Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones and World Vision to deliver relief aid to Haiti this weekend

Miami, FL, September 18, 2008 —A delegation from the office of City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones and local representatives from World Vision, an international relief organization, will deliver relief aid to Haiti this weekend. The goods were collected as part of Miami’s “Operation: Hope for Haiti.”

World Vision Haiti will distribute the goods throughout several cities in Haiti. The delegation will help distribute the first round of emergency supplies to children and families in Cabaret. World Vision Haiti has already provided emergency aid to more than 12, 000 people in Haiti in the form of food, clothing, water, shelter materials, cooking utensils and medicine.

The City of Miami and Dolphin Stadium joined forces with the Florida Marlins, Miami Dolphins Miami Hurricanes, the University of Miami, and the City of Miami Fire Department to collect food and clothing to aid hurricane victims in Haiti as part of “Operation: Hope for Haiti.” In addition, all financial contributions are being donated to World Vision’s relief efforts in Haiti.

“Operation: Hope for Haiti” was created in response to the devastation left behind in Haiti after the country was hit by several hurricanes over the past month. Tens of thousands of people remain in need of food, water and emergency assistance.

If you would like to donate food or clothing to “Operation: Hope for Haiti,” collection bins will be set up at Dolphin Stadium during all home games until December 14, 2008. The last day to drop off donated goods at the City of Miami fire stations is Friday, September 19.

If you could like to make a financial contribution to World Vision’s relief efforts in Haiti:

• Call: 1-888-511-6400 (English) or 1-888-511-6404 (Spanish)
• Online: www.firstgiving.com/haitirelief
• Mail: World Vision, Attn: Haiti Relief, 7220 NW 36th Street, Suite 228, Miami, FL 33166
• Please make all checks payable to “World Vision.”

# # #

For an interview with Commissioner Spence-Jones, please contact Jonelle Adderley at (305) 250-5390 or jadderley@miamigov.com.

For interviews with World Vision staff before or after the trip to Haiti— or for photos from the trip — please contact Laura Blank at (646) 245-2496 or lblank@worldvision.org.

About World Vision’s work in Haiti

World Vision has been working in Haiti for 50 years and has long-term development programs in 19 locations across the country where more than 52,000 sponsored children and their communities are benefiting from programs in health and hygiene, education, sustainable agriculture, clean water and HIV prevention and AIDS care programs. The agency is also providing food aid to vulnerable children and adults through grants from USAID and private matching funds. World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org/press