Loveland, CO (PRWEB) August 08, 2013 -- As millions of children attend Sunday school and vacation Bible school around the country this year, they’re doing much more than learning Bible stories. They’re also saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
This past year, Group Cares, partnered with Group Publishing and churches to raise $2.5 million—enough to purchase 400,000 mosquito nets. While the “Squash Malaria” campaign has been very successful over the past few years, the company expanded its efforts to other product lines in 2012 to shatter its own fundraising records.
Tim Gilmour, president of Group Cares, says the results have been unbelievable. “This project has been very fulfilling because these nets will directly save the lives of nearly 1 million children. The collaboration of Group’s vacation Bible school, Sunday school, and Lifetree café programs is the first time we have seen this type of broad involvement.”
Children played a major role in the fund-raising efforts. The “Squash Malaria” campaign is promoted through Group’s Operation Kid-to-Kid program, which has been a key component in the company’s vacation Bible school curriculum for many years. This past year, Group Cares increased its reach by including the fundraising efforts in 140 Lifetree Café locations across the country, as well as incorporating it into weekly Sunday school programming that reaches millions of kids in North America.
"Giving is a huge part of what we do at Group, and it’s exciting to see results that make a real difference in people’s lives,” Gilmour said. “We’re very encouraged by what happens when churches partner with our teams to work together for something truly life-saving."
Malaria kills nearly 2,000 children every day. The use of specially treated nets helps stop the spread of malaria for up to four years and each net can cover three children at a time. The Squash Malaria campaign raises money to buy the nets, which are distributed through Group Cares partner World Vision.
Group Cares is a non-profit, founded by Thom and Joani Schultz in 1977. The organization has assisted in repairing homes for more than 37,000 homeowners, donated hundreds of thousands of mosquito nets, helped children give to other children by providing hundreds of thousands of blankets to orphaned and vulnerable kids all over Africa, and given more than $1 million to local non-profits. Through donations of money, time, and effort, Group Cares has served hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
Group Publishing creates ministry experiences for Christian churches worldwide, including training events, mission trips, and faith-building resources such as books, curriculum, videos, and music for ministry to children, youth, adults, and families.
Tim Gilmour, Group Cares, http://www.groupcares.org, 800-385-4545, [email protected]
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