Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the August 2009 edition of the Eat So They Can newsletter!

We now have 450 registered hosts and every day we have more signing up! We have banquets, birthday parties, picnics, casino nights, housewarming parties, talent shows, wine and cheese evenings, silent auctions and raffles being held all around the world to raise money for ESTC. This year, we will have events in nearly every continent – we're just waiting on Antarctica!

I've just been watching the 2009 ESTC DVD and I'm amazed to see the footage of the distribution of last year's funds. Everyone who signs up to be a host will receive this DVD to show at your event, and you'll be blown away to see how together we are changing the lives of thousands of children. Children who once lived on the street, are now dreaming of becoming lawyers, pilots, and accountants – they have hope and thanks to you and our wonderful partners they have a real chance of making their dreams a reality.

If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?! Just clickhere

Best,

Courtney
ESTC Co-Founder and GVN Foundation Director

Special message from Julie DiFranco

Julie recently returned from Kenya where she helped distribute the funds raised from Eat So They Can 2008 together with our Kenyan partner and the ESTC team. Julie has a special message for all Eat So They Can hosts:

Dear Eat So They Can Hosts,

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and for sharing your gifts and talents to host a dinner party. You are appreciated! Hosting a dinner party will be a valuable experience for you, your guests, and thousands of children in Africa. Every penny you raise will go towards creating a positive impact in a child's life and will further awareness of worldwide needs to reduce poverty. Participating in last year's ESTC dinner party was an amazing opportunity for me. I was able to travel to Kenya to help in the distribution of funds raised by the party- the funds you will be raising this year.

It was eye opening to physically see what a small donation can purchase for those in need in Africa. With just $500 USD, 30 orphans can be fed for three months. Delivering this amount of food made this fact a reality to me. Can you imagine your dinner party going further and feeding that many people? While you are enjoying time with family and friends at your dinner party, you will be facilitating the hunger needs of people globally. Please encourage others to follow your lead by attending your party or by hosting their own event to increase the impact and awarness of ESTC. Giving a small amount of yourself can mean the world to someone else.

Love,

Julie

Win a trip to Kenya!

Julie was the winner of last year's ESTC grand prize trip to Kenya. This year an expense paid trip to Kenya is up for grabs once again for one lucky host! The winner will have the opportunity to visit our projects in Kenya, have a hand in distributing funds raised from ESTC, as well as have an opportunity to meet the children who will be benefiting.

If you raise a minimum of $500 you'll be entered into the Grand Prize draw to win a trip to Kenya. Or, submit a minimum of $20,000 of donations and automatically win a trip to Kenya! For more information on trip eligibility click here

Check out what Laura, who also travelled to Kenya with Julie this year has to say:

"I went to Africa for the ESTC distribution and I can honestly say that it has changed my life for the better. I don't know what I have done in life to have deserved such an opportunity, but I am forever grateful for the experience. I am sure you know what it is like to be in a situation you know nothing about and to soak it in for all it is worth....that is how I felt every day I was in Kenya. I am proud to say I was a part of ESTC and will never stop being a part of it. The faces of the people I met and grew to love there will never stray far from my memory. I wish that everyone who feels passionate enough to donate would be able to experience the gratitude that Julie and I received from the staff members of the orphanage and especially from the children." - Laura Nardon - ESTC Grand Prize Winner 2008

Recipe - Peruvian Saltado

This year, Peruvian Hearts have partnered with Eat So They Can! Peruvian Hearts is a non-profit organization that works to enhance the lives of children living in poverty in Peru through nutrition, education and healthcare. The organization was founded by Ana Dodson, one of Eat So They Can's ambassadors.

Ana's family took her on a trip back to Peru when she was 11 years old because they wanted her to embrace her heritage. Ana was so moved by the extreme poverty that she saw in Peru that she founded Peruvian Hearts that same year - when she was 11 years old.

Ana and her family have provided us with a wonderful Peruvian recipe for this month's newsletter. Lomo (beef) or Pollo (chicken) saltado is a stir-fry dish that makes use of fresh ingredients and french fried potatoes since the potato is indigenous and plentiful in Peru. It's delicious!

