wfn.org | UMNS# 05116-UMCOR receives $15 million for tsunami aid

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

UMCOR receives $15 million for tsunami aid

Feb. 24, 2005	 News media contact:   Linda  Bloom * (646) 3693759*  New
York {05116}

By Elliott Wright*

NEW YORK (UMNS) - A total of $15 million has been contributed to the
United Methodist Committee on Relief for post-tsunami recovery work in
the Indian Ocean region.

"We are extremely pleased, but we are not surprised," said Roland
Fernandes, treasurer of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries,
which is UMCOR's parent organization. "United Methodists are known for
their generosity in times of great human distress."

On Dec. 26, massive tidal waves, set off by an underwater earthquake,
devastated large land areas around the Indian Ocean. The nations of Sri
Lanka and Indonesia were hit hardest. Contributions began arriving at
UMCOR the next day and have not stopped.

The $15 million figure, as of Feb. 23, includes donations from all
sources-credit cards, checks sent directly to the agency and money
channeled through annual (regional) conferences of the denomination.

Fernandes said the tabulation of tsunami gifts is slowed by the
necessity of keeping that money separate from funds contributed to
UMCOR's many other projects.

Contributions for tsunami relief and rehabilitation can be made in a
variety of ways. Gifts may be placed in the offering plate of any United
Methodist church or sent to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New
York, NY 10115. Designate the contribution for "Advance #274305, South
Asia Emergency." For credit-card donations, call (800) 554-8583 or go to
MethodistRelief.org, which uses a secure server.

# # #

*Wright is the public information officer for the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries.

News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

********************

United Methodist News Service
Photos and stories also available at:
http://umns.umc.org