President Uchtdorf Presents $3 Million from LDS Church to Combat World Hunger
Contributed By Sarah Jane Weaver, Church News associate editor
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, gives a $3 million donation from the Church to Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in Rome, Italy, on July 17.
Article Highlights
- The funds will be divided by the World Food Programme to help refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Cameroon, and Chad.
“It was an honor to represent our worldwide members who donated these funds to help our fellowmen in despair." —President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency
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ROME, ITALY
In an effort to help combat hunger across the globe, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, presented a $3 million donation from the Church to the World Food Programme on July 17.
The donation was accepted by Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, and Sandy Westlake, head of partnerships in the Private Sector Division of World Food Programme, at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in Rome. The funds will be divided to help refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Cameroon, and Chad.
The donation follows other partnerships between the Church and the World Food Programme—a United Nations program aimed to eliminate acute hunger. LDS Charities partnered with the World Food Programme in 2014 to help those affected by the Ebola crisis and again in 2015 to alleviate hunger for those suffering from the drought in Ethiopia.
“It was an honor to represent our worldwide members who donated these funds to help our fellowmen in despair,“ said President Uchtdorf. “The amount of money given by our members is significant, but even more important is the love, the heart, and the compassion which are reflected by this generous gift to God’s children in need.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, with his wife, Sister Harriet R. Uchtdorf, left, visit with Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in Rome, Italy, on July 17. President Uchtdorf presented the World Food Programme with a $3 million donation to help refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Cameroon, and Chad.
“It is a true testimony of the desire to follow the Savior’s example and His teachings. Generously giving of our temporal means to those who have lost everything will be a blessing to all. Great blessings will also be ours by every simple act of kindness, support, and love to those afar and in our direct environment—even to those within our own communities and families.
“There is a hunger in this world. Many people hunger for temporal, emotional, and spiritual food. As members of Jesus Christ’s Church we can help in all of these fields.”
Every day, one out of nine people go without food and one in two are malnourished, according to the World Food Programme. In 2015, the organization distributed 3.2 million metric tons of food, directly providing food rations to 75.7 million people in 81 countries (62.6 million women and children). Each of the rations can support an individual for 195 days.
Bruce Muir, director of Church emergency response, said the World Food Programme has the largest transport network of any humanitarian organization, which allows them to take food directly to those in need.
Brother Muir said LDS Charities determined to make the donation after “looking at the needs.”
During his time in Rome, President Uchtdorf was accompanied by Elder Alessandro Dini Ciacci, an Area Seventy, and other local Church leaders.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, with his wife, Sister Harriet R. Uchtdorf, left, stand with Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in Rome, Italy, on July 17. President Uchtdorf presented the World Food Programme with a $3 million donation to help refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Cameroon, and Chad. Photo by Tyler Harris.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, with his wife, Sister Harriet R. Uchtdorf, seated at his right, visits with Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme, at the Marriott Grand Hotel Flora in Rome, Italy, on July 17. President Uchtdorf presented the World Food Programme with a $3 million donation to help refugees and internally displaced people in Syria, Cameroon, and Chad. Photo by Tyler Harris.
