wfn.org | United Methodist Group Links With Actor, High School

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

CONTACT: 	Tim Tanton
{120}
		Nashville, Tenn. (615) 742-5473
March 2, 1998

Actor Martin Sheen, United Methodist group,
Catholic high school pool efforts 

by United Methodist News Service

	DAYTON, Ohio -- A United Methodist group has put a new twist on
connectionalism by joining hands with a Hollywood actor and a Roman
Catholic high school in what amounts to a chain reaction of ecumenical
work.
	Actor Martin Sheen, a Roman Catholic activist, is doing the
voice-over work for a key presentation at the United Methodist
Association of Health and Welfare Ministries' upcoming national
convention. The event is set for March 12-15 in Chicago.
	In return, the association will fund a one-year scholarship for
an African refugee student at the Dayton school.
	John T. Hoban, director of communications for the Dayton-based
United Methodist group, had wanted a "good name" announcer for the
audiovisual presentation. His search led him to Sheen.
"Martin Sheen was born and raised in Dayton," Hoban said. "His brother
is still on the staff at the local PBS TV station, and that's where I
got the lead on how to reach Martin.
"I felt I had kind of an open door, an entree to reach him," Hoban said.
At the same time, Sheen was being approached for help by the high
school. He put the two requests together and agreed to donate his
services to the United Methodist group in return for the organization
funding the scholarship.
Sheen will narrate the association's EAGLE Accreditation presentation,
which describes the programs and services of the 12 UMA member
organizations receiving EAGLE accreditation for 1998. The presentation
will be shown at the EAGLE Recognition Dinner Gala on March 13.
The EAGLE Accreditation Program is a quality enhancement program for
nonprofit organizations that provide older adult residential ministries,
children, youth and family services, and community-based ministries. It
emphasizes holistic care for residents/clients within a Christian
environment.
	The UMA has obtained funding for the scholarship from the Peter
D. and Eleanore A. Kleist Foundation, which has supported the work of
several United Methodist-related organizations. Hoban declined to
specify the dollar amount of the scholarship.
This is the first time the group has ever worked with a Roman Catholic
high school, Hoban said. The school preferred not to be named.
	Dayton-based UMA is a national network of 400 United
Methodist-related health care and human service organizations and
professionals.	

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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