Adventist Development and Relief Agency International (ADRA) [Feb 4 06 Silver Spring MD USA]--ADRA works to improve the quality of life for people in developing countries through integrated community-based development and disaster preparedness and response activities that incorporate its five core portfolio activities. ADRA is the humanitarian affiliate of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As such, ADRA fulfills its objectives without regard to ethnicity, biographic origin, age, gender, or political or religious association. ADRA’s community development programs are comprised of a combination of five primary types of activities or core portfolios. In all programs, ADRA’s key operating principles include an emphasis on community ownership in all phases of an activity, strategies for equitable access to services by women and children, and emphasis on tailoring programs to specific local contexts in order to increase impact and mitigate cultural discomfort by partner communities. http://www.adra.org

African Methodist Episcopal Church Service and Development Agency, Inc. (AME-SADA) [Feb 4 06 Washington DC USA]--Service and Development Agency, Inc., the international humanitarian relief and development agency of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is committed to helping people help themselves, providing essential assistance to those in need through health, education and micro-enterprise programs; because we are our brother’s keeper. http://www.amecnet.org/sada/sada.htm

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC) [Feb 4 06 New York NY USA]--AJJDC works on behalf of the American Jewish community in over 50 countries outside of North America. The mission includes the rescue, relief and reconstruction of Jewish communities worldwide. Through its International Development Program, AJJDC conducts development and disaster relief activities on a non-sectarian basis. http://www.jdc.org

American Jewish World Services (AJWS) [Jan 12 06 New York NY]--AJWS is an independent not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 to help alleviate poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the world regardless of race, religion or nationality. It breathes life into Judaism's imperative to pursue justice and helps American Jews act upon a deeply felt obligation to improve the chances for survival, economic independence and human dignity for all people. The inspiration for AJWS' work is drawn from the demand for social justice expressed in traditional Jewish sources. AJWS is a Jewish response to the needs of communities throughout the globe, regardless of race, religion or nationality. The Torah makes it clear that it is a Jewish mandate to respond to the needs of the poor and needy, Jews and non-Jews, and even enemies who are in need. Doing tzedakah, righteous deeds, is part of the Jewish obligation to participate in tikkun olam - helping to repair the world. www.ajws.org/

Baptist World Alliance/Baptist World Aid (BWA/BWAid) [Feb 4 06 Falls Church VA USA]--Baptist World Aid (BWAid) works through Baptist communities around the world, mitigating suffering and providing long-range help for persons in need regardless of religion, nationality, tribe or class. BWAid also helps poor people avoid situations of famine and malnourishment and improve their capacity for self-help and wage earning. http://www.bwanet.org/bwaid

Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) [Feb 4 06 New York NY USA]--Founded in 1928 and rooted in the healing ministry of Jesus, Catholic Medical Mission Board works collaboratively to provide quality healthcare programs and services without discrimination to people in need around the world. http://www.cmmb.org

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) [Feb 4 06 Baltimore MD USA]--Catholic Relief Services was founded in 1943 by the Catholic Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and disadvantaged outside the country. It is administered by a Board of Bishops selected by the Episcopal Conference of the United States, and is staffed by men and women committed to the Catholic Church's apostolate of helping those in need. It maintains strict standards of efficiency and accountability. The fundamental motivating force in all activities of CRS is the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it pertains to the alleviation of human suffering, the development of people and the fostering of charity and justice in the world. The policies and programs of the agency reflect and express the teaching of the Catholic Church. At the same time, Catholic Relief Services assists persons on the basis of need, not creed, race or nationality. http://www.crs.org

Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) [Feb 4 06 New York NY USA]--Episcopal Relief and Development is a major response of the Episcopal Church to God's call to serve Christ in all persons, to love our neighbors, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Episcopal Relief and Development raises, receives, and disburses money and other resources for the relief of human suffering. Episcopal Relief and Development provides emergency relief in times of disaster; it assists in the rehabilitation of lives, property, and organizations; it initiates and joins in partnership with those who identify and address root causes of suffering; and it supports and extends the social ministry of the church. http://www.er-d.org