Nastia Liukin teams up with World Vision, local volunteers to reach out to Hurricane Ike survivors

Houston, October 10, 2008—As Houston and Gulf Coast communities continue to recover nearly one month after Hurricane Ike struck, Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin will visit hard-hit communities today with international humanitarian organization World Vision.

A winner of five medals in Beijing, gymnast Liukin hopes to give back to communities in her native Texas still reeling from Hurricane Ike’s crushing blow.

Liukin will meet with affected families and do home repairs alongside staff and volunteers from Houston’s Gloria Dei Lutheran Church—a partner organization in World Vision’s relief and recovery efforts. World Vision has provided Gloria Dei and dozens of other local church and community partners with new, top-quality clothing, personal hygiene items, children’s books, cleaning supplies, and other essentials, which the partners have distributed to families in need.

“We appreciate Nastia’s concern for families on the margins for whom this disaster is still very real. Much of the attention on Hurricane Ike has died down but many people continue to struggle,” said World Vision president Richard Stearns.

WHO:	Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin
WHEN:	Friday, October 10, 2008
9:30 am	Liukin departs Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Gloria Dei Lutheran Church 18220 Upper Bay Road Houston, Texas 77058
10:00 – 1:00 pm	Liukin dons respirator, hard hat to help family repair hurricane damage

Nearly one month after Hurricane Ike made landfall, significant needs remain in Galveston and surrounding communities—particularly for families who were already economically stressed. The public can help by donating gifts of cash at worldvision.org or 888.56.CHILD.

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Media contacts:

Karen Kartes, World Vision, 206.351.4315 or kkartes@worldvision.org
Vince Parks, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 713.306.9879

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.