World Vision

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Listen to the PSA

Courtesy of World Vision, listen to Patricia Heaton's PSA. Right-click on the World Vision banner (right) and select "Save Target As".

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Patricia Heaton, Emmy-award winning actress, has teamed with World Vision in its efforts to protect and restore hope for children affected by the Asia Tsunami. She appears in a new, nationally distributed PSA focusing on child protection, trauma counseling, and long-term response.

The devastation caused by the tsunami has left thousands of children orphaned or separated from their families, putting them at great risk of neglect, disease, and exploitation. World Vision has more than 4,000 staff in the disaster-affected region and has been working in the region for more than 40 years. In addition to meeting immediate humanitarian needs and developing its long-term response, World Vision is also establishing "child protection centers" across the region.

For example, in Indonesia, World Vision is setting up 20 children centers that will include special tents next to temporary shelters where traumatized children will be registered, protected, and provided trauma counseling. These facilities also enable children to play, interact, and feel a sense of routine.

"The scale of the long-term grief and suffering from this disaster is hard to comprehend," said Patricia Heaton. Like so many people, I want to do what I can to help, especially for the children whose lives have been turned upside down. I want them to feel like kids again -- with a sense of safety and hope for the future. World Vision is addressing those needs."

"World Vision is honored to have Ms. Heaton on board as the voice of the needs of children in this massive disaster zone," said Richard Stearns, World Vision president. "We are confident that her example will inspire Americans to remember the immediate and long-term needs facing the children of South Asia."

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. World Vision serves the world's poor regardless of a person's religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, visit http://www.worldvision.org/.