American Jewish World Service To Assist Cyclone Victims In Bangladesh

New York (PRWEB) November 23, 2007 -- American Jewish World Service (AJWS) today announced that it is collecting financial contributions to assist victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh. AJWS (http://www.ajws.org) will distribute 100 percent of all funds it receives to local organizations in Bangladesh, a country of more than 150 million people and one of the poorest nations in the world.

Cyclone Sidr (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Sidr), which is being called 'the worst storm to strike Bangladesh (http://www.brac.net) in more than a decade,' has already led to more than 3,500 deaths and more than 273,000 homes destroyed. The organization's assistance to Bangladesh will come through a one-time emergency appeal. While AJWS does not have an ongoing grant program in the country, it has close relationships with the organizations it will support.

"Food supplies, drinking water, medicine and shelter are all critical in minimizing further loss of life," said AJWS spokesman Josh Berkman. "Through our work in the developing world, we've established a network of relationships that enables us to reach out to local organizations in Bangladesh who can ensure that our assistance, on behalf of the Jewish community, has impact."

An international development organization that funds grassroots NGOs in more than 36 impoverished countries, AJWS has been widely recognized for enabling the Jewish community to respond effectively to challenges in the developing world. Charity Navigator, the nation's leading independent evaluator of more than 5,000 non-profit organizations recently awarded the organization with a four-star rating, its top honor, for the seventh consecutive year. Only one other organization has received seven straight four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, which measures financial performance and efficiency.

Among the organizations in Bangladesh with whom AJWS will partner is BRAC (http://www.brac.net/usa/donate_now.php), a development organization that addresses poverty, illiteracy and disease. BRAC is carrying out extensive relief operations to provide medical care and humanitarian relief to affected villages.

Contributions can be made via AJWS here [https://donate.ajws.org/03/bangladesh_cyclone or by visiting BRAC's Web site directly: http://www.brac.net/usa/donate_now.php

About American Jewish World Service

American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is an international development organization motivated by Judaism's imperative to pursue justice. The organization is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer service, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development and human rights for all people, while promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.

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