“I have been fighting poverty for more than 30 years,” said Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International. “Throughout that time I have never seen the potential for devastation that I see in the current Global Food Crisis.”

While the United States continues to reel from the stock market’s plunge and the credit crisis, there are severe worldwide consequences to America’s economic woes that have been almost entirely ignored by the media. Compassion International is calling on Christian radio and ministry broadcasters to join in a global effort to set aside one broadcast day in 2009, March 11th, Global Food Crisis Day, to bring awareness to this urgent need.

“I am so excited that STAR 99.1 is part of eliminating the face of hunger in the world,” said Johnny Stone, program director and morning show host at WAWZ Star 99.1 which covers the New York City and New Jersey markets. “Nothing of this magnitude has ever been done before.”

“Average food prices around the world between 2006 and 2008 have risen at staggering levels” said Mark Hanlon, Sr. Vice President for Compassion International’s USA Group. “Rice during this time rose by 217%, wheat by 136%, maize by 125% and soybeans by 107%. While most of us here in America will commit to cutting coupons to offset costs, the poor will cut meals. These increases mean more than a tightening of the belt. It can literally affect their very survival.”

Compassion is uniquely positioned to provide immediate relief by transferring funds through their existing infrastructure and ensuring that those that need help most are helped first.

Radio stations interested in participating on March 11th can go to:
http://www.compassion.com/global-food-crisis/forradio.html

“My hope is that every domestic Christian radio station will participate with us,” says Wess Stafford. “We as the body of Christ have an obligation to ‘…help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as He has done for you.’” (Joshua 1: 14-15)

Compassion International, the world’s largest one-to-one child sponsorship organization, is working around the globe to permanently rescue children from poverty, not merely sustain them through it. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time serving more than 1 million children in 25 of the world’s poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children—enabling them to thrive not just survive. Compassion has been awarded seven consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America’s largest charity evaluator.