Episcopal News Service March 9, 2007
New partnership will fight malaria, other preventable diseases
MDG Inspiration Fund set to raise $3 million by 2009
By Daphne Mack
[ENS] The recent approval of a resolution by the Episcopal Church's Executive Council helped form a unique partnership between Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD), Jubilee Ministries, and the council, named the MDG Inspiration Fund, which is set to raise $3 million by 2009 to fight malaria and other preventable diseases.
"ERD has established the MDG Inspiration Fund as a result of Executive Council's passing of the EC-006 Resolution," said Robert W. Radtke, ERD president.
Over the next two years, the council has designated $924,000 and ERD will identify additional contributions to reach a goal of $1 million for the Fund. The $1 million will be used to "inspire" individuals, congregations and dioceses to contribute $2 million with the aim of raising a total of $3 million by 2009.
Adopted by the world's leaders in 2000, the core objective of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to halve the number of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Further information: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals.
Monies from the MDG Inspiration Fund will be used to fight malaria, which is an objective of MDG #6, along with HIV/AIDS and other preventable diseases. Malaria is an easily treatable disease and is a high priority for many of ERD's partners in the Anglican Communion. Although the program specifically targets MDG #6, several additional MDGs are relevant to malaria prevention.
"The most important thing about the Fund is that it will address many of the MDGs and reach out to our greater population who are voiceless and in need," said Hisako Miyazaki Beasley, a council member from the Diocese of Olympia in Province VII.
Full story and photo:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_83309_ENG_HTM.htm
-- Daphne Mack is staff writer for Episcopal News Service.
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