Ontario Association of Food Banks to welcome Kiva.org microlending pioneer

    TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - Social entrepreneur (see www.kiva.org) Jessica
Flannery (http://oafb.ca/index.php?id=404), co-founder of Kiva Microfunds (see
http://www.kiva.org/about/how/), the groundbreaking online organization that
allows individuals to lend money directly to entrepreneurs in the developing
world, is making her first Canadian appearance next month as guest speaker at
the Ontario Association of Food Banks' (www.oafb.ca) upcoming second annual
Thought for Food Gala 2008.
    "Jessica uses the 'hand-to-hand' idea of helping others and
revolutionized the way ordinary people can create positive change on a global
scale," said Adam Spence, Executive Director of the OAFB. "By inviting Jessica
to our event, we hope to demonstrate that it is possible to make substantial
change in the lives of others through small, targeted efforts. OAFB counts on
this kind of effort every day."
    To date, more than 350,000 lenders from 78 countries have provided
funding for 66,000 entrepreneurs in 41 developing countries through Kiva.org,
the first organization to use an innovative peer-to-peer lending model to fund
micro-entrepreneurs. More than $47 million has been loaned through Kiva.org
from as little as $25 per loan.
    The second annual Thought for Food Gala is the OAFB's signature
fundraising event (see http://www.oafb.ca/index.php?id=402). The event is
being hosted by writer, magazine publisher and television host Evan Solomon,
host of CBC News Sunday. All event proceeds will support the work of the OAFB
across Ontario. The Thought for Food Gala is supported by Farm Credit Canada.

    
    Thought for Food Gala 2008:

    What:     Ontario Association of Ontario Food Banks' Thought for Food
              Gala 2008

    Who:      Jessica Flannery, Co-Founder, Kiva.org
              Evan Solomon, Host, CBC News Sunday
              Adam Spence, Executive Director, OAFB

    When:     Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:00 pm reception; 7:00 pm dinner

    Where:    The Carlu 444 Yonge Street, 7th floor

    Tickets:  $250.00/pp and $2500.00/table

           www.endhunger.ca
           Visit the OAFB on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/oafb08
           Photo link: http://www.oafb.ca/assets/images/Jessica.jpg
           Photo caption: Jessica Flannery, co-founder of Kiva.org and guest
           speaker at the Ontario Association of Food Banks' Thought for Food
           Gala 2008.
           Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pqiAKbsynU
           Kiva.org co-founder Jessica Flannery discusses how the micro-
           lending organization harnesses the internet to connect individual
           lenders to entrepreneurs in the developing world.
    

    About the Ontario Association of Food Banks

    The Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB) is a network of over
100 food banks across the province from Ottawa to Windsor, and Niagara Falls
to Thunder Bay. Over 320,000 Ontarians are served by food banks every month.

For further information:

For further information: To book interviews and for more information:
Natalie Bomberry, Pilot PMR, (416) 462-0199 Ext. 35, natalie@pilotpmr.com