For Love of Children: Fannie Mae Foundation 14th Annual Help the Homeless 5K Walk

Saturday, November 17, 2001 -- What a Beautiful Day!!

The members and friends of Prince George Chapter of Tots & Teens gathered in large numbers. There were over 30 participants -- young and mature in age. The Tots & Teens members held proudly the banners displaying "PG Tots & Teens." Enthusiasm and support was overwhelming.

The Fannie Mae Foundation is committed to helping programs like For Love Children's Hope and A Home, move families from homelessness to financial stability and permanent housing. The Help the Homeless Walk is the largest ever, combating homelessness in the Washington area and has raised over $650,000 for Hope and A Home since 1988. In 2001, the goal is to raise over half the budget of the Children's Hope and A Home.

The Fannie Mae Foundation wants to raise awareness about homelessness among young people, so they encourage youth to participate. For every person age 5-25 who registers to Walk for FLOC for a minimum of $10, Fannie Mae will donate and additional $40 to Hope and A Home. What an incentive!! The Prince George's Chapter of Tots and Teens has participated in the Help the Homeless Walk-a-Thon for five years. The Walk-a-Thon is held annually in Washington, DC. The sponsor organization is FLOC, which provides support o the PG Chapter in community service hours for the youth, certificates of participation, keepsakes, and a plethora of information on organizational support, organizational budgets and fundraisers.

The Walk-a-Thon received an overwhelming response throughout the nation, and the organizers of the event are still tallying up the totals for each event associated with the Walk. The final total will not be announced until late February 2002.

Registration within the PG Chapter was arranged differently this year. Each family member and/or friend was responsible for entering their registration form by mail, email, or on site. The total count of contributions from the PG County Chapter, along with the matching donations from Fannie Mae exceeded $1,500.

I extend a heartfelt thank you to each member and Friend who supported the Homeless Walk-a-Thon. In whatever manner you displayed your support, my heart is heavy with gratitude.

God Bless you,
Sharon Morton, 2nd Vice President, Youth Coordinator
PG Chapter Tots and Teens