to see this rapid growth in our annual, national event on behalf of the Society of St Vincent de Paul's essential mission to help the poor."

Over 16,000 walkers in 36 states, representing 409 SVdP Conferences and Councils, participated in the 2009 walk. Over $132,000 was raised in local corporate sponsorships.

The national sponsors of the 2009 Friends of the Poor Walk are Ascension Health, Catholic Knights, and The Catholic Health Association.

Roger Playwin, executive director of the Society's National Council in St. Louis, remarked, "The success of the 2009 Friends of the Poor Walk again proves that people are willing to be generous and helpful to those who are in need. The response from those who walked and those who contributed will allow the Society around the United States to help those who come to us hoping that their need for food or clothing or housing or transportation or help with medical expenses or burying a loved one will be met. The children in most of these families will go to bed feeling a little more hopeful than yesterday."

The Society of St Vincent de Paul served close to 19 million people in the United States in 2008, with over $573 million in total value of services.