Report on 2011–Seventh best in the USA
The 2011 Austin CROP Hunger Walk raised funds and awareness for international relief and development, as well as local hunger fighting. The 1200 walkers raised over $85,000! Of the nearly 1600 CROP Hunger Walks across the country, Austin ranks seventh in terms of funds raised. Congratulations to our 2011 Austin CROP Hunger Walk participants.
History–One of the first walking events in Austin
The Austin CROP Hunger Walk has a long history here in the capital city. The first official CROP Hunger Walk was held in Austin in 1970 and raised $5067–a large amount in those days. Austin hosted CROP Hunger Walks off and on over the next few years: 1971, 1973, and 1976.
In 1979, the consecutive series of Austin CROP Hunger Walks began. Austin has hosted a CROP Hunger Walk every year from 1979 to 2011! 2012 marks our 34th anniversary for this community event.
Today—Austin’s largest interreligious event
The Austin CROP Hunger Walk is sponsored locally by i-ACT. The Austin CROP Hunger Walk celebrates interreligious participation from six world religions in 2012—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and Druze communities. Neighbors of different ages, faiths, and backgrounds—walking together. It is a beautiful testimony of what makes Austin great!
Walk Leadership—community leaders working together to organize the CROP Hunger Walk
Current leadership includes (but certainly not limited to) the following:
Walk Coordinator- Bill Renfro; Recording Secretary- Martha Loer; Walk Treasurer- Diane Baker; Safety/Logistics Chair- ; Education/Advocacy Chair- Kathy Hackett; Publicity Chair- Kevin Murphy; Online Promotion Chair- Carl King; Local Allocation Task Group Chair- Howard Hartman, and; Recruitment Chair- Desareé Williams. The position of Corporate Campaign Coordinator is vacant.
These Walk leaders and other members of the Walk Team begin in August working towards the Austin CROP Hunger Walk the following first full weekend of March. Without these named and many more unnamed leaders, our Austin CROP Hunger Walk would not be a success. We love our volunteers and thank them for making a difference in the lives of hungry people, both around the block and around the world.
You are welcome here—our various Walk Committees welcome any and all to become involved. Your involvement will make us stronger. For more information to see where you might best fit in, call 451-2062.
