Fighting Global Childhood Malnutrition is the Thrust Behind $44 Million in New Donations from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In partnership with CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Hellen Keller Intl, The Hunger Project and several other organizations across 30 countries, this year's $44 million in giving is on top of last year's $37 million dontated by the Church of Jesus Christ to World Food Programme (of the United Nations) and UNICEF’s No Time to Waste initiative, $32MM and $5MM, respectively.

In an effort to help alleviate the hunger-related causes behind the global deaths of over three million malnourished children each year, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints just announced it is donating $44 million to multiple charitable organizations dedicated to attack global childhood malnutritiuon by helping mothers and children in 30 countries.

According to its news release, the Church of Jesus Christ "... is giving $44 million to support the wide-ranging global hunger relief efforts of CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Hellen Keller Intl, The Hunger Project and several other organizations."

Examples of how these funds will be used include

• Helping women raise chickens, goats and bees, maintain gardens, and improve their children’s diets;
• Helping women maintain healthy pregnancies and improving outcomes so babies are more likely to have nutritious starts in infancy and early childhood; and
• Spreading public awareness on best practices for clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

According to the news release

"Half of all children globally suffer from essential vitamin and mineral deficiencies. These deficits stunt the growth and potential of the next generation."

“No humanitarian effort is more foundational to Christ’s Church than feeding the hungry,” said Camille N. Johnson, General President of Relief Society, the Church's organization supporting women around the world. "As we serve together, we extend the reach of Christ’s loving arms.”

Tim Prewitt, CEO of The Hunger Project, says that members of rural communities that work with his nonprofit know "a life without hunger is possible."

“We must remember that hunger is a cycle — an injustice passed from mother to child and perpetuated by systems of inequity," Prewitt said. "It can also be reversed. Collaborations such as our work with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are instrumental to supporting communities as they break that cycle.” (Emphasis added)

Last September, the Church announced it had donated $32 million to the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), what was described at the time as:

"the faith’s largest one-time contribution to a humanitarian organization."

In the press release announcing the donation from the Church, WPF announced it would use the funds to "... provide food and other critical assistance to 1.6 million of the most vulnerable people — including mothers and young children — in nine countries: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen."

In its 2022 Annual Report, highlights of the humanitarian efforts of the Church of Jesus Christ include

• $1.02 billion in humanitarian expenditures, that
• Supported nearly 3,700 humanitarian projects and
• Involved over 6.3 million hours of volunteer service
• Across 190 countries and territories around the globe.

“Providing life-sustaining relief for vulnerable mothers and children is an important part of the Savior’s work,” said Gérald Caussé, Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ. “We are grateful to collaborate with so many others who help alleviate hunger and poverty."

According to last week's news release,

"The humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints relieve suffering, foster self-reliance and provide opportunities for service. The Church follows the admonition of Jesus Christ to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and afflicted.

"The Church gives assistance without regard to race, religious affiliation or nationality. Aid is based on the core principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  I am a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, something I neither apologize for nor wear on my sleeve.

I do recognize, however, that there are some individuals who have apparently made it their respective missions to attack the Church because they do not feel it uses its resources appropriately as a charitable organization. Within boundaries guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America, such speech is within the rights of said persons, including (should they choose) to decry my decision to report on the Church's $44 million humanitarian donations of this summer, plus the $37 million donated by it last fall in similar efforts.

Nevertheless, $44 million in humanitarian donations is still $44 million, and in that regard, such news falls well within the purpose of Utah Money Watch to "... uncover and report on all aspects of the financial and monetary goings-on here in Utah, across every industry and in every region of the state."

Certainly, this focus includes humanitarian efforts, including those by the Church of Jesus Christ ... especially when we at Utah Money Watch can attach a dollar figure to such undertakings.  

To that end, thank you to all who support and encourage the efforts of Utah Money Watch.

David Politis

• Founder, Editor, & Publisher
• Utah Money Watch