wfn.org | U.S. Presbyterians Scored Big for Needy in 'Souper Bowl'

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

27-April-1999 
99171 
 
    U.S. Presbyterians Scored Big for Needy 
    in 'Souper Bowl' of Fund-Raisers 
 
    by Evan Silverstein 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -  Presbyterians coast-to-coast scored big for the hurting 
and hungry last Super Bowl Sunday by collecting more than $500,000 in soup 
kettles after worship services. 
 
    A total of 2,314 Presbyterian churches - nearly one-fourth of all 
PC(USA) congregations - from New York to California took part in the annual 
"Souper Bowl of Caring" fund-raiser on Jan. 31, generating $529,183 to help 
the less fortunate in their communities. Overall, churches in all 50 states 
and nearly as many denominations teamed up to raise more than $2.4 million 
in the program, which was begun by the youth fellowship of a single 
Presbyterian church. 
 
    "It is exciting to see such great Presbyterian participation,"said the 
Rev. Brad Smith, a Souper Bowl founder and associate pastor at Spring 
Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., where the event was first 
held in 1990. "We are grateful to God for every person from every church 
who joined together in this simple but significant act of caring and 
unity." 
 
    For the past decade, the effort has kicked off each January on Super 
Bowl Sunday, with young people standing at church doors asking congregants 
to contribute one dollar apiece before going home to watch the greatest of 
football games. The Souper Bowl has generated nearly $7 million since going 
national in 1993. 
 
    Churches visit an Internet site or call a toll-free number to have 
their congregation's totals included in a nationwide tally. Donations are 
sent directly to charities of each church's choice. Past recipients have 
included soup kitchens and food banks, Habitat for Humanity affiliates and 
international missions. 
 
    This year's Presbyterian participation, according to results released 
in April, represents an increase of 231 churches and $127,474 over 1998, 
when 2,083 Presbyterian congregations raised $401,702. 
 
    Nationally, 11,593 congregations reported giving $2,421,490 to help the 
needy through the 10th Souper Bowl effort, which represents growth of 3,000 
churches and $700,000 over last year's $1.7 million. 
 
    The states with the most Presbyterian congregations participating were 
Pennsylvania, 252; North Carolina, 162;  South Carolina, 158; New York, 
136;  Florida, 128; and Virginia, 128. 
 
    In all, more than 50 Presbyterian churches joined the team in each of 
16 different states. In addition to those above, Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, 
California, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Missouri and Michigan 
all had more than 50 Presbyterian churches participate. 
 
    In terms of total participation - not just Presbyterian - six states 
had more than 500 churches participating. Only two reached that number in 
1998. Leading the pack this year were Pennsylvania, with 1,190 
congregations, and South Carolina, with 872. 
 
    Smith said he hopes 20,000 churches will help bring in the new 
millennium by teaming up in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Jan. 30, 2000. 
 
    Churches that have not yet reported their totals, or who want more 
information, should visit www.souperbowl.com on the Internet or call 
800-358-SOUP(7687). 

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