ELCA partners with Jolie, Global Action for Children

by Annie Lynsen, ELCA News Service

Actress Angelina Jolie appeared at a news conference April 26 in
Washington, D.C., to announce the launch of Global Action for
Children (GAC), a coalition advocating for orphans and vulnerable
children around the world. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America is a member of the leadership council of GAC with 20
other faith groups and nonprofit organizations.

GAC is working to increase U.S. government funding by $2.5
billion a year for programs that support orphans and vulnerable
children, and that provide free primary school education in
developing countries. The news conference followed meetings of
Jennifer Delaney, GAC executive director, and Jolie with senior
officials at the U.S. Department of State to discuss policies and
funding that will support orphan and vulnerable children's
programs and access to education.

"We shape our future by the way we raise our children," said
Jolie, who serves as the honorary chairperson of the GAC board.
"And orphan children are the world's children." With Jolie at
the news conference were Delaney; Gene Sperling, senior fellow at
the Center for American Progress; the Rev. Mpho Tutu, Episcopal
priest and founder of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and
Pilgrimage; and Kay Warren, executive director of Saddleback
Church and wife of the Rev. Rick Warren, author. The panelists
issued a call to the American public to encourage the U.S.
government to support orphans and educate all kids for the future
by calling 1-888-731-KIDS.

Global Action for Children:
http://www.globalactionforchildren.org