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Sept. 27: Fundraising For Society Of St. Vincent De Paul Friends Of The Poor Walk 2008 Finds Feet Of All Ages

Finishing strong with 104 locations in U.S. and Europe: Senior (91), wedding couple, and family of quintuplets - and family pets - to join others at parks, along city streets, at schools, hospitals, walking trails, and rail-to-trails locations.

When friends - along with family, neighbors and colleagues - step out for Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Friends of the Poor Walk 2008 on Saturday, Sept. 27, those attending might witness in their midst:

. A 91-year-old St. Vincent de Paul volunteer committed to Walk A Mile
. A Bride and Groom taking a Walk on their Wedding Day
. A family who just had quintuplets strolling the Walk (SVDP has been providing them with diapers and formula.)

On September 27, 2008, in 104 cities across the United States and in Paris and in Rome, this first annual, nationwide SVDP event will raise money for the poor in local communities; 100 percent of the money raised will go directly to the poor.

In some events, such as in Leonardtown, Md., cats and dogs will be allowed in the walk if they are well-behaved; some events will have live music and a post-walk events, food or health fairs. Local event funds are being used for direct service to the poor, including direct family aid, financially supporting food pantries, pharmacies, and many other direct services. All funds raised locally will be used locally.

There are Friends of the Poor Walks planned at state and city parks, along city streets, at high schools, hospitals, walking trails, rail-to-trails locations, and school stadium and tracks. In all, over 104 cities are operating a walk, and more join each day.

Walkers are registering every day, and their sponsors are supporting them with growing numbers. A few examples include:

. Over 14,000 walkers have registered locally
. 1698 walkers have registered online
. Over $60,000 has been received in online sponsorship alone
. Average amount per pledge is $40.00

If the average pledge amount of $40.00 applies to the over 12,000 walkers registered locally, that equals a possible $480,000 raised for the poor.

Notable Friends of the Poor Walk Venues include:

. Churchill Downs (Louisville, Ky.)
. Daytona Beach (Fla.)
. Rosecroft Raceway (Washington, D.C.)
. Audubon Park (New Orleans)
. Lake Merced (San Francisco)
. Along Lake Michigan (Milwaukee, Wis.)
. Schools and colleges such as University of Dallas, St. Louis University High School (St. Louis, MO), St. Johns University (New York), DePaul University, (Chicago) University of Arizona (Tucson)

FINISH STRONG

Presently, there are over 14,000 walkers registered to participate in the inaugural 2008 Friends of the Poor Walk across the U.S. and Europe.

If just 2000 existing walkers asked 5 new people to sponsor them, and asked 5 new people to walk, at an average $40.00 per sponsorship, the poor would receive an additional $1,600,000 in aid.

If every one of the 15,000 registered walkers did this, the result would be an additional, amazing, $12,000,000 for the poor.

Take interest and dedication to raising money for the poor to the Friends of the Poor Walk, where many hands make light work. Make those five E-Vites, or five phone calls. Together everyone can make this a strong finish - never removing from sight the homeless, the poor, the hungry. The public is urged to take the time, right now, to ask five more walkers, seek five more sponsors. Individual effort now, repeated by all walkers and supporters, will immediately and certainly go directly into the lives of the most at risk.

An example list of cities where participants are walking:

New York; San Francisco; Seattle; St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, WIs.; Providence, R.I.; Louisville, Ky.; Miami; Philadelphia; Memphis; Washington, D.C.; San Antonio, Texas; Dallas; Ft. Worth, Texas; Indianapolis; Austin, Texas; Denver; New Orleans; Omaha; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Memphis, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill

A complete list can be found at 'http://www.svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.net'.

Walkers themselves choose which Society of St. Vincent de Paul local entity they want to support by sponsors and pledges. Each local Society of St. Vincent de Paul works daily with the poor of their local community and delivering needed aid and support.

The Friends of the Poor Walk is a Perfect Match for sponsor and pledge generosity and matching gifts from employers. Many companies offer their employees charitable giving opportunities. By remembering to ask about matching gifts, sponsors and pledgors can double or even triple the amount donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk.

Ascension Health is the National Corporate Sponsor of the SVDP Friends of the Poor Walk 2008. Ascension Health is the nation's largest Catholic and largest nonprofit health system, serving patients through a network of hospitals and related health facilities providing acute care services, long-term care, community health services, psychiatric, rehabilitation and residential care.

To contact a local SVDP Friends of the Poor Walk location, visit h'ttp://svdpfriendsofthepoorwalk.net/uploads/MASTER_WALK_CONTACTS_8-5-08.pdf'

Founded in 1833 in France, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world. The SVdP operates thrift stores, food pantries and provides personal visits by its members to the homes of the poor. The Society today has more than 690,000 members operating in 142 countries of which there are 115,000 U.S. members.

The Society's U.S. members donated nearly 6 million hours of their personal time in 2006, aiding more than 20 million of their neighbors in distress and offering services valued at nearly $500 million.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Christopher D. Desloge
National Friends of the Poor Walk Administrator
314-576-3993
cdesloge@svdpusa.org
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   Mr. Christopher Desloge
   National Friends of the Poor Walk Administrator
   Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of the United States
   St. Louis,    MO,    63043
   USA
   314-576-3993 (phone)
   cdesloge@svdpusa.org