Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America
3838 W. Cypress St
Tampa, FL 33607
813-876-7660
813-870-0826 fax
$75,000 Goal Established by
Thrivent before 2006 Hurricanes
Funds to Go to Florida-Bahamas Synod
By Shawn Goldberg
Florida-Bahamas Synod Staff Writer
26 January 2003 Updated
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has established a potential $75,000 disaster fund with the Florida-Bahamas Synod in advance of the 2006 hurricane season. Designated the Florida Care in Region Project, the Thrivent program is designed to address the critical first days of those surviving a hurricane.
“As we partner together in disaster response in the Florida region, we are trying to be proactive rather than trying to play catch up,” explained Mary Weibel, the Manager of Lutheran Community Services for the Florida Region for Thrivent, a partner in Lutheran Disaster Response. “Our hope would be that the synod would have funds for immediate relief for a disaster” instead of waiting for fund-raising to begin weeks after a hurricane.
Synod churches and members are being challenged to reach a goal of $50,000 in donated funds, which Thrivent will supplement according to a two to one ratio, totaling a potential $75,000. Ms. Weibel also indicated that the synod will have sole discretion of how these funds should be dispersed.
“Thrivent Financial is taking a wonderfully creative step in helping the Florida-Bahamas Synod to anticipate disaster needs for the coming year,” said the synod’s Bishop Edward R. Benoway. “Having funds available will assist us in making a quicker response to those who have immediate needs following a disaster.”
Congregations are required to have a minimum of six Thrivent associate or benefit members to organize a fund-raising project under this program. At the end of the project, a contribution check should then be made out to the Florida-Bahamas Synod designated for the Care in Region Project and sent to the synod office along with a Thrivent congregational report form (see link below) indicating the date of the local fund-raising project and the number of Thrivent members involved. As funds arrive, the synod office will provide quarterly reports to Thrivent for reporting purposes and to receive supplemental grants.
Individuals, churches and organizations who are not Thrivent members may also make donations directly to the synod for this fund.
“We are grateful for the partnership of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and encourage participation of our churches and members in this advance fund-raising effort for Lutheran Disaster Response.”
A bulletin insert promoting the program is available (see the link below) to all congregations to assist in their plans for fund raising.
For information contact Darlene Kaiser at Thrivent at 866-737-3442 or Darlene.kaiser@thrivent.com.
Click here for the Thrivent Care in Regions Bulletin Insert
Click here for the Thrivent Care in Regions
Spec Sheet
Click here for the Thrivent Care in Regions
Congregational Report Form