Media Center

Press Advisory


OAS IS VENUE FOR 7TH ANNUAL FOOD FESTIVAL OF THE AMERICAS

  May 4, 2005

The seventh annual Food Festival of the Americas will be held on Sunday, May 15, at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Northwest Washington, D.C. The event includes a silent auction.

Hosted by the Organization of Women of the Americas (OWA), the Food Festival gives the public a chance to experience the rich diversity of cuisine, music and dances from the countries of the hemisphere.

The popular festival package includes a raffle, with prizes that include round-trip airline tickets: New York- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (VARIG); Miami-South America (TAM); Washington D.C.-Bolivia (LAB); Miami-Caracas, Venezuela (AEROPOSTAL), Baltimore-Bahamas three-night stay (GBV); and from BWI Airport to a Caribbean destination (Air Jamaica).

Raffle tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at the event itself. Admission to the festival is free.

All proceeds from the sale of food, crafts and raffle tickets will be donated to charitable organizations. The main beneficiary this year will be the Pediatric Clinic of the Hispanic Catholic Center of Washington, D.C., an organization that caters to needy Latin American and Caribbean people in the Washington metropolitan area.

Over the years, the Food Festival of the Americas has benefited the Mary Center of Washington, the Caribbean American Intercultural Organization, the Art Museum of the Americas, the OAS program to help landmine victims in Central America, the Hispanic Catholic Center of Washington, D.C., Mother Teresa’s Place, and the Time to Fly Foundation.

The Food Festival of the Americas is sponsored by: Radio América 1540 AM, , the Brazilian airlines TAM and VARIG, Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano, GoGrand Bahama Vacations, Air Jamaica, Solar Tours, Better Events Catering, the OAS Credit Union, American Airlines, Cervecería Modelo de México, the College of
Law of American University, Coca-Cola, Aerolineas Santa Barbara de Venezuela, BBT Bank, Joseph M. Boesch, D.D.S., and Dialogue on Diversity.

The Organization of Women of the Americas is a non-profit organization founded by the wives of ambassadors and permanent observers to the OAS and other supporting members. Its current President is Mrs. Zulay de Valero, wife of the Venezuelan Ambassador to the OAS, Jorge Valero.



WHAT: FOOD FESTIVAL OF THE AMERICAS

WHEN: Sunday, May 15, 2005

TIME: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: AZTEC GARDEN
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES
17TH STREET & CONSTITUTION AVE., N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Reference: AVI-055/05