WAVE OF GIVING GATHERS MOMENTUM
LWR pledges an additional $500,000 – millions more to come.
Baltimore, December 31, 2004 —Scientists believe South Asia’s massive earthquake may have made our planet more compact and even altered its spin on its axes. Lutheran World Relief’s rebuilding campaign for South Asia, WAVE OF GIVING™, also has brought the world closer together, uniting thousands of concerned individuals and groups compelled to do their part in helping millions of survivors whose lives have been forever altered.
“In just the two days since its launch,” described Lisa Bonds, VP for External Relations at Lutheran World Relief, “WAVE OF GIVING has generated more than $4 million. The response is unprecedented, as we expected from such an unprecedented event.”
“Lutheran World Relief has worked in the region for more than fifty years, working with and teaching the very same people that have been devastated by this disaster,” Bonds added from her office at LWR headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. “Because of our presence there, and our close, close working relationships with our partners, we were part of feeding stations that began urgent relief within just 15 hours of the tsunami,” she continued. Finally, Bonds noted, “Donors should also know that 100% of the money they designate to WAVE OF GIVING/South Asia Tsunami goes directly to those in need.”
WAVE OF GIVING was created to give people a trusted outlet for the gifts of money they have been told is most urgently needed in South Asia. LWR, a highly rated international relief and development organization today is adding an additional $500,000 to its initial $70,000 to meet the needs of our partners in India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to continue supplying life-saving water, food and other provisions to survivors. This third wave of giving is a small part of what LWR promises will be at least a $4 million-dollar response, or more.
“WAVE OF GIVING was created to raise $5 - $10 million dollars for our short- and long-term efforts to help rebuild lives and livelihoods in South Asia,” adds Barbara Wetsig, Associate Director for Asia at Lutheran World Relief. “The fact that we’re nearly halfway to our goal on day three is inspiring,” she continued, “we’ll be able to help tens of thousands of people and rebuild many, many communities.”
WAVE OF GIVING gained critical momentum December 30, 2004 when it received a pledge of $3 million from Thrivent Financial. The top-rated financial services organization earmarked $1 million for immediate release while creating a $2 million matching fund for it 2.8 million members. “We’ve always taken our role of being good stewards very seriously,” comments Brad Hewitt, senior vice president of Fraternal Operations for Thrivent Financial. “We’d like our members to feel that same responsibility to help, which is why we created the matching fund.”
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.
