2011 Annual Report Investing in Our Community, Building Our Future!

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1 Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Inc Annual Report Investing in Our Community, Building Our Future! Dear Brothers and Sisters, With gratitude and pleasure, I submit to you the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation 2011 Annual Report was a pivotal year for HCEF. We faced many challenges and overcame high hurdles, but God granted us success in the end. I want to thank all of you, our friends and supporters, whom without we were encouraged to have the moral, financial and spiritual support of friends like you! Thank you for your commitment to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land and for your support of the HCEF mission to replace despair with hope, fear with security and humiliation with human dignity. HCEF is and will continue to be innovative in our approach to creating and developing new initiatives, but the heart of the Foundation and the soul of our mission remains steadfast: to support our brothers and sisters in the land where our blessed Lord entered human history, through the creation of jobs, the promotion of peace and prosperity and human dignity. To this end we have strengthened ongoing projects and launched dynamic new ones, such as: The first Know Thy Heritage (KTH) Journey Visit and Live Palestine HCEF/REACH Call Center, and Ecumenical Center for Research and Development (ECRD) and The HCEF Inn With many new programs are on the horizon, HCEF continues to invest in our community and build for our future. We remain progressive in seeking new ways and means to ameliorate the living conditions of the Holy Land Christians. Our endeavors to create and develop programs and initiatives to promote peace, build bridges of solidarity and hope, sustain the education of children and support school systems, provide a platform for interreligious dialogue between Christians, Muslims and Jews, create jobs and opportunities for business and investment, and provide a vehicle in which youth are developed into leaders and ambassadors of peace will never cease. HCEF is steadfast in its commitment to provide our Christian brothers and sisters with our very best in support, and you with our very best in service and stewardship. Having received the Seal of Excellence-Best in America, we are one of the top 5% of U.S. charities meeting the highest standards of public accountability, along with a 3 star rating from Charity Navigator. This validates our continuing commitment to integrity, transparency and accountability and our commitment to you for prudent stewardship of your donations. In perusing the pages of this report we hope your heart will be touched and your faith spurred into action, even more. Although the 2011 road was a bumpy one, thanks be to God, we have arrived safely and have already embarked upon the road through 2012 with innovative developments and new hope in support of our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Board of Directors, Advisory Board, staff, volunteers and I wish to thank all of you from the depths of our hearts for your time, your generosity, your moral support and your commitment in helping us in our sacred mission on behalf of the Christians in the Holy Land. God bless you! Rateb Rabie, KCHS President/CEO 1

2 HCEF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Rateb Y. Rabie, KCHS President/ CEO Hugh M. Dempsey, D. Ed., K.M. Ob., KHS Vice-President Donald Kruse Vice-President Emeritus Saliba Sarsar, Ph.D. Secretary Rula Dababneh Treasurer Hanna Hanania, D.D.S. Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, KHS Patricia B. Parma, M.A., L.P.C. ADVISORY BOARD H.B. Patriarch Fouad Twal Chairman, HCEF Advisory Board Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem H.B. Patriarch Michel Sabbah Latin Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem H.B. Patriarch Gregorios III Greek-Melkite-Catholique Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, of Alexandria and of Jerusalem Rt. Rev. Munib A. Younan Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land President of the Lutheran World Federation Metropolitan Philip Saliba Primate, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America H.E. Bishop Suheil Dawani Episcopal Church of Jerusalem Archbishop Elias Chacour, Ph.D. Catholic Melkite Metropolitan Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth and all Galilee H.G. Patrick Kelly Archbishop of Liverpool, England Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Archbishop of St. Louis, MO Bishop Barry C. Knestout Auxiliary Bishop of Washington Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel, Ph.D. Presbyterian Church USA, GA Rev. M. Craig Barnes, Ph.D. Pastor, Shadyside Presbyterian Church Archbishop Vicken Aykazian Diocese of the Armenian Orthodox Church of America, Council Member, World Council of Churches Samir Abu-Ghazaleh, M.D. AVERA Women's Center for Gynecologic Cancer Rev. Gary Burge, Ph.D. Professor, Wheaton College Fr. Drew Christiansen, S.J. Editor-in-Chief, America Magazine Raja Khoury President, Pillar Construction Osama Kishek President, Kishek International, Inc. Albert Bateh President, Eissa A. Bateh & Brothers Foundation Albert Mokhiber, Esq. Partner, Law Offices of Mokhiber & Moretti, LLC Musa Nasir, M.D. M Y Nasir Inc. Ronald B. White Supreme Director, Knights of Columbus Claudette Habesch Secretary General, CARITAS Jerusalem Fr. Nicholas Dahdal St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church George Salem, Esq. Law Offices of George R. Salem, PLLC Nicola S. Khamis Honorary Consul of the Republic of Honduras in Palestine President, Jala Investment Group Deputy Mayor of Beit Jala Juan Jose Daboub CEO, The Global Adaptation Institute 2

