All The Right Notes
Food For The Poor To Honor Reggae Star Shaggy At Building Hope Gala
Grammy Award-winning artist Shaggy and his wife, Rebecca Packer Burrell, will be honored with the Ambassador For The Poor Award at Food For The Poor's 24th annual Building Hope Gala on Feb. 2 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
The couple is being recognized for their work on behalf of Jamaica's poor through The Shaggy Make A Difference Foundation, which supports the Bustamante Hospital for Children. Since 2009, the Shaggy and Friends charity concert has donated and repaired more than 450 pieces of equipment, worth more than $1.6 million, for the hospital.
"Shaggy and Rebecca are true friends of our charity," says Food For The Poor President/CEO Robin Mahfood. "They have been an example to so many, showing that charity exists in their hearts. It is especially heartwarming that Shaggy and Rebecca have found a meaningful way to give back to Jamaica and improve the quality of life for families in need."
Born in Kingston, Shaggy has had a successful music career, winning a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Reggae Album; receiving five Grammy nominations; and topping the Top 40 Rhythmic, Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, among others.
Gala attendees will be invited to pledge to build critically needed houses in Haiti. Many homes in Haiti's poorest communities are made with scraps, providing families little protection from the elements. Many sleep on dirt floors that turn to mud when it rains. Homes funded by Food For The Poor are built on cement foundations with concrete block walls and galvanized sheet roofs so families feel safe.
The Boca Raton Observer is the exclusive magazine sponsor. O
For more information, call 954-427-2222, ext. 6854, or email events@foodforthepoor.com.