wfn.org | Lou Rawls Featured in New Church World Service Public Service

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Lou Rawls Featured in New Church World Service Public Service Announcements

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- Church World Service will unveil a series of public 
service announcements featuring singer Lou Rawls.  The spots are designed 
to encourage people to give generously to help victims of disasters in the 
United States and globally.

The 30- and 60-second spots are scheduled to run nationally on radio and 
television by the end of the year.  They are part of Church World Service's 
ongoing campaign to remind current donors and potential new donors that the 
agency's work of disaster relief and recovery is a continuing task in a 
world where devastating hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and other 
disasters can turn people's lives upside down in a moment.

"We are honored to have a spokesperson who shares so deeply our commitment 
to reaching out with care and compassion to people in crisis" said the Rev. 
John McCullough, executive director and chief executive officer of Church 
World Service CWS).

"It is a measure of his own courage and his commitment to working to help 
people who have had their lives changed suddenly by disaster that Mr. Rawls 
enthusiastically recorded these appeals for us, even as his own life is 
being changed by illness."

It was recently announced that Rawls is being treated for cancer.

McCullough added that he and the people of Church World Service are holding 
Rawls "close in our prayers" and asked that others include Rawls in their 
prayers as he goes through this difficult time.

The public service announcements featuring the popular singer begin with 
images of disaster and later show scenes of recovery, with Rawls reminding 
people that Church World Service "helps people to put their lives back 
together."  The agency is leading recovery efforts in Indonesia, where one 
year ago a tsunami devastated large portions of the region, and in Pakistan 
where more than 1.5 million people lost their homes in the October 
earthquake.

Church World Service is the relief, development end refugee assistance 
agency of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations in the United 
States.  With more than 60 years experience in disaster relief, Church 
World Service is one of the first agencies called in times of national 
disaster.  The agency focuses on establishing and working with 
community-level long-term recovery organizations to assist vulnerable 
persons and communities.

Within the United States, in addition to helping communities respond to 
disasters Church World Service resettles refugees, promotes fair national 
and international policies, provides educational resources, and offers 
opportunities to join a people-to-people network of local and global caring 
through participation in CROP WALKS, the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program, and the 
"Gift of the Heart" Kit Program.  In addition, the Church World Service 
website offers information,interactive games, and alternative giving 
opportunities--at www.churchworldservice.org or www.buildavillage.org.

Worldwide, CWS works in partnership with indigenous organizations in some 
80 countries, to eradicate poverty and help people and communities become 
self-sustaining.

Audio and video copies of the public service announcements will be 
distributed to media outlets across the country for initial airing right 
after the Christmas holiday.

Media Contacts
Lesley Crosson, (212) 870-2676, lcrosson@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin - 24/7 - (781) 925-1526, jdragin

Lesley Crosson
Media Relations Officer
Church World Service
(212) 870-2676