CNN Heroes” Hosts Rally to Honor Jackson Heights, Queens Resident Jorge Muñoz
November 13, 2009
(Queens,N.Y)-CNN Heroes will host a celebratory rally with Queens Borough President, Helen M. Marshall, and hundreds of Jackson Heights, Queens resident Jorge Muñoz’s fellow bus drivers, students and family to show their support. The rally is scheduled for Friday, November 13th at 11:30 am at the Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368 (111th Street and 49th Avenue). Mr. Pollo 2, a restaurant that supports Jorge’s nonprofit with donations, will provide snacks, and popular Columbian band, La Cumbiamba NY will be on hand to entertain.
Muñoz was chosen from over 9,000 submissions from 100 countries as one of the Top 10 CNN HEROES, which spotlights everyday citizens accomplishing extraordinary deeds, for his work helping hungry New Yorkers make it through tough times. Muñoz will be awarded $25,000 - and is eligible for the $100,000 award that will be bestowed upon the CNN HERO OF THE YEAR later this month at a star-studded gala in Hollywood.
The public will select the CNN HERO OF THE YEAR via voting at the CNN Heroes site at www.CNN.com/Heroes through Wednesday, Nov. 18. Hosted by CNN’s Anderson Cooper and taped at the famed Kodak Theatre, CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE will air on Thanksgiving, November 26, at 9 pm ET/PT.
Muñoz, who was born in Columbia and is a bus driver by day, and his family have been feeding those in need seven nights a week, 365 days a year, since 2004, and have handed out more than 70,000 meals for free. At around 9:30 each night, Muñoz’s white pickup truck comes filled with hot food, coffee and hot chocolate. For many, this is their only hot meal of the day and for some, it’s the first food they’ve eaten since last night. Muñoz began his unorthodox meal program, now his nonprofit, An Angel in Queens, after friends told him about large amounts of food being thrown away at their jobs. At first, he collected leftovers from local businesses and handed out brown bag lunches to underprivileged men three nights a week. Within a few months, Muñoz and his mother were preparing 20 home-cooked meals daily. Numbers gradually increased over the years to 35 per night, then 60. In recent months, that number has jumped to as many as 140 meals a night. Muñoz estimates that food and gas cost approximately $400 to 450 a week; he and his family are funding the operation through their savings and his weekly $700 paycheck.
WHO: Queens Borough President, Helen M. Marshall, and hundreds of Jorge’s fellow bus drivers, students and supporters
WHAT: Join to honor and celebrate Muñoz for being chosen from over 9,000 submissions from 100 countries as one of the Top 10 CNN Heroes
WHEN: Friday, November 13th at 11:30 am
WHERE: Queens Museum of Art, Flushing Meadow Corona Park, Queems, NY 11368 (111th Street and 49th Avenue)
This year’s Top 10 CNN Heroes, as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel including Retired Gen. Colin Powell, Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Turner, Shakira, Rosanna Rosado, Mariane Pearl, Malaak Compton-Rock, and Sir Elton John, among other humanitarians, were unveiled by Cooper on CNN last month. At the Hollywood gala later this month, CNN will honor the Top 10 CNN Heroes and reveal the CNN Hero of the Year. CNN HEROES: AN ALL STAR-TRIBUTE will air globally on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español. In the United States, more than 8 million viewers tuned in for last year’s tribute, which included appearances by Hugh Jackman, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, Cameron Diaz, Salma Hayek, Forest Whitaker, and other celebs; millions more viewers tuned in worldwide
Posted by News LI Editor · Filed Under Health
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