Ingredients

French fries
Onion (cut in half and sliced in semi-circles)
2 Green peppers - cut up
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup parsley (you can save a little for decoration at the end)
2 TBL soy sauce
1 TBL olive oil
Chickenbreasts or beef (sliced into 1-2" pieces)
2 firm tomatoes (cut into chunks)
Cumin, salt and pepper for seasoning to taste
1/2 cup wine and 1 cube chicken bullioun

Method

• Put meat in pan and saute.
• Saute onions, peppers and garlic.
• Add meat to veggies and add 1/2 cup wine and chicken broth.
• Add parsley, mix and cover. Cook until done.
• Add tomatoes at the last moment.
• At the end add french fried potatoes and mix and put a little parsley on top for decoration.
• This is typically served with white rice but is also good with your favorite noodles.

Past event ideas

Here is another one of my favourite ESTC stories which I hope will inspire you.

A 100% Mexican Feast - Ruth Flores Ames - Tijuana, Mexico

This is the first time I have participated in an event like this and it was a great experience being an ESTC host. To be honest I was a bit nervous when I first sent out the invitation to my friends. I wasn't sure what to expect. I asked them to let me know if they were coming, and sadly I only received a few confirmations, but then on Saturday everything came together.

In the morning we bought everything we needed and my cousin Chayo and my Mum did all the cooking. Our menu was 100% Mexican and we set a buffet table with Pipian (pork in a sauce elaborated with chile and pumpkin seeds), Puerco en salsa verde (pork in a green salsa), Carne en chile colorado (meet with chile), chicharron en salsa verde (pork skin in green salsa), Pollo al chipotle (chicken in chipotle sauce), tacos dorados de papa (potato fried tacos) and of course a lot of tortillas so everybody could prepare their own tacos.

We made Flan for dessert. The food was wonderful, everybody loved it! We had background music playing and had a nice evening.

I was really surprised and so happy because a total of 23 guests came - 23 friends who care. I have to say that living in a country like mine were poverty is a big issue too, it is awkward to ask for donations for a different country, but I learn not to underestimate the will to help, now I know is not impossible WE DO HAVE A HEART big enough for everybody.

Action and Advocacy

International Youth Day - 12 August 2009

To commemorate the day, young people (11 to 25) from all around the world can submit photographs and drawings to participate in a global photography competition "Shoot Nations". A selection of photographs will be presented to the United Nations and displayed at UN Headquarters from 3-14 August in commemoration of International Youth Day. For more information, please click here

National Radio Day – 20 August 2009

Apparently there's a national radio day and it's on August 20! Why not take the opportunity to call your local radio, wish them a happy national day, and then ask them to do a Community Service Announcement (CSA) about ESTC. They also might like to interview you about your event. For a sample radio script and more info click here.

Dream Day – 28 August 2009

28 August 1963 marked the day in which Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his most famous address, "I have a dream". Let's take a minute to remember his message and also to dream a little ourselves...

A special thank you

We would like to extend a special thank you to the restaurants and businesses that are supporting Eat So They Can this year. Thank you to:

Agean Deli, Bakers Delight, Bijan, Blooms Chemist, Blue Illusion, Bonds Corner Fine Foods, Bridgeclimb, Captain Cook Cruises, Castlecrag Cellars, Castlecrag Pharmacy, Clipso Hairdresser, Clown Town, Costi, Dawn Fraser, Decoroom, Forty One Restaurant, Ganache Patisserie, Glen St Theatre, Gourmet Source Deli, Hello Imelda, Homestone, JB Design, Jodie Mgregor Flowers, Lenards, Life Source, Lin and Berret Lingere, Lush Hair and Beauty, Martin Crowe, Modern Art Photographic, Moggie and Mutt, Nottinghill Furniture, Northbridge Post Office, Northbridge Foto First, Oceanworld, O'Sullivan Health Food, Peter Prischl, Prime Quality Meats, Samudra, Schmooze, Simon Johnson Fine Foods, Sirocco Homewares, Socrates, Sports Fundamentals, Sullivan Health Foods, Sydney Swans, Taronga Zoo, The Shoe Shop, Universal, Yours Beautifully, Kate Baker and Heritage Hotels.