PEOPLE DO HOMEWORK BEFORE GIVING
- FIND LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF MAKES THE GRADE
Baltimore, January 6, 2005 -- "More than 15,000 gifts since December 26th, countless requests and online searches for our financial statements and an unprecedented level of giving on Lutheran World Relief's website are proof that people are taking their time to do their homework," says Fran Troxler, Manager of Mission Advancement for Lutheran World Relief, LWR, "They're checking up on us before they give, and they're giving with confidence that LWR, who has been working with partners in India since the 1950s is perfectly positioned to begin the rebuilding there that will take years."
Loyal supporters of the highly rated humanitarian organization have known for years the effectiveness of LWR's approach. "We have lifelong supporters," says Troxler, "who give regularly and generously. Many have informed us that they're leaving LWR in their wills, that's how strongly they feel about our long-term approach to improving people's lives. The agency, which historically has spent well under ten percent on administration and fundraising, appeals to donors large and small.
LIFE SAVINGS
Half a world away in Uzbekistan, reports Kelly Bauer, a member of LWR's External Relations team who lives in Tashkent and who deployed to India's hard-hit coastal villages early this week, a new LWR supporter symbolizes the good people feel they can do through LWR, and the confidence they have in them.
"In a country where the average family makes probably $500 a year," begins Bauer, "a woman I know walked up to me before I left for India and explained that she'd been saving money for most of her adult life. She said she saved it to one day give it to a local family that needed help, or to a local charity...but that she was never quite sure the money would be used properly," she continued. "Keep in mind, this is a family with about $2,000 in life savings. The woman thrust $400 into my hand 'to help LWR help the people of South Asia' recover," Bauer added. "She'd been listening, it appears, to my telling her about LWR and how we work and how effective we are," Bauer concluded. "It's humbling to receive a gift that means so much. But I accepted it gratefully, and confident that LWR would make her incredible gift work as hard as anyone could."
LWR has been gratefully accepting gifts since the earthquake and tsunamis hit the day after Christmas. "Our 50-year history with our partners in India and the surrounding region really gives us an advantage when it comes to knowing local customs and having good working relationships with governments and other organizations that now we're coordinating with," explains Barbara Wetsig, LWR's Associate Director for Asia. "It helps us respond quickly and appropriately to reach those in need. We were part of feeding stations that began aiding survivors just 15 hours after the waves crashed ashore," she continues. "But, as important, we immediately began assessing the conditions there and began drafting short- and long-term plans that will shape our work in the affected region for years," she continues. "We've broken down into phases the work that needs to be done," Wetsig adds. "It's a very deliberate approach that ensures that our partners have specific and needed uses for the funds as well as the capacity to use them judiciously, and that they have the mechanisms in place to monitor their use and fulfill our specific reporting requirements. We don't just send big checks to groups who want to help," she continues. "We have a half-century relationship with one of our partners in India, but we still insist on their meeting LWR's requirements for accounting, so we can track exactly how money donated to this effort is being spent."
LWR has sent or has committed more than $500,000 to partners in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia for the initial response phase. The organization is programming an additional $1 million for the crisis phase, or Phase 1. Phase 2, the transition from response to rehabilitation, is earmarked for another $1 million. Phase 3, termed 'recovery,' and which could last five years or more, is being programmed for at least $4 million. "Our goal," says Wetsig, "is to rebuild these communities so that they're better off, physically, when we're done, in terms of infrastructure and livelihoods, than they were before the storm. Giving people - entire communities - lives with dignity is what LWR specializes in. It's the silver lining in this disaster that we're focused on."
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.
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
