Press Releases

Monterey, Calif. - February 14, 2006 - According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, six million children under the age of five die every year as a result of hunger. To combat this intolerable reality, more than 45 students from Santa Catalina School and the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey will once again join together in an ecumenical effort to make a difference.

The youth have pledged to go without food themselves for 24-30 hours to raise money for both World Vision and Catholic Relief Services. Both of these organizations are committed to serving the world's poor, regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.  In the next few months, over 600,000 young people across the United States are expected to participate in similar events.
  
Santa Catalina's Food Fast event is in its' eighth year with longtime organizer and teacher, Debra Baker. With a focus on global poverty and justice, Food Fast provides participants with an experience of solidarity with others around the world who are living in hunger and poverty; and an experience of community, working together to create lasting change in the world. During the fast, students participate in activities that focus on cultural awareness and mindfulness of food needs and waste. Students read about poverty, listen to ethnic music and watch films that connect participants with other parts of the world where hunger is widespread. The event will end with all participants sharing a simple vegetarian meal.
  
In the seven years that Santa Catalina School has held a "Food Fast" they have raised more than $42,000 to help end world hunger. This is the sixth year that they will be joining with youth from the First Presbyterian Church of Monterey.

For more information or to sponsor an hour of the Food Fast, please contact: Debra Baker, Religious Studies Dept., Santa Catalina School at her direct line, (831)655-9364,or leave a voicemail at (831) 236-3125.

                                    

Santa Catalina School is dedicated to the education of young people between the ages of 5-18 by giving careful consideration to the individual abilities and potential of each child. The school's mission is to balance intellectual growth with spiritual awareness, creativity with order, and individuality with compassion. Santa Catalina School is enriched by the diversity of socioeconomic, religious, geographic, and cultural backgrounds represented by students and faculty. The Upper School includes boarding students from 14 states and nine countries. Local students come from not only the Central Coast, but from cities as far away as Gilroy, King City, Santa Cruz, San Jose and Santa Clara.  For more information visit www.santacatalina.org or call 831.655.9300.