PRESS RELEASE

Food Festival of the Americas Returns To OAS May 3

The annual Food Festival of the Americas returns to the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington D.C. on Sunday, May 3, courtesy of the Organization of Women of the Americas (OMA). The event gives the public a chance to experience the rich diversity of cuisine, music and dances from the countries of the hemisphere.

The XI Food Festival also includes a raffle with valuable prizes. All proceeds from sales 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 Langley Park., an organization catering to Latin American and Caribbean people in need who live in the Washington metropolitan area. Also, a portion of the funds will be donated to other charities.

The raffle prizes include:

Two round trip tickets from Washington D.C. to Bogotá, donated by AVIANCA;
One round trip ticket (with restrictions) to anywhere in Central America &/or Lima, Peru, donated by TACA;
Two round trip tickets from Washington D.C. to El Salvador (with restrictions), donated by TACA;
Two round trip tickets from Washington-Dulles to Panama (with restrictions), donated by COPA;
One 40’ plasma TV donated by Venezuela;
One oil on canvas painting by Ecuadorian artist Salvador Bacon;
Three nights (for two people) at Jolly Beach Resort Hotel, donated by Antigua and Barbuda;
One laptop donated by Venezuela;
One weekend night donated by the Churchill Hotel, in Washington D.C.;
One digital camera donated by Venezuela;
One digital camcorder donated by Bolivia;
One iPod donated by Chile;
One voucher (for two people) at the Fogo do Chao restaurant in Washington D.C., donated by Brazil;
One music stereo donated by Chile

Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance, or at the Food Festival itself, for $10 each. You do not have to be present to win. Admission to the event is free.

The XI Food Festival of the Americas is sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), AVIANCA, TACA and COPA Airlines, Radio America 1540 AM, Revista Zona VIP, CITGO, Jolly Beach Resort Hotel, Churchill Hotel, DOS EQUIS, TECATE and SOL brewers, and the restaurants Chapelle, Lauriol Plaza, Fogo do Chao, and Chima.

The Organization of Women of the Americas is a nonprofit organization founded by the wives of ambassadors and permanent observers to the OAS and other supporting members. Its current President is Sandra Chaves de Sosa, wife of the Honduran Ambassador to the OAS.

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, Club de Jóvenes Haitianos de la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón, the Time to Fly Foundation, the Panos Institute Caribbean, Orfelinato San José de Marambo en Panamá, the Casa Rosada of the Dominican Republic and the Hispanic National Center of Langley Park.

EVENT:                                XI FOOD FESTIVAL OF THE AMERICAS

DATE:                                  Sunday, May 3, 2009

11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PLACE:                                 Aztec Garden

                                     Organization of American States

17^th Street & Constitution Ave., N.W.
WASHINGTON D.C.

If you would like more information or help organize this event, please send an e-mail to: oma.oas.org@gmail.com