ChurchWatch 11/25/08
Forbes Lists Operation Blessing as One of America's Best Charities
One of our holiday traditions as a family is to volunteer to help the poor and those in need during the holiday season. Every year, some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we volunteer in some capacity to help Operation Blessing to take food, presents and clothing to those in need here in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Last year, my kids and I worked at the Operation Blessing warehouse where we loaded bags with gift items and food. Later those bags were distributed throughout the community to poor people, including widows, orphans, the elderly, and those who have been less fortunate in life.
I have been blessed to work with Operation Blessing here in my local community, but I've also seen what they do across America and around the world. I helped distribute food, water and supplies in New Orleans with Operation Blessing after Hurricane Katrina. I traveled on two different occasions with OB to Appalachia. The first time we delivered food, clothes and Gospel tracts. Later, during an intense heat wave that killed many elderly people, we helped distribute water, fans and Bibles.
On another occasion, I was honored to cover a two-week medical mission to Puebla Mexico as a writer for OB's web site, www.OB.org. I was amazed to see the efficiency and care given by OB doctors, nurses and volunteers as hundreds of people received free medical, dental, and eye care -- all in the name of Jesus. Here are a couple of stories I wrote on that tremendous missionary journey.
Suffering People As Far as the Eye Can See
Love's Labor Not Lost
I have seen Operation Blessing in action, bringing hope to people in big cities and remote rural areas. And so it came as no surprise to hear that Forbes Magazine named Operation Blessing International (OBI) one of "America's 200 Largest Charities" as well as one of "America’s Most Efficient Charities".
In the 10th annual rating by one of the most respected business publications in America, OBI scored a perfect 100% rating in Fundraising Efficiency, one of the most-watched statistics that shows "the cut of gifts left after subtracting the cost of getting them." Only 18 of the top 200 charities earned this high mark.
Similarly, OBI scored 99% efficiency in Charitable Commitment, which "calculates how much of total expense went directly to the charitable purpose." OBI ranks well above the top 200 average of 85%.
Last month, OBI also earned its fourth consecutive 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator, a feat that only 6% of charities have achieved.
Also last month, the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked OBI as the 58th largest NGO and 9th largest international charity.
Bill Horan, the president of Operation Blessing, explained the significance of these achievements.
"In the world of business, fiscal efficiency is measured by how much a company can keep after expenses. In the world of charity, fiscal efficiency is measured by how much is given away after expenses. By keeping overhead low, and leveraging every dollar we receive, we assist an ever-increasing number of people and provide our donors with a healthy return on their investment.”
Operation Blessing International (OBI) is one of the largest charities in America, providing strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in 22 countries around the world on a daily basis.
In 2007, OBI responded to a record 20 disasters in 14 countries. Most recently, OBI mobilized teams and funded major relief and recovery efforts in Myanmar, the Sichuan Province of China, Rift Valley in Kenya, Bangladesh, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Darfur region of Sudan, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Indonesia, Mozambique and the Philippines. OBI has also made headlines as a first responder to U.S. hurricanes, floods and tornados as well as the tsunami disaster in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand.
In addition to directing major disaster relief efforts, OBI has often filled the role of logistical arm to organizations including the International Red Cross, the Salvation Army, UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Program. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 202.7 million people in more than 105 countries and 50 states, providing goods and services valued at over $1.4 billion to date.
This year, as your family celebrates the holiday season, I encourage you to look for ways that you can tangibly show the love of Jesus in your community. Volunteering for a local Operation Blessing outreach is a great way to make Jesus real to someone in your neighborhood.
Learn more about Operation Blessing.
Give to Operation Blessing this Christmas
Last year, my kids and I worked at the Operation Blessing warehouse where we loaded bags with gift items and food. Later those bags were distributed throughout the community to poor people, including widows, orphans, the elderly, and those who have been less fortunate in life.
I have been blessed to work with Operation Blessing here in my local community, but I've also seen what they do across America and around the world. I helped distribute food, water and supplies in New Orleans with Operation Blessing after Hurricane Katrina. I traveled on two different occasions with OB to Appalachia. The first time we delivered food, clothes and Gospel tracts. Later, during an intense heat wave that killed many elderly people, we helped distribute water, fans and Bibles.

Suffering People As Far as the Eye Can See
Love's Labor Not Lost
I have seen Operation Blessing in action, bringing hope to people in big cities and remote rural areas. And so it came as no surprise to hear that Forbes Magazine named Operation Blessing International (OBI) one of "America's 200 Largest Charities" as well as one of "America’s Most Efficient Charities".
In the 10th annual rating by one of the most respected business publications in America, OBI scored a perfect 100% rating in Fundraising Efficiency, one of the most-watched statistics that shows "the cut of gifts left after subtracting the cost of getting them." Only 18 of the top 200 charities earned this high mark.
Similarly, OBI scored 99% efficiency in Charitable Commitment, which "calculates how much of total expense went directly to the charitable purpose." OBI ranks well above the top 200 average of 85%.
Last month, OBI also earned its fourth consecutive 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator, a feat that only 6% of charities have achieved.
Also last month, the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked OBI as the 58th largest NGO and 9th largest international charity.
Bill Horan, the president of Operation Blessing, explained the significance of these achievements.
"In the world of business, fiscal efficiency is measured by how much a company can keep after expenses. In the world of charity, fiscal efficiency is measured by how much is given away after expenses. By keeping overhead low, and leveraging every dollar we receive, we assist an ever-increasing number of people and provide our donors with a healthy return on their investment.”
Operation Blessing International (OBI) is one of the largest charities in America, providing strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in 22 countries around the world on a daily basis.

In addition to directing major disaster relief efforts, OBI has often filled the role of logistical arm to organizations including the International Red Cross, the Salvation Army, UNICEF and the United Nations World Food Program. Founded in 1978, Operation Blessing International has touched the lives of more than 202.7 million people in more than 105 countries and 50 states, providing goods and services valued at over $1.4 billion to date.
This year, as your family celebrates the holiday season, I encourage you to look for ways that you can tangibly show the love of Jesus in your community. Volunteering for a local Operation Blessing outreach is a great way to make Jesus real to someone in your neighborhood.
Learn more about Operation Blessing.
Give to Operation Blessing this Christmas
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