Episcopal Relief and Development more than doubled its support for programs to relieve suffering, hunger, homelessness, and illiteracy during 2000. According to its recently released Annual Report, program related expenditures jumped from $4,972,000 in 1999 to over $11,151,000 in 2000.

The Annual Report is the first issued in the new name of the organization, Episcopal Relief and Development, which was formerly known as The Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief. "The new name reflects who we are and what we do," said The Rt. Rev. Robert G. Tharp, Chairman of the Board of Directors.

According to the report, over $8.6 million was spent in 2000 on emergency relief, rehabilitation, and long-term development to provide food, education, housing, health care, and more. Grants provided support for programs in 44 countries and 62 United States dioceses of the Episcopal Church.

Continuing its 60-year history of providing emergency relief, Episcopal Relief and Development awarded over $947,000 in 39 emergency relief grants. Thirteen of the emergency grants met needs in the United States, helping people suffering from floods, tornadoes, fires, and hurricanes. Originally formed as a response to the needs of refugees fleeing from war-torn Europe in 1940, the agency gave the rest of the emergency grants to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to assist refugees from wars and civil unrest, and to those suffering from drought, famine and disease.

The Annual Report documents rehabilitation activities supported by Episcopal Relief and Development, such as the $1.29 million spent in Kosovo to offer health care to reduce the infant mortality rate (the highest in Europe), to rebuild small shops, restore the agricultural sector, and teach children conflict-resolution skills.

It also includes a special section on Episcopal Relief and Development’s community development project in Honduras. Conceived as a response to the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, a new community of 200 homes, a school, medical clinic, community center, and church has been built for those who lost everything in the floods. This project in San Pedro Sula, called Faith, Hope, and Joy, is living up to its name.

Episcopal Relief and Development’s programs are made possible by contributions from individuals and from churches and dioceses throughout the Episcopal Church. Its programs of emergency relief, rehabilitation, and long-term development are geared to strengthen local communities in the United States and around the world.

For a copy of Episcopal Relief and Development’s Annual Report, please call 800-334-7626, ext. 5129, or send an e-mail to er-d@er-d.org.