World Vision hosts USAID Administrator for speech on faith and global development in 21st century

WHAT:		USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, faith & development speech at World Vision U.S. headquarters; convened by USAID Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives (acting director, Zeenat Rahman)
WHEN:		Tuesday, October 18, 2011, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. PST (12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST)
WHERE:		World Vision Headquarters (near Seattle, WA), 34834 Weyerhaeuser Way South, Federal Way, WA. Reporters can also listen via telephone by dialing: 888-669-2803 , code: 515-8544. Please direct any questions or problems dialing-in to World Vision VTC Desk at: 1-253-531-5665. In house, ext. 5665.
WHO:		USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah; welcoming comments by World Vision President, Richard Stearns (via satellite) and Sr. Vice President of Mobilization, Joan Mussa
WHY:		On Tuesday, October 18, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah will visit World Vision’s headquarters near Seattle, Washington to address nearly 800 staff in a speech on the critical role faith-based organizations play in addressing hunger, poverty and preventable diseases, and in responding to major humanitarian disasters like the current famine and drought crisis in the Horn of Africa. The worst drought in the Horn of Africa in over 60 years is affecting more than 13 million people — putting many at risk of death or starvation. To date over 30,000 children have died, and an additional 750,000 people at risk of death in the months ahead. In collaboration with World Vision and other leading aid agencies, USAID recently launched the FWD campaign — which stands for “famine,” “war” and “drought” — to highlight the three major issues at the center of this urgent humanitarian crisis and provide tools for Americans to take action and spread the word.

- END -

About World Vision:
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. The organization has worked with USAID for decades to bring health, HIV and AIDS, food security, emergency response, and other sectoral assistance to those in need around the world. In FY2010, World Vision implemented 109 USAID-funded projects in 39 countries, valued at $191.3 million. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. In the Horn of Africa, World Vision is working to reach 2.5 million drought-affected people with life-saving relief and long-term development through programs in nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, health and education. Visit worldvision.org/press for more.

About USAID:
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years. For more information about USAID's programs, please visit: usaid.gov. To read the USAID blog, see blog.usaid.gov.