ECHO Press Release Archive

58: Alliance Announced

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

UNPRECEDENTED INITIATIVE LAUNCHED TO END EXTREME POVERTY BY 2035

58: unites major anti-poverty organizations, leaders, and churches around historic
goal

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO – Today, ten leading Christian anti-poverty
organizations announced the launch of “58:” – an unprecedented alliance of global
Christians, churches and faith-based poverty-fighting organizations working
together to end extreme, global poverty by 2035. To achieve this ambitious goal,
58: aspires to become the largest, most unified effort ever by the global Church
to help the 1.4 billion people living on less than $1.25 a day – a revolutionary,
worldwide response to the call of Isaiah 58.

The 58: Initiative is founded on the Bible’s call to care for the poor and the shared
conviction that the global Church has the capacity to relegate extreme poverty to
the history books. Uniting under the common banner of 58:, the ten international
organizations provide a conduit to support thousands of small, local organizations
and churches doing work in more than 50 developing countries. Collectively they
represent more than $800 million in annual operations.

The organizations, together with major churches, leaders, ministries, and committed
Christians, believe that a return to the biblical call to care for the poor, a unified
vision within the Church, and compelling evidence of progress provide a historic
moment for the Church to lead the way in ending extreme poverty.

The evidence includes:

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The percentage of people living in extreme poverty has already dropped
from 52% to 26% in a span of only 24 years
A 50% drop in child mortality rates in the past three decades
600 million people gained access to clean drinking water since 1990
Rapid and broad declines in malaria rates
Expanded use of vaccines that are saving hundreds of thousands of children
Significant declines in HIV infection rates and AIDS-related deaths

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To build upon this momentum and finish the work of ending extreme poverty, 58:
points to the staggering resources already in the hands of Christians. Conservative
estimates record 138 million church-attending Christians in America alone, with
a collective annual income of $2.5 trillion dollars. Economists estimate that –
with economically-sound investments – even a slight upward nudge in Christian
generosity or reallocation of church budget priorities would provide sufficient

resources to bring an end to extreme global poverty within 25 years.

In fact, there is a growing sense that churches and Christians are already shifting
those priorities.
“In the last ten years we have witnessed an incredible shift in the American Church
as millions of Christians are now engaging with the issues of poverty and injustice,”
explains Peter Greer, President of Hope International. “It is a groundswell of serious
new intentions that will radically impact extreme poverty.”

Dr. Scott Todd, Senior Advisor at Compassion International and one of the architects
of 58:, is seeing the momentum: “The question now is not, ‘Can we end extreme
poverty?’ The question is, ‘How fast?’” We are half-way there. Generosity and new
engagement by the Church can propel us to the finish line. We believe 58: will
unleash the Church’s massive potential for action.”

The ten organizations that form the “58: Council” are:

• Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - focused on the strategy of
community development
• Compassion International - focused on the strategies of child and leadership
development
• ECHO - focused on the strategy of food security
• Food for the Hungry - focused on the strategy of food security
• HOPE International - focused on the strategy of microenterprise development
• International Justice Mission - focused on the strategy of justice for victims of
violent oppression
• Living Water International - focused on the strategy of safe water
• Micah Challenge - focused on the strategy of aid and policy
• Plant With Purpose - focused on the strategy of environmental stewardship
• World Relief - focused on the strategy of disaster relief

Three years in development, 58: and its Council members are also introducing new
platforms and content to equip churches and individuals for action. These include:
• LIVE58.ORG (www.live58.org), an online action-based global portal that
invites individuals and groups to directly impact those living in extreme
poverty
• FAST LIVING - HOW THE CHURCH WILL END EXTREME POVERTY, a new
book by Dr. Todd releasing on September 1st.
• THE POOR WILL NOT ALWAYS BE WITH US, a compelling ten-minute film
• 58:, a feature-length documentary film slated to be released on television,
iTunes, DVD, and direct to churches this October.

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To schedule an interview, please contact press@live58.org or Genevieve Ebel at
804-301-6788.

Saint Marys United Methodist Church Foundation

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Press Release

November 21, 2010

The Board of Directors of the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. has approved grants for the Fall 2010 Grant Cycle. Grants totaling $852,554 will be made available to 13 charitable organizations the week of December 6, 2010. The following is a brief description of each recipient and the purpose of the grant.

Open Door Community House (www.opendoorcommunityhouse.org)

A $65,000 grant to Open Door Community House in Columbus, Georgia to support the organization’s fiscal year 2011 operating budget. Open Door is an agency of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and provides a number of social services to low and moderate-income residents of Muscogee County, Georgia. Services include case management for homeless women, programs for children, youth and senior citizens, a clothing ministry, a community parenting program, a GED program, a transition home for women in crisis and a showering program for the homeless.

The Georgia Center for Nonprofits (www.gcn.org)

A $75,000 grant to the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to further assist in improving the capacity and effectiveness of nonprofits in Camden, Glynn, Charlton and Brantley counties. This represents the first of a three-year commitment to this program, with the second and third year of funding being issued as challenge grants. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to serve, strengthen and support local nonprofits by providing them with information, nonprofit management and business skills training, consulting, technology, insurance and employment services.

Society of St. Andrew (www.endhunger.org)

A $50,000 grant to the Society of St. Andrew to support fiscal year 2011 operating expenses for the regional gleaning office located in Tifton, Georgia. The Society of St. Andrew is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church which distributes millions of pounds of food annually to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, churches for local distribution and individuals.

Coastal Medical Access Project (CMAP) (www.cmapga.org)

A $65,000 grant to provide for operational expenses for fiscal year 2011. CMAP clinics are located in Brunswick and Kingsland, GA and provide access to medical service, free pharmaceuticals and chronic disease case management and serves the uninsured and under-insured residents of Camden, Charlton and Brantley counties.

America’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia (www.helpendhunger.org)

A $50,000 challenge grant to America’s Second Harvest in Brunswick, Georgia to provide operational support for the Brunswick, GA warehouse. America's Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia was established in Savannah in 1981 to provide hunger relief services to 21 counties in coastal Georgia. The food distribution warehouse located in Brunswick, Georgia serves southeast Georgia including the four counties of Camden, Glynn, Brantley, and Charlton.

Communities in Schools of Glynn County (www.cisofglynncounty.org)

A $38,554 grant to Communities in Schools of Glynn County to support a volunteer coordinator position for “Focus Graduation” in the 2011 / 2012 school year. Communities in Schools brings adults into the schools to help address children’s unmet needs, providing a link between educators and the community. The program provides before-school academic support programs, incentives, case management, parental engagement / family support services and on-site program coordination in hopes of preventing at-risk students from dropping out of school.

The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (www.ferstfoundation.org)

A $38,000 partial challenge grant to the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy to provide funding for a program which partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to send out age appropriate books to children ages birth to 5 years old at no cost in Camden County. $19,000 of the grant would be awarded initially with the remaining $19,000 provided as a challenge grant. The organization encourages children to dream through reading and encourages parent involvement to achieve early school success with the goal to assist every child to be reading ready before entering kindergarten.

Coastal Counseling Center (www.coastalcounselingcenter.org)

A $65,000 grant to the Coastal Counseling Center in St. Marys, Georgia to provide operational support for fiscal year 2011 and assist with funding for national accreditation. Coastal Counseling Center provides mental health and substance abuse services for adults in Camden County promoting hope, help and healing through counseling in a professional, community-based, caring environment. Services are provided on a sliding scale fee that is relative to a family’s income level.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (www.secgafca.org)

A $25,000 challenge grant to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to provide salary support for a Fellowship of Christian Athletes representative in Camden County. This represents the second and final year of a two-year commitment to this program. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an interdenominational organization promoting positive, Christian principles to individuals around the world. It conducts programs through over 200 field offices in rural, suburban and urban areas spreading the Gospel to young people in junior high, high school and college.

Valdosta State University Wesley Foundation (www.vsuwesley.com)

A $30,000 challenge grant to Valdosta State University Wesley Foundation to support the Intern Program. This represents the second of a three-year commitment to this program. Valdosta State University Wesley Foundation is an agency of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Their mission is to minister to students on campus and to further the Kingdom of God in the area He has called people to. They aim to make disciples of Jesus Christ who live with the resolve to love both God and people and they seek to educate and equip emerging young adults to live lives manifesting both personal and social holiness.

