Web Series Feature Partners in Myanmar and Friends in Illinois

June 22, 2010

This month’s installments of Episcopal Relief & Development’s web series, Power of Partnerships and Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development, are now available online.

June’s Power of Partnerships article focuses on the work of Episcopal Relief & Development’s partner in Myanmar/Burma, the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM). CPM is using an integrated approach to community development to improve lives. One element of their programming is a community buffalo bank—individuals participate in a rent-to-own process of two buffalo, using them to work the land and raising herds of livestock to sell. By fulfilling a commitment to give two young buffalo back to the bank, the participants create and expand a virtuous cycle of giving, enabling the entire community to lift itself out of poverty.

This month’s installment of Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development highlights the efforts of parishioners at Christ Church, Episcopal in Winnetka, IL, who held an innovative Lenten Talent Challenge this year. Through this creative fundraiser, individuals and groups in the congregation were given $100 and asked to channel their creative energy, finding a way to multiply the money. Their efforts were successful—a variety of great projects were completed and the church donated over $9,000 to support Episcopal Relief & Development’s micro-finance programs worldwide.

Find past installments of Friends of Episcopal Relief & Development and Power of Partnerships on our website. To learn more about and support Episcopal Relief & Development’s work, please visit www.episcopalrelief.org or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus’ words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.