Warner, Toomer to assist tsunami victims
WASHINGTON (Feb. 2, 2005) -- Two of the NFL's leading football players, New York Giants quarterback
Kurt Warner and wide receiver
Amani Toomer, are traveling to tsunami-ravaged Indonesia this month to help the United Nations World Food Program in their work to feed hungry families there.
The World Food Program (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and feeds an average of 90 million people each year across the globe. In Indonesia and Sri Lanka, two of the countries hardest hit by the tsunami, WFP is feeding more than 1 million people.
"We are thrilled to have the help of the National Football League, the NFL Players Association, and these two great players in raising awareness about the critical work we do in Asia, as well as the rest of the world," said Judith Lewis, WFP's director for U.S. relations. "Both Kurt and Amani will be lending their physical support to the people affected by the tsunami, but they will also be drawing attention to the needs of so many vulnerable families in other parts of the world."
Both Warner and Toomer and their wives Brenda and Yola, will arrive in Indonesia on Feb. 11 and immediately will depart for Banda Aceh, where they will visit some of the most devastated areas. While living in tents, they will help load C-130 aircraft and distribute food to families. The players will work on the front lines alongside WFP staff, known worldwide for their excellent emergency response capacity.
The Toomers also will travel to Sri Lanka on Feb. 16 to help pitch in with reconstruction work on that island nation. Currently, WFP is helping feed more than 850,000 people in Sri Lanka, with a large logistics network spread throughout the country.
Lewis noted the Warners and Toomers would take back their experience on the ground in Indonesia and Sri Lanka and help draw attention to the millions of people, particularly children, who go to bed hungry in other parts of the world, including Africa and Latin America.
Today, more than 800 million people are undernourished, including more than 300 million children.
NFL players have been active with the WFP throughout the tsunami crisis. The Indianapolis Colts donated $50,000 and a further $60,000 was raised by fans at a postseason game between the Colts and the Denver Broncos on Jan. 9.
Quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Donovan McNabb volunteered their time to record a commercial for WFP, which aired during the NFL playoff games in January. The commercial was shown during five playoff games, with the airtime, valued at millions of dollars, donated by the NFL.
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