The

FULLBELLIES

Project

The Full Bellies Project’s annual fundraiser, the Donors’ Dinner, was held Feb. 6, 2013. The event is hosted every year as an appreciation dinner for existing donors and to raise awareness among the public for an opportunity to engage even more donors.

The dinner was a “Trip Around the World” where diners were treated with signature dishes from countries around the world. Entrees included tamales, gyros and bratwurst with many more options o�ered as well. The dinner was sponsored by many local businesses that provided materials for the entrees served, as well as volunteering chefs who taught the children how many of the more complicated dishes were made. The businesses were key in making the night a success and The Full Bellies Project would like to extend many thanks to them.

The event raised more than $2000 in ticket sales for The Full Bellies Project’s e�orts, and an

invaluable amount of awareness for the organization.

The Full Bellies Project is a nonpro�t focused on feeding the underprivileged children of the Oklahoma City Public Schools system and giving them the knowledge and tools necessary to make healthy decisions. Operating under the

idea of, “Give a man a �sh and you feed him for a day, teach a man to �sh and you feed him for a lifetime,” Full Bellies aims to provide not only healthy meals to these children but also to give them the tools necessary for a life full of healthy decisions. Full Bellies also provides a safe place for children after their school day to receive help with homework and take part in stimulating activities that keeps them away from negative in�uences they may encounter otherwise. The

organization has one location in Oklahoma City but hopes to expand soon to be able to help more children. The donors’ dinner helps us with our mission.

For more information about the organization, please visit thefullbelliesproject.org

DONORS’ DINNER IS A WRAP!

THE FULL BELLIES PROJECT NEWSLETTER

Vol. 2 Issue. 2Contents

Pg. 1 - Donors’ Dinner is a Wrap!

Pg. 2 - Letter from the Director

Pg. 3 - Nutrition of Mind and Body

Pg. 4 - Volunteer of the Month

Pg. 4 - Calendar of Events

Greetings, I would like to begin this month’s letter by thanking everyone who helped make the Donors’ Dinner a success! A lot of time and hard work went

into making sure the event was successful. Many current donors showed, as well as members of the media giving great exposure to our organization. On behalf of the children, volunteers and coordinators here at The Full Bellies Project, I would like to say,

“Thank you!” The event was a huge success and raised more than $2000.

We are making great strides toward our new location to help us serve an even greater area of the Oklahoma City metro. We hope to not only condition the new building, but also begin helping children by the time our next newsletter comes out. Again, I would like to extend many thanks to the many volunteers and donors that have made our second location possible. This location will be located in the southern half of the Oklahoma City metro and will allow the organization to help even more children in a very low-income area. This will allow even more children to be helped by the

program, not only because of the extra space but also because the convenient location.

This month at The Full Bellies Project we are teaching the children about giving back to other members of our wonderful community. We partnered with “Meals on Wheels” to help the elderly in our area to show the children how they too can help by o�ering their skills, talents and time to help others. The children help by preparing meals, packaging them and writing personal notes to the elderly who will receive them. The response to this partnership has been amazing! You may have seen us on News 9 recently!

We will continue with this partnership through the summer to allow the children to be involved in the program even when there are no classes. This partnership has had a positive in�uence on not only our children but also the seniors of our community and we are very fortunate to have this opportunity.

We look forward to even more growth in the future and cannot wait to share our progress with you all. On behalf of all the children and sta� at the Full Bellies Project, I give you all my sincerest thanks,

Aida Zepeda Director, The Full Bellies Project

The

FULLBELLIES

Project

LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

The

FULLBELLIES

Project

Going to bed hungry and struggling in school were nothing new to him, but through everything he never let a smile fade from his lips. Julian Thomas is an energetic 10-year-old who is never seen without a smile on his face. Before coming to The Full Bellies Project, Julian struggled to keep up with his classmates both in and outside the classroom. Following his parents’ divorce last year, Julian felt himself being lost in the shu�e without a clear way out. His mother’s income barely covered the rent and bills, and she had to choose between food for her and her child or gas to get to work. Julian now enjoys participating in class, making good grades and running around with his friends during recess. After school, he heads over to The Full Bellies Project and participates in preparing dinner and not only doing his own homework but also helping others with theirs. The Full Bellies Project is a nonpro�t organization located in Oklahoma City, Okla., with the goal of �lling the stomachs of underprivileged children in the metro area, but also �lling their minds with information to help empower them to reach for a better future. The organization aims to help children who, like Julian, struggle in school primarily because of lack of proper nutrition in their homes. Julian’s mother, Andrea Thomas, contributes his success directly to The Full Bellies Project and is excited to see other students bene�t from the organization. “The change is incredible; he has gone from a C average to an A average,” said Thomas. “As a newly

single parent it has been di�cult to maintain our home and The Full Bellies Project has helped not only my son but also myself. Now Julian is able to help make dinner at home, and when I am at work late, I know he is in the best of hands. The Full Bellies Project has helped us get back on our feet, and I cannot express how grateful I am for that.” The change in Julian has not only been noted by his mother but also by the volunteers at The Full Bellies Project. Chelsea Hanes, a volunteer at The Full Bellies Project, has noted such a change. “When he �rst came in he was a small little boy and though he had a smile on his face you could tell something was missing,” Hanes said. “It turns out what he needed was proper nutrition of not only his body

but also his mind. Not only has he become one of our more active children in the program but he now leads one of our reading groups, helping children that are sometimes even older than he is analyze and discuss their books.”

This young boy is one of many beautiful stories that have been shaped by The Full Bellies Project. He is a perfect example of how proper nutrition is not only found in food but also in knowledge and the sense of self worth associated with it. The Full Bellies Project is located in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is always accepting donations. For more information on how you can donate or nominate someone for acceptance into the program, go to www.thefullbelliesproject.org.

NUTRITION OF BODY AND MIND

“The change is incredible, he has gone

from a C average to an A

The Full Bellies Project Newsletter by The Full Bellies Project was written and edited by Kurt Semtner, external communications manager. To contact Kurt, please email him at kurt@thefullbelliesproject.org. Thank you.

This month we would like to recognize an outstanding volunteer, Patrick Olson. An Oklahoma City native and a graduate of the Oklahoma City Public Schools District, Olson feels connected to the mission and purpose of The Full Bellies Project.

Olson has not only generously volunteered his time this past year but has also been invaluable in recruiting new volunteers with the same passion for the healthiness of children that everyone at The Full Bellies Project shares. He can personally be held accountable

for the 10 new regular volunteers we have received in the past six months.

“Everyone at The Full Bellies Project would like to thank Patrick on his hard work and dedication to the organization,” Aida Zepeda, The Full Bellies Project director, said.

Olson has received a gift certi�cate to Bourbon Street Café, on of his “favorite restaurants” in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City.

CALENDAR

Mar. 6, 13, 20, 27 - Meals on Wheels

Mar. 16 & 30 - Open House

Mar. 11 & 25 - Volunteer info sessions

VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH