Thomas Nelson donations to World Vision multiply

Seattle, WA (March 07, 2012) —Children are dying in the Horn of Africa. Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti remain designated a humanitarian emergency, in spite of the area’s downgrade on international scales from a famine, with more than 9.5 million people still desperately needing help. And around the world, 22,000 children die each day due to preventable causes like hunger and diarrhea.

Thomas Nelson is responding. The Nashville publisher is helping to fund aid for children, aid that will soon have multiplied to more than half a million dollars. The mark will be passed near the end of its first year of partnership with World Vision, on March 31, 2012. World Vision, the international Christian humanitarian organization, is using the funds to help stop preventable deaths among children and, most recently, children affected by the drought crisis in the Horn of Africa.

World Vision reports that Thomas Nelson’s donation will help provide care for more than 24,000 individuals. The monies are helping to provide vaccines, clean water, nutritious food, basic hygiene and care, and much more.

“As a father myself, the thought of children suffering and starving breaks my heart,” says Gary Davidson, Thomas Nelson Senior Vice-President and Bible Group Publisher. “I think, ‘What if they were mine and I couldn’t feed them?’ This campaign connects directly to the heart of Thomas Nelson’s mission in the world. We believe we are here not just to sell Bibles, but to further God’s Word everywhere and to be an inspiration to others. Together, we can change the world.”

Mark Bowden, United Nations humanitarian coordinator, says the international community needs to keep helping in the Horn, according to MSNBC. He says the gains have been considerable, but are fragile, and only a temporary respite if international help slows.

Since April 2011, sales of Thomas Nelson Bibles in U.S. Christian stores have helped World Vision by donating a share of the publisher’s profits.* By the end of March, Thomas Nelson will have donated $112,500. When combined with grant funds and corporate donations, donations multiply nearly five times, to provide $540,000 in aid to children and their families. The program is called “Buy a Bible, Help a Child.”

“Through this extraordinary initiative, we’ve seen Thomas Nelson’s heart for children and commitment to the poor,” said Marcia Kuszmaul, World Vision’s senior director of channels marketing. “With one simple act, they are enabling their customers to provide lifesaving care for thousands of children and families around the world.”

>The promotion is part of Thomas Nelson’s “God’s Word in Action” campaign to inspire people to serve others in God’s name, whether through small or large actions. The campaign is based on Psalm 82:3: “Stand up for the poor and the orphan; advocate for the rights of the afflicted and those in need.” (The Voice).

Visit www.SeeGodsWordInAction.com for more information.

Thomas Nelson will keep helping, with a portion of its profits continuing to go to help those in need around the world.

* For every Thomas Nelson Bible purchased at a U.S. Christian retail store from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012, Thomas Nelson will donate to World Vision 10 percent of its year-over-year net revenue growth achieved during that period.

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews

About Thomas Nelson:
Thomas Nelson Inc. is the world’s largest Christian publisher. The company provides multiple forms of inspirational content including Bibles, books, eBooks, journals, audio, video, curriculum and digital applications for “smart” electronic devices, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. Visit www.ThomasNelsonCorporate.com and www.ThomasNelsonBibles.com for more information.

For image files, interview opportunities and more information, contact Julie Belschner