United Way of Camden and Charlton Counties (www.uwocc.org)

A $31,000 grant to the United Way of Camden and Charlton Counties to provide funding for the implementation of a 211 information system for Camden County. This represents the third and final year of a three-year commitment to the project. The 211 system is an easy to remember telephone number that connects callers to information about critical health and human services for every day needs and in times of crisis. The system is also web based so individuals as well as service providers can seek and update information online.

ECHO (www.echonet.org)

An $80,000 grant to ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Ft. Myers, Florida to establish regional offices and create formal partnerships in East and West Africa to make the agricultural resources of ECHO more accessible. This represents the third and final year of a three-year commitment to this project. ECHO is a Christian organization established in 1981 to strengthen the ministries of missionaries and national churches as they work with small rural farmers and urban gardeners in developing countries.

Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org)

A $240,000 grant to Church World Service to support an expansion of the Africa Initiative - Giving Children Hope Program in East and Southern Africa. This grant represents the final grant of a 3-year partnership between Church World Service and the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation referred to as the Africa Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to protect the rights of and to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children living in the countries of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, war and famine that they may be empowered to manage their own well being and the stability of their families, to participate in the social and economic development of their communities, and to live in the shelter of hope. The initiative will reinforce the capacity of and support the expansion of church and related organizations to build child-centered programs and networks.

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. was organized in January 2001 to support the charitable activities of the St. Marys United Methodist Church.

Additional information about the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.smumcfoundation.org or by calling 912-510-9350.

Jeff Barker

President

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. “Passport to the World” Sponsor

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. joins ECHO’s “Passport to the World” event as Program Sponsor

Fort Myers, Florida, November 5, 2010— Fasten your seatbelts, passengers, we are headed to Tuscany thanks to Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A. The Southwest Florida firm has joined with ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) as a Program Sponsor to bring one of a series of four films to the Fort Myers area.

ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) hosts its annual Passport to the World Film Series from January 21 through March 11. This series of four travel-adventure films will be shown at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and narrated live by each film’s award-winning director.

The series will begin with Burma & Cambodia on January 21^st; Sahel: A West African Journey on February 4^th; Inside the Tuscan Hills on February 18^th; and will conclude with The Silk Road: Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan & Turkey. Bring your sense of adventure as you learn about these exotic locations!

Tickets include a full lunch buffet as well as reserved seating for the shows. Season tickets and individual show tickets are available.

Danielle Flood, ECHO’s spokesperson shares, “I love these shows because you can literally get a first-person look at a country that you may never get to visit, and a great meal too. I also love that all the proceeds from this event fund ECHO’s Internship Training program that allows individuals to spend a year on the farm learning about tropical agriculture and then go to developing countries and share what they have learned. ”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact ECHO at 543-3246.

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative options, and networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries. ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL.

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Get Your "Passport to the World"

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Get your “Passport to the World” without Leaving Lee County

Fort Myers, Florida, November 1, 2010— ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) hosts its annual Passport to the World Film Series from January 21 through March 11. This series of four travel-adventure films will be shown at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and narrated live by each film’s award-winning director.

Tickets include a full lunch buffet as well as reserved seating for the shows. Season tickets and individual show tickets are available.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact ECHO at 543-3246. Sponsorship opportunities are also available! Contact Danielle Flood for more details!

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ECHO Display in Northwest Regional Library Features Life-sized Shack

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Cape Coral, Fla. October 20, 2010—This Fall, the Cape Coral Northwest Regional Library has chosen Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization to display for six weeks in their 800-square-foot display area, the only exhibition space in the entire Lee County Library System.

The space features a life-size shack modeled after homes seen all over the developing world as well as simple gardens, tools, water purifiers and cooking implements. ECHO is conducting weekly seminars on various topics throughout the display. You are invited to come and hear ECHO staff members share with the community!

