CBS-TV Haiti special features CWS, other FBOs

From "Lesley Crosson" <lcrosson@churchworldservice.org>
Date Wed, 1 Dec 2010 10:57:17 -0500

December CBS-TV Haiti special features CWS, other faith-based 
organizations



NEW YORK CITY, Nov. 30, 2010 -- Church World Service Haiti Program 
Manager Burton Joseph will be featured in "Haiti: Religion's Response 
to Disaster," a CBS Religion Special about the faith community's 
assistance to survivors of the devastating earthquake, to be 
broadcast Sunday, Dec. 5, on the CBS Television Network. (Please 
check your local CBS station for exact time.)

After a 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti in January 2010, some 
of the first responders were faith-based relief organizations. These 
faith-based groups continue to assist Haitian survivors on the long 
road to recovery.

The CBS program examines relief efforts begun immediately after the 
quake and the progress made by faith-based organizations. Members of 
Church World Service, Catholic Relief Services, Jewish Distribution 
Committee and United Methodist Committee on Relief will share stories 
about their work with viewers.

CWS's Joseph, who was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, assists 
Church World Service with getting children back to school in new 
buildings, aiding people with disabilities, and expanding the 
agency’s established rural food co-op program to serve quake 
survivors migrating to Haiti’s Artibonite area.

Also featured on the broadcast is Charisse Classman, a 
Washington-based legislative assistant for Catholic Relief Services.

Church World Service has worked in Haiti since 1954, providing 
disaster relief and sustainable development programs, in 
collaboration with local partners. Its current food security program, 
operating since 2005 in Haiti’s Artibonite and Northwest departments, 
helped families form farming cooperatives to mitigate the effects of 
chronic drought, poverty and food scarcity. 
 
John P. Blessington is executive producer and Liz Kineke is producer 
of "Haiti: Religion's Response to Disaster,  which was produced in 
cooperation with the National Council of Churches, the United States 
Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Islamic Society of North America, 
the Union for Reform Judaism and the New York Board of Rabbis.

A list of CBS-TV affiliate stations nationwide who will carry the 
special is regularly updated and viewable here, or see this PDF 
listing of stations and airtimes.
 
Media Contact: 
Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676, media@churchworldservice.org
Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526, jdragin@gis.net