East End Kids Invite You to their Fight the Famine Family Fundraiser on April 29

In what may be the first effort of its kind on the East End of Long Island,
local children from across the South Fork have banded together to raise funds for emergency
famine relief in South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria and Somalia. Local kids’ passion to help their peers across the globe has become “Fight the Famine,” a family event at the Bridgehampton Community Center on April 29 from 4 to 7 p.m. that will raise money in support of UNICEF, an organization that works in 190 countries and territories to put children first.

The fundraising event will feature finger foods imagined and created by high school students
from the Bridgehampton School’s Nutrition and Culinary program; table decorations by nursery
children at the Green School; fabric art featuring indigenous trees, birds, flowers and flags of
the afflicted African countries by Hayground School students; a crafts table manned by the kids
from Montauk’s Camp SoulGrow; auction items and prizes procured and organized by Ross
School students and kids from Shelter Island; drinks and table coverings by East Hampton’s
John Marshall Elementary students and PTA; and publicity and social media by students from Liz Bertsch and Mbachi Kumwenda’s Hayground School class. The event will also feature a DJ and dancing.
The looming famine in four African nations could have a devastating impact on some of the
world’s most vulnerable children. An estimated 1.4 million children from South Sudan, Yemen,
Nigeria and Somalia are at risk of imminent death from severe acute malnutrition — the effects
of massive droughts and climate change; conflict and war; and massive inflation. Despite this,
there is still time to help.

When the East End kids were asked why they wanted to help people so far away, their answers
were potent. “Kids just like us are starving,” said Atlas Geirsson, a student at the Hayground
School. “I care because even if we live in different countries, we’re all human, and if we have
food, they have every right to food as well,” added Madeline Grabb, a Bridgehampton School
student.

“We commend the East End kids for their commitment to helping their peers around the
world,” said Michele Walsh, Managing Director of the New York Region at UNICEF USA. “Every
dollar raised helps UNICEF carry out its lifesaving work for children and families affected by the
crisis.”

"It's a gift to learn to give back to others at such a young age, and it’s what will make our
children more compassionate people as they grow up,” said London Rosiere, Camp SoulGrow’s
director. Jalisa Hopson from Bridgehampton School believes the event "could raise lots of
money for medicine and food for [those in need]. Maybe even clean water.”

What: “Fight the Famine” to benefit UNICEF USA

Date/time: April 29, 4-7 p.m.

Where: Bridgehampton Community House
Cost: $12 adults/$10 kids, additional donations encouraged
Featuring: Food, music, dancing, prizes, auction
Created by: East End kids to help African kids

Ticket-purchase page: https://events.unicefusa.org/e...