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Jolie-Pitt Foundation Awards Second Grant to Global Action for Children

Posted on: Wednesday, 3 December 2008, 23:01 CST

Foundation Reconfirms Commitment to GAC's Work Advocating for Orphans and Highly Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Global Action for Children (GAC) announced a $100,000 end-of-year-grant from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. The grant will support GAC's efforts on an Emergency Presidential Initiative for the World's Children (EPIWC) in the new Obama administration, ensure children are not left off the agenda during the growing financial crisis, and help GAC continue its mission of making every taxpayer dollar more efficient in U.S. foreign assistance for children.

Ms. Jennifer Delaney, Executive Director for Global Action for Children stated, "GAC is honored to receive a second grant from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, and we greatly appreciate the Jolie-Pitt Family's continued commitment to and support of our work."

With the economic crisis at hand, poor children across the globe will be hard-hit by the reduction in charitable giving and scaling back of programs that help children. Basics like food, clothing, housing, and education will be even harder to access for the poorest and most vulnerable.

Ms. Delaney continued, "Helping impoverished children cannot be accomplished only by additional taxpayer dollars. The structure of U.S. assistance must be rethought so the bureaucracy can be 'smarter' and target emerging challenges. We urge the new Obama administration to reform foreign assistance and invest in the health and well-being of children in developing nations."

The Emergency Presidential Initiative for the World's Children calls for the coordination of all foreign AIDS programs that support children in developing countries to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently and reach as many children as possible. Ms. Delaney stated, "Establishing an executive-level office to oversee and coordinate foreign assistance programs for children in developing countries will ensure aid is spent on building healthy future civil societies, economic growth and political stability in developing countries --- not to mention fulfilling a critical U.S. public diplomacy goal." Approval ratings of the U.S. have been high in PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) beneficiary countries, but it does require leadership in the executive branch." The EPIWC calls for investments in child survival measures --- such as access to inexpensive lifesaving medicines and vaccines --- in early childhood development, basic education, and assisting orphans and children vulnerable to war, disease, pandemics, child labor, and sexual exploitation. All children, everywhere in the world, deserve the chance to grow up healthy and safe.

Ms. Delaney stated, "With the holiday season upon us, we hope the generous gift from the Jolie-Pitt Foundation inspires others to give and focus on assisting orphans and highly vulnerable children around the world. Each and every donation can truly make a difference in the life of a child."

Global Action for Children is a nonpartisan, results-oriented coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and highly vulnerable children in the developing world. GAC works to increase funding and ensure it is spent effectively so all children have the health care, education, food, and protection they need to grow up safe and healthy.

www.globalactionforchildren.org

SOURCE Global Action for Children

Source: PR Newswire

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