World Vision's voice for Children-in-Crisis to speak in Eugene

April 12, 2005 - India Partners is honored to announce that Steve Stirling, Children-in-Crisis Advocate from World Vision in Federal Way, Washington, will be a guest speaker at its annual banquet on Saturday, April 16 at the Valley River Inn. As World Visions' "voice" for children in third world countries, particularly disabled children, he travels extensively throughout the world.

As a youngster in Korea, Steve was stricken with polio and at the age of six was left outside a local orphanage which had been opened by Bertha & Harry Holt, founders of Holt International in Eugene. A few years later, he was adopted and brought to the United States. As an adult, he obtained his MBA in Marketing & Finance at Northwestern University.

He now serves on the Board of Directors for Holt International and works for World Vision, the organization that helped start the orphanage that saved his life 43 years ago.

The Eugene banquet will be held at the Valley River Inn on Saturday, April 16th at 6:30 p.m. A number of seats will be available to the public. Deadline to RSVP is April 13th. For further information or to RSVP, call India Partners, (541) 683-0696.

After the India Partners' banquet, Steve will be traveling to India and visit Agape Rehabilitation Center, an indigenous organization that receives support from India Partners. Daniel Victor, the co-founder and co-director of Agape Rehabilitation Center will also speak at the banquet about his work with the disabled in India. His organization teaches computer skills to the disabled, enabling them to become productive, working members of their society.

Since 1984, faith-based charity India Partners has been working in partnership with indigenous agencies in India in the areas of education, literacy, vocational training, child sponsorship, relief, agricultural development and health care. Projects in India help all in need, regardless of gender, religion, caste or creed.