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For Immediate Release
OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
March 13, 2008
White House Compassion in Action Roundtable Highlights Partnerships with Faith-Based and Community Organizations to Combat Hunger at Home and Abroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives (OFBCI) today convened a Compassion in Action policy
roundtable, highlighting innovative policies and partnerships to
alleviate hunger in the U.S. and abroad. Hosted by OFBCI Deputy
Director Jedd Medefind and keynoted by U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Secretary Ed Schafer, today's event explored effective models for
Federal collaboration with faith-based and community organizations to
provide children and low-income individuals with access to food, a
healthful diet and nutrition education.
"The USDA has a long history of work with faith-based and community
groups to help those in need. These organizations play a vital role in
fighting hunger because they know the clients, know neighborhoods, and
know the needs," said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.
Convening policymakers, business leaders, philanthropists, government
officials and others, today's Compassion in Action roundtable featured
promising public-private partnerships with hunger relief organizations.
Among the featured speakers discussing domestic projects were
representatives from Angel Food Ministries, East Texas Food Bank and
Catholic Charities USA. Leaders from International Orthodox Christian
Charities, Planet Aid and World Vision focused on their actions to
combat hunger overseas.
"American generosity is often at its best through the service of caring
faith-based and community organizations that help address critical human
needs like hunger," said OFBCI Deputy Director Jedd Medefind. "This
Roundtable seeks to highlight, honor and grow the remarkable
partnerships that are reducing hunger both at home and abroad."
Additionally, Secretary Schafer described innovative USDA programs to
deliver food aid and humanitarian assistance to those in need both at
home and abroad. For example, the Food and Nutrition Service ensures
that low-income Americans, especially children, have access to healthy
food and nutrition education at schools, day care facilities, and in
their homes. Also, USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service works with a
variety of organizations, including faith-based and community groups, to
provide food aid around the world.
According to USDA, about 11 percent of all U.S. households faced hunger
at some time during 2005. Since 2001, funding for nutrition assistance
has increased by more than 50 percent, to $59 billion, demonstrating the
Bush Administration's unwavering commitment to help ensure Americans
have access to Americans in need of healthy food and adequate nutrition.
The generosity of the American people is also addressing hunger
overseas. In 2006 alone, the U.S. provided resources to help feed 70
million people in more than 50 countries through food aid, humanitarian
assistance programs, and agricultural support to newly emerging
democracies. Currently, the gap between recommended nutritional
requirements and purchasing power of the populations in the world's
poorest countries was more than 32 million tons in 2003.
President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative (FBCI) is built
from the conviction that the most effective way to address our
communities' great needs is to draw upon the unique strengths of every
willing community and faith-based partner. He launched the FBCI upon
taking office in January 2001, to strengthen America's nonprofit sector
and extend its work in partnership with government.
Since April 2006, the OFBCI has convened monthly Compassion in Action
policy roundtables to discuss issues of interest faith- and
community-based organizations and highlight honor the successes of
dedicated Americans helping their neighbors in need.
For more information on the OFBCI and the President's compassion agenda,
visit: /government/fbci/.
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