wfn.org | PRESIDING BISHOP'S FUND APPROVES OVER $1 MILLION IN GRANT

[ENS.parti@ecunet.org]

TITLE:PRESIDING BISHOP'S FUND APPROVES OV
June 26, 1996
Episcopal News Service
James Solheim, Director
(212) 922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

96-1502
PRESIDING BISHOP'S FUND APPROVES OVER $1 MILLION IN GRANTS

           (ENS) The board of directors of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for
World Relief awarded $1,037,729 in relief and development
grants during its semi-annual meeting in New York, June 5 and 6. The board
also approved the release of $340,500 in emergency and
special grants made during the time between board meetings.
           "This grand total of $1,378,299 in grants for half a year
represents a significant response by the Episcopal Church to people in
need throughout the world," said Ann Vest, president of the Fund's board. "I
give thanks that the fund is stronger now than it has been in
quite some time."
           In civil war-devastated Liberia, the fund made an emergency grant
of $40,000 for food supplies sent to Liberian families who had
been evacuated to places outside of the country and who were living as
refugees. Archbishop Robert Okine of West Africa received a grant
of $15,000 to assist Liberian refugees who were displaced in Guinea, Sierra
Leone, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
           In Myanmar, the fund granted $25,000 for a water supply project
that would deliver clean drinking water to people in six
dioceses.
           The largest single grant was $62,000 made to the Diocese of
Jerusalem to aid in a number of ongoing diocesan relief and
rehabilitation efforts, including a crisis and peace building fund, a Beirut
extension for the Palestinian Refugee Community Center, and St.
Luke's Center for the mentally handicapped in Beirut.
           The two largest grants made in the United States were $20,000 to
rebuild a homeless shelter in Minnesota which had been
destroyed by fire and $20,000 to the Grace Training Foundation Life/Work
Planning Project in the Diocese of Olympia, a program
dedicated to moving its clients from welfare to work. In the first five months
of 1996, the fund made nearly $300,000 in emergency grants
of amounts up to $25,000 to address needs in West Africa, the Caribbean,
Central America and the United States. At the request of Bishop
Larry Maze of Arkansas, the fund sent $25,000 for relief after tornadoes hit
the towns of Van Buren and Fort Smith. Bishop John Smith of
West Virginia received $10,000 to address damages caused by May flooding. The
severe bombing of the south of Lebanon caused the
internal displacement of 400,000 people. St. Luke's School, a school for
handicapped children in a suburb of Beirut, was converted into a
shelter for the parents of the children during the bombing. Bishop Samir
Kafity received $25,000 emergency grant to assist these refugees.
           "Episcopalians are compassionate people and they want to help as
long as they see there is a need," Vest noted. "And I think the
fund has done a good job of showing need."
           "The fund is the Episcopal Church's response to pain and suffering
in this country and around the globe," said Bishop Charlie
McNutt, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, "I rejoice that so
many Episcopalians take part in this ministry of hope through
their gifts."
           The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief is a major response by
the Episcopal Church to provide funds for the relief of
human suffering around the world through emergency relief, rehabilitation and
development. 

--BASED ON A RELEASE FROM THE PRESIDING BISHOP'S FUND FOR WORLD RELIEF.