UNICEF has awarded the Abyssinian Fund a $5,000 grant to help expand its training of coffee farmers in the Ethiopian community of Chaffee Jenette.

 This marks the first time the one-year-old Abyssinian Fund has received a grant from the global organization mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights around the world.

 “We’re very grateful to have been chosen for this grant,” said Rev. Nicholas S. Richards, president of the Fund. “This kind of grant is extremely helpful to us during this very critical time. These funds will allow us to begin training another 100 farmers next month.”

 The Fund provides new technologies and distribution networks to ensure Ethiopian coffee is competitive in the global marketplace. Rev. Richards said the fund recently completed its first round of training with the farmers, and is actively working to identify new partners.

 Unlike traditional organizations that are working with Ethiopia, the Abyssinian Fund does charity, differently.   Through its community partnerships, the Fund will build the first high school in the community, construct a modern clinic with a full time staff and provide 100% access to clean water..

 For more information about the Abyssinian Fund (http://www.abyfund.org), contact Neil Foote, Foote Communications, 214.448.3765

The Abyssinian Fund will exhibit for sale 18 original pieces of Ethiopian art work during the Harlem Fine Arts Show this week.

Visitors to the celebrated art show at The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, will be able to view and purchase the art work, produced by emerging Ethiopian artists who rarely get a chance to showcase their impressive contemporary images outside of Ethiopia. The works are by artists are associated with Makush, one of the largest commercial galleries in Addis Adaba.

The exhibition hours of the art show are 6 p.m. to Midnight, February 25th, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., February 26th and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. February 27th.

All proceeds from sale of artwork will be used to further the work of the Abyssinian Fund in the rural farming community of Chaffee Jeneta and to promote economic development in Ethiopia.

To learn more about The Abyssinian Fund, go to www.abyfund.org. To purchase tickets to the Harlem Fine Arts Show website go to www.hfas.org to learn more about the show.