The Church Of God In Christ and Operation HOPE Collaborate to Deliver Financial Literacy to Youth and Adults

COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake and HOPE Founder John Hope Bryant Sign a Historic Partnership as Part of COGIC’s Urban Initiative

LOS ANGELES, CA–(EMWNews – August 18, 2008) – Empowerment nonprofit, Operation HOPE

(HOPE), has partnered with the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. (COGIC) to

bolster the denomination’s efforts to provide financial literacy to youth

and adults throughout its 6 million-member congregation nationwide.

Motivated by HOPE’s ability to deliver quality training to its immense

population, COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake sat down with HOPE

Founder, Chairman and CEO, John Hope Bryant to sign a historic memorandum

of understanding, (MOU) during the Auxiliaries In Ministry Convention in

Detroit on July 1, 2008.

This partnership will play a significant role in COGIC’s Urban Initiative,

a 5-point program covering 1) education, 2) employment, 3) crime reduction

and prevention, 4) strengthening family values and 5) financial literacy,

centered on improving the quality of life in underserved communities.

“I realize the importance of financial literacy in the advancement of a

person’s life. This part of the COGIC Urban Initiative will help our people

gain those so needed skills and this partnership is critical to making our

mission a success,” said Bishop Blake.

Through the national MOU, HOPE’s free financial service products, which

include the Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline, a service to help homeowners

resolve subprime mortgage issues, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) awareness

and qualifications, first time home-buying assistance, credit management

and financial goals achievement. The classes and seminars will also

include youth and young adult financial literacy conducted by Operation

HOPE employees and volunteer COGIC members who will be trained by HOPE.

John Bryant said, “I am pleased to sign this historic agreement with a

special visionary, community leader and the presiding Bishop of more than

12,000 churches, who is also a person I have admired for 20 years. This

strategic alliance will improve the lives of individuals throughout the

United States by helping them make informed financial decisions, save for

the future and also enhance economic activity in their communities.”

About COGIC

The Church Of God In Christ is the fourth-largest Protestant religious

denomination in the United

States with an estimated membership above 6.5 million members. COGIC

headquarters are

located at Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee.

About Operation HOPE, Inc.

Operation HOPE is America’s leading nonprofit social investment banking and

financial literacy empowerment organization. With more than 400 private

sector partners, 1500 nonprofit organizations and schools, and 100

government partners in 30 major U.S. cities as well as South Africa,

Operation Hope has raised more than $400 million in it’s pursuit of

educating, assisting and inspiring the next generation of global

stakeholders. Through international initiatives and its three principal

programs: Banking on Our Future (teaching school children about money),

HOPE Coalition America (Mortgage HOPE Crisis Hotline, 888-388-HOPE,

financial emergency preparedness and disaster relief), and Walk-In HOPE

Centers (loans, bill pay, computer literacy, understanding banking

principles) Operation HOPE has assumed the responsibility of piloting the

Silver Rights Movement towards making free enterprise and capitalism

relevant to all underserved communities.