 |
 |
 |
Oasis Foundation Pledges Meals, Support, Funding for Baltimore Family Center |
|
Electrical fire threatens Bea Gaddy's Thanks for Giving Dinner BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - The Oasis Foundation of Washington DC will contribute $10,000 to rebuild Baltimore's Bea Gaddy Family Center following a devastating electrical fire that caused massive damage. In addition to monetary aid, the foundation will also contribute meals for the annual Thanks for Giving dinner, which will be held next week. The fire destroyed the women's shelter, located on North Chester Street, around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18. "The Bea Gaddy Family Center is integral to the people of Baltimore, and this fire could not have happened at a worse time," said Byron Fogan, Executive Director for the Oasis Foundation of Washington DC. "Our Foundation strives to build stronger communities and we are grateful for the opportunity to provide assistance during this difficult time. The families that depend on the annual Thanks for Giving dinner can be sure that Bea Gaddy's holiday celebration will take place this year." The Bea Gaddy Family Center will continue to accept turkeys and canned food donations. This year the organization anticipated that it would need to serve as many as 55,000 meals during the Thanks for Giving dinner, an increase over past years. In addition to this event, the Gaddy Family Center provides short term housing to women and children suffering from domestic violence, AIDS education, awareness and screenings, provides clothing and food to people in need, and assists women who have recently been released from incarceration. The Oasis Foundation of Washington DC is a project founded by H.E. Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America. Through charitable donations to U.S. organizations which address community and quality of life needs, the Oasis Foundation of Washington, DC seeks to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United Arab Emirates and the United States. Assistance is offered in five key areas: educational development; innovation in science and technology; promotion of the arts and culture; development of youth, family, and strong communities; and promotion of environmental awareness and protection. About the Oasis Foundation of Washington DC The Oasis Foundation of Washington DC is charitable organization based in the United States. Established in 2008 by Yousef Al Otaiba, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America, the Oasis Foundation of Washington DC invests in charitable initiatives in the United States which promote mutual understanding between the people of the United Arab Emirates and the United States. More information is available at www.oasisfoundationdc.org. About the Bea Gaddy Family Center The Bea Gaddy Family Centers Inc. is a 501(C)3 not-for-profit organization. Bea Gaddy, who was elected to the City Council in 1999, also operated a family center that has served more than 1 million homeless women and children, according to her Web site. Her home became a distribution point for food and clothing for the poor. She used the experience to found a homeless shelter, which eventually became the Bea Gaddy Family Centers Inc. Gaddy held her first Thanksgiving dinner in 1981, feeding 39 people. The event grew each year and peaked in 1993, when Gaddy and about 2,000 volunteers served 20,000 people. Bea Gaddy, who rose from a life of poverty to become Baltimore's leading advocate for the homeless and poor, died (October 3, 2001) at age 68 at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where she was being treated for breast cancer.
CONTACT:
|