NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
December 31, 2004
For more information contact Lisa Baumgartner Bonds at lbonds@lwr.org
or 202-550-9625.
In this news release:
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF RECEIVES $3 MILLION PLEDGE FROM THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS FOR SOUTH ASIA TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS
$1 million immediate gift and additional $2 million matching grant provide momentum to LWR’s Wave of Giving campaign
Baltimore, December 31, 2004 — Lutheran World Relief (LWR), a top-rated international relief and development organization, today announced it has received a $1 million immediate gift and an additional $2 million matching grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to support relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged Southeast Asia.
The funding will be used to provide immediate relief in the form of clean water, food, shelter and basic supplies, as well as to repair and rebuild clinics, schools and community centers. It will also be used to provide locally available building materials for the rebuilding of homes and businesses and provide psychological counseling to survivors dealing with the loss of loved ones .
“Recovery from this devastating natural disaster is a long-term process,” said Kathryn Wolford, LWR’s President. “Gifts such as those given by Thrivent Financial will help Lutheran World Relief build and sustain its WAVE OF GIVING™ rebuilding campaign over the long term.”
LWR seeks to raise $5 to $10 million for its work in South Asia. To help, Thrivent Financial has established a $2 million matching grant benefiting Wave of Giving. The matching grant is extended to all 2.8 million Thrivent Financial members across the country. Thrivent Financial member donations to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) will be matched $1 for $1 through April 15, 2005, up to $2 million. As a result, a total of $5 million will benefit tsunami victims ($1 million gift; $2 million matching dollars; $2 million in member contributions).
“As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial recognizes the important work performed by Lutheran World Relief in helping people help themselves with long-term solutions to disasters and poverty,” said Brad Hewitt , senior vice president of Fraternal Operations for Thrivent Financial. “The Wave of Giving exemplifies their long-term view of this indescribable situation. We’re happy to give to such a great initiative, and we encourage Thrivent Financial members everywhere to do the same.”
“We’re humbled, but not surprised, by Thrivent Financial’s generosity and stewardship,” said Wolford. “They enable Lutherans to demonstrate their care and concern for others, and now that involvement extends to Lutherans and other brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia.”
Donations to WAVE OF GIVING will enable LWR to work together with trusted and proven organizations in the affected areas. This money will stimulate local economies in dire need of the infusion of cash. It will be used to buy specific and much needed items, again purchased locally to create jobs and reduce transportation costs. Coordinated by Lutheran World Relief, Wave of Giving funds will be used as judiciously and monitored as closely as regular funds LWR manages.
LWR’s work following Hurricane Mitch followed a similar path, rebuilding lives and teaching people in Central America ways to better provide for themselves and protect their environment. In many case, communities report that they are better off now, and more prepared for the next disaster than they were before Hurricane Mitch struck.
To learn more or to make a donation, visit www.thrivent.com, or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2. (800-597-5972). To become a member of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and have your contribution to Wave of Giving matched, visit www.thrivent.com/joinus.
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
