What is Foundation Rwanda: An Evening of Food & Fotos?

In February 2006, photojournalist Jonathan Torgovnik traveled to East Africa on behalf of Newsweek magazine to work on a story about HIV/AIDS. While there, he met Margaret, a Rwandan survivor who was brutally raped during the genocide, became pregnant, and contracted HIV. This horrific story led Torgovnik to embark on a photography project to document and tell the stories of 40 women like Margaret. He learned an estimated 20,000 children were born from rape during the genocide and repeatedly heard that their mothers are unable to afford the secondary school fees to keep their children in school. Deeply affected by the ongoing consequences of the genocide and the challenges these women and children face daily, Torgovnik joined with Jules Shell to create Foundation Rwanda.

When our friends, Chef Gabe Thompson and Pastry Chef Katherine Thompson, (dell'anima and L'Artusi) heard about Foundation Rwanda's efforts to support the education of children affected by the genocide and help empower their mothers, they rolled up their sleeves and offered to help the best way they knew how-- by cooking for a good cause! Foundation Rwanda: An Evening of Food & Fotos is their idea and is made possible by the goodwill and generosity of over 30 acclaimed NYC restaurants and specialty shops, a wide array of talented photographers, and a small army of amazing volunteers.

Why help Foundation Rwanda?

There are 20,000 good reasons. An estimated 20,000 children were born as a result of sexual violence during the Rwandan genocide. Due to the stigma associated with rape, these children and their mothers have been severely marginalized by their communities and are not actively seeking help. Their mothers live in extreme poverty and do not have the means to pay their children's school fees. Foundation Rwanda was established to improve the lives of these children by 1) providing funding for their secondary school education, 2) linking their mothers to income generating activities and existing psychological and medical support services, and 3) raising awareness about the consequences of genocide and sexual violence through photography and new media.

We are hosting this event to help sponsor secondary school education for this generation of children who represent the hope for a better future. If you would like to learn more, please visit Foundation Rwanda's Website. To hear the mothers' powerful stories in their own words, please take a moment to watch the short 15 minute Emmy nominated Intended Consequences film.

Your support matters.

All donations are tax-deductible and include annual secondary school fees, books, uniforms, shoes and transportation as well as linking the mothers to existing medical and psychological support. Any contribution is welcome.

To donate, please visit: http://www.foundationrwanda.org/donate.htm

In addition to Food and Fotos

Foundation Rwanda is providing an online auction to expand its fundraising efforts. The auction will feature fine, contemporary photography selected by New Yorker magazine's visual editor Elisabeth Biondi, Aidan Sullivan of Getty Images and Bill Hunt of Hasted Hunt Kraeutler gallery. The auction will also include amazing dining packages, wine tastings, insider experiences and other luxury culinary items.

The online auction will open at 12 pm EST on May 6, 2010 and online bidding will continue until May 12th at 8 pm EST. The silent auction will commence at the event and will close on May 13th at 8 pm EST.

Go check it out!