Presentations will be offered on the following days:

Oct 26, 2010 - 3pm - "Understanding the Three Gardening Seasons in SW Florida" by Dr. Martin Price, Co-Founder of ECHO

Nov 3, 2010 - 3pm - "Volunteer Locally and Impact Globally" by Marilyn Acton, ECHO Librarian and Jess Jameson, Bookstore & Nursery Associate

Nov 9, 2010 - 6 pm - "Moringa: Great Potential for You and the Subsistence Farmer" - Stan Doerr, ECHO CEO & Beth Doerr, Intern Manager and Agricultural Consultant. They both have many years of international agricultural experience.

“The display was created at ECHO by agricultural consultants who have years of experience working in developing countries all with the goal of sharing the current state of world hunger with our community. It will include hands-on pieces, like a working worm compost bin that will be interesting and educational for both for kids and adults,” says Cassie Moretz, Tour Manager and Chairperson of the project.

For more information, please contact ECHO at 239.543.3246.

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Rare Fruit Tree Sale

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Sunday, May16, 2010

RARE FRUIT TREE SALE

The Manatee Rare Fruit Council's Twenty-second Annual Rare Fruit Tree sale will be held at the Manatee Civic Center in Palmetto. Sale hours are from 10 am to 4 pm. More than 3000 plants of all varieties and sizes will be offered at reasonable prices. Many additional plant related items will also be sold, including the Council's specially formulated Fruitilizer plant food. Nurserymen from all parts of Florida will offer best varieties of every kind of fruit tree at this once-a-year event. Add edible landscaping to make a yard that is beautiful, productive and enjoyable. Free admission, free parking, free expert advice and assistance are available.

Tree Sale profits are allocated primarily to MRFC's Rare Fruit Exhibit being developed at Bradenton's Palma Sola Botanical Park. In the past year, after extensive site preparation and planning, a weedy, undeveloped half acre at the Park has become a display of more than sixty choice fruit trees, which will grow to be the premier display of fruiting plants and trees in Southwest Florida. MRFC is committed to the ongoing development and maintenance of this resource for years to come.

In-depth information about MRFC can be found at www.mrfc.org. The site contains member application information, articles about fruiting plants, and a searchable archive of MRFC newsletters. and articles. For further information, contact Pete Ray, phone (941) 776-0222 or email pray0222@verizon.net.

MRFC's monthly meeting is held at the Manatee Fairgrounds on the 2^nd Monday of each month at 7 PM, featuring knowledgeable speakers and a Tasting Table of unusual fruits and recipes. Visitors and guests are welcome and encouraged.

Questions? Contact:

Betty Kearns

Tree Sale Chairperson

MRFC

941-723-9879

bkearns644@aol.com

Moorings Presbyterian Church of Naples Funds Construction of Gazebo at ECHO

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Moorings Presbyterian Church of Naples Funds Construction of Gazebo at ECHO

Fort Myers, Fla., March 5, 2010— The Moorings Presbyterian Church recently presented ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) with a $5,000 check to fund the construction of a gazebo for the new location of ECHO’s Tropical Fruit Nursery currently in the planning stages at ECHO.

This new location for ECHO’s Tropical Fruit Nursery will enable ECHO to better serve its customers, while providing tourists and visitors the opportunity to view and purchase the nutritious plants that are saving lives all over the world.

“We appreciate the partnership with Moorings Presbyterian Church”, states Bill Hooth, ECHO’s Church Relations Coordinator. “Its gifts like these that have enabled us to continue to provide agricultural options to the poor in over 180 countries around the world.”

Since 1989, the Moorings Presbyterian Church in Naples, Florida has been supporting ECHO’s efforts to reduce hunger and improve the lives of the poor. ECHO works with over 3,000 organizations to equip them with agricultural resources and skills to grow food in some of the most difficult areas of the world.

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable solutions to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative ideas, and networking. By networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries, ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in Fort Myers, FL.

Record rainfall doesn't stop visitors from flocking to Farm Day

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0700

Fort Myers, Fla., March 13, 2010—Just hours after record rainfall for the month of March, ECHO opens it's doors to record attendees during it's annual Farm Day! Visitors drove from as far as Jacksonville to attend this year's event. Farm Day is held in North Fort Myers at ECHO Global Farm, the headquarters for local nonprofit Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization.

