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It was a story that captivated the world. Jamaica, a country known for sun and beaches, was not a country that competed in the Winter Olympics, especially in bobsledding. However, a team of track stars turned bobsledders changed all of that with the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For the first time ever, a Jamaican bobsled team raced alongside countries from around the world. Ultimately, the story became a blockbuster movie called Cool Runnings. One of the members of that team was Devon Harris, who was a three-time Olympian and was Captain of the Jamaican bobsled team in 1992 and 1998. Today, Harris has a foundation dedicated to helping children including helping to end hunger in elementary schools.
On Tuesday, February 6, two days before the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics and the thirtieth anniversary of the first-ever appearance by the Jamaican bobsled team in the Winter Olympics, Harris will be the keynote speaker at the 2017 Results Luncheon for the Maine CUs' Campaign for Ending Hunger. "The timing of having Harris right before the Winter Olympics with a lot of excitement and attention on the games, as well as his commitment and focus on helping to end hunger made Devon a great choice to speak at this year's event," remarked Jon Paradise, Vice President of Public Affairs and Engagement for the Maine Credit Union League.
In 2006, Harris established The Keep On Pushing Foundation to support and enhance the education of kids in disadvantaged communities around the globe by providing practical solutions to the challenges that are preventing them from getting educated. This includes helping make sure kids have enough to eat. "It's a vicious cycle: if you're hungry you can not get a good education. If you're uneducated, you will be relegated to a life of hunger and despair. Without a good education these children will not be able to compete in the 21st century," Harris stated.
After a record-setting $675,000 raised for the 2016 Maine CUs' Campaign for Ending Hunger, hopes are high that the 2017 Campaign will announce a new record. "We never set a goal of how much to raise because $1 dollar raised is $1 more dollar that can help end hunger. With that beings said, though, of course we hope to raise more each year. Either way, we will celebrate all of the hard work that credit unions do to raise money and awareness for hunger in Maine, and the generosity of many of Maine's nearly 700,000 credit union members who support the Campaign, too," added Paradise.
Since 1990, the Maine CUs' Campaign for Ending Hunger has raised more than $7.2 million to end hunger in Maine. 100% of all funds raised stay in Maine and go directly to the cause of ending hunger.