Lutheran World Relief Announces $150,000 Matching Grant to Fight Food Crisis

    BALTIMORE, Aug. 15 /EMWNews/ -- Lutheran World Relief

today announced a $150,000 matching grant opportunity for gifts to its

"Fill the Bowl" campaign to fight the global food crisis.



    Thanks to the generosity of Paul and Barbara Denton, of Easton, Md.,

donations to LWR's Fill the Bowl campaign will be matched dollar for

dollar, until $150,000 in matching funds is reached.



    LWR launched Fill the Bowl this summer in response to a growing food

crisis around the world. Rising food prices in recent months have put even

basic staples like rice, corn and wheat out of reach for many, and the

crisis threatens to plunge millions of people into chronic hunger.



    "Many of the world's poorest people were already spending the majority

of their household income on food," said John Arthur Nunes, LWR's president

and CEO. "With such sharp price increases, families that were doing okay

are now teetering on the brink of hunger."



    LWR works in impoverished communities, where access to and availability

of food is a constant challenge. Much of the agency's work is focused on

improving rural communities' ability to produce their own food, both for

consumption and for income generation, making them less vulnerable to price

fluctuations. LWR also works to help rural people diversify their sources

of income, through small businesses and other avenues, resulting in more

stability and less dependence on farming.



    "We have been so blessed in our life, and we felt a strong desire to

give something back, to do something meaningful to help those less

fortunate," said Mr. Denton. "We hope that our gift will encourage others

to give so that, together, we can make a significant impact."



    "We are so thankful for the Dentons' gift," Nunes said. "Thanks to

them, and to those whose gifts will be doubled by their generosity, LWR

will be able to save many people from crippling hunger and accompany them

down the path to a better life."



    For more information about LWR's Fill the Bowl campaign, or to make a

donation, visit http://www.lwr.org/ftb.



    WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit

organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the

world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in

35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and

dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and

secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and

respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has

worked in international development and relief since 1945.



    Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church

in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals

and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social

responsibility.



    Media Contact: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802, [email protected]