Having to scramble for last minute parking was only one of the challenges caused by yesterday's deluge! Other challenges included postponed set up and rescheduled volunteer training. You wouldn't know it from the scene today, though! Teeming with people, ECHO's Farm Day seems to be a huge hit!

Visitors are enjoying sugar cane juice fresh from the cane, Freshly hand-ground peanut butter, gardening workshops such as "Jump-start your Garden with Containers" and "Food Plants in the Landscape", tours of ECHO's 40+ variety Bamboo courtyard and Tropical Fruit Tree Arboretum and Children's activities such as "Paint-a-pot, Plant-a-seed" and "Leaf Printing."

"We received more rain on the farm yesterday than I have ever seen in March!" states ECHO CEO Stan Doerr. "But with a few last minute adjustments and with today's beautiful weather, Farm Day is just as successful as we expected! We are so pleased to have such a crowd!

Farm Day will last from until 3pm today. Tickets are just $5.

This community event is made possible by ECHO’s generous sponsors, including a new major sponsor The News-Press, LCEC, Travis Reprographics, First Bank, Sun Harvest Citrus, Fafco Solar, Vic’s Painting, Rotary of Cape Coral North, Costco and Walmart.

Farm Day 2010 Teaches Locals to Grow Their Own Food

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Fort Myers, Florida, February 11, 2010— ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) hosts its annual Farm Day on March 13, 2010 from 9am to 3pm. Visitors will enjoy tours, workshops, demonstrations, food and fun as they learn how subsistence farmers live around the world.

Discount admission tickets to the 19^th annual ECHO Farm Day are on sale now at the ECHO bookstore and gift shop at 17391 Durrance Rd. in North Fort Myers. The tickets are $3.00 per person, 12 and under are free. You may also purchase tickets the day of the event for $5.00 per person, 12 and under free.

Spend the day at a 50-acre Global Farm and tour a tropical rainforest demonstration, the 300+ variety seed bank, participate in the Global Hunger Forum, take an educational tour of the bamboo courtyard where over 35 varieties are displayed, or learn about alternative energies as they are demonstrated in the appropriate technology area.

Stan Doerr, ECHO President/CEO states, “One of the workshops, Food Plants in the Landscape, will demonstrate how you can easily substitute nutritious plants into your porch or backyard. Whether you have a large yard or a small patio, growing your own food is easy, affordable and almost necessary, especially in this economy.”

There is something for everyone at ECHO’s Farm Day! This community event is made possible by ECHO’s generous sponsors, including a new major sponsor The News-Press, LCEC, Travis Reprographics, First Bank, Sun Harvest Citrus, Fafco Solar, Vic’s Painting, Rotary of Cape Coral North, Costco and Walmart.

For more information, please contact ECHO at 239.543.3246.

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St. Columbkille Catholic Church Honored for Giving

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

St. Columbkille Catholic Church Honored for Giving

Fort Myers, Fla., December 3, 2009—St. Columbkille Catholic Church was honored on December 1^st with the “Bethel Society Award” for lifetime giving to a local charity ECHO or ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization). The Bethel Society Award pays tribute to churches who have supported ECJP through contributions totaling over $50,000. St. Columbkille is one of only 5 churches out of over 800 who have reached that milestone.

Through their thrift store located in the Iona McGregor area, St. Columbkille has supported ECHO since 2003, and provides a number of volunteers as well.

Over 400 individuals from all over Southwest Florida volunteer at ECHO in various capacities, such as farming, nursery, seedbank, tour guides and clerical work, providing over 52,000 volunteer hours per year.

About: ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) provides sustainable options to world hunger through agricultural training, innovative ideas, and networking. By networking with community leaders and missionaries in 180 developing countries, ECHO seeks to find agricultural solutions for families growing food under difficult conditions. ECHO’s international headquarters is located in North Fort Myers, FL.

Above photo: St. Columbkille Volunteer Thrift Store Managers accept plaque honoring their giving to ECHO.

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