3 HCEF Mission & Goals HCEF is committed to the presence and well-being of Arab Christians in the Holy land and to developing the bonds of solidarity between them and Christians elsewhere. Core Values: Ecumenical Based on Christian faith Dedicated to peace and justice Transparent Service-oriented People-to-people Vision: Americans understand the plight of Arab Christians in the Holy Land. Strong bonds of solidarity between Arab Christians in the Holy Land and elsewhere. Christian identity of Bethlehem and Jerusalem is healthy and recognized. All Arab Christians in the Holy Land are free to practice their faith. All Arab Christians in the Holy Land have adequate housing. Arab Christians are no longer forced to emigrate from the Holy Land. Goals: HCEF lives its mission by witnessing the teaching of our Savior Jesus Christ: Educate people around the world about the presence of Arab Christians in the Holy Land, and remind them of their moral obligation to the Mother Church. Build community between Christians throughout the world and Arab Christians of the Holy Land through pilgrimages, publications, and communication. Develop bonds of solidarity through church-to-church, family-to-family, and person-toperson partnership programs in order to bring Christians together in community fir future cooperation. Promote peace, justice, and reconciliation in the Holy Land by removing the causes of human suffering and replacing despair with hope, fear with security, and humiliation with dignity. Undertake specific projects designed to advance better living conditions for Arab Christians in the Holy Land. Projects focus on creating employment, advancing education, building and rehabilitating houses, and developing the healthy growth of children. 3

4 Investing In Our Community, Building Our Future But someone will say, You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. NEW 2011 HCEF INITIATIVES JOB CREATION & DEVELOPMENT HCEF INN March 2011, HCEF celebrated the opening of the HCEF INN at the Ecumenical Center for Research and Development (ECRD). As the headquarters for the HCEF Bethlehem office, The Ecumenical Center for Research and Development (ECRD) is the perfect meeting place with its spacious conference and meeting rooms. This center will not just encourage and welcome HCEF pilgrims, but will also fulfill a vital role as a training facility in support of the local community through the empowerment of agents for social justice. Rateb Rabie, President and CEO of HCEF, was joined at our opening celebration by honored guest His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Other esteemed guests in attendance included mayors of Beit Sahour, Bethlehem and Beit Jalla, the Governor of Bethlehem District, the Minister of Tourism and members of media, TV, Radio and newspaper. The ECRD building and resource center, with its new lobby and 25 sleeping rooms, capable of accommodating 56 people, welcomed its first guests, a group of pilgrims from Russia! The INN is equipped with internet, cable TV, dining rooms other amenities to provide full service and an enjoyable visit for participants of workshops, conferences, symposiums, etc. All groups are invited to contact HCEF if they would like to be hosted in the beautiful HCEF INN during their visit to Bethlehem. 4

5 HCEF/REACH Call Center HCEF Establishes the First Call Center in Bethlehem Sunday, July 24, 2011 at the PalTel Group Headquarters in Ramallah, the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation (HCEF) and Reach Communication Services Company (Reach), a member of the PalTel Group, signed a partnership agreement to establish the first call center in Bethlehem at the HCEF Ecumenical Center for Research and Development office in Bethlehem. The agreement is part of HCEF s continued efforts to invest in the community and create jobs. The call center will create over 100 jobs in the Bethlehem area and will help to alleviate the rate of unemployment, which is at a staggering 22.9% - the second highest after Gaza. This is partnership is significant as it reflects the support the private sector lends as it helps to create jobs support the local economy. This agreement resulted from HCEF s first annual Investment and Business Conference which was held in conjunction with HCEF s 12 th International Conference on the Holy Land in Washington DC, November The call center agreement reiterates and reinforces the importance of work relations between private and development sectors in building a strong economy in the Bethlehem area. HCEF President/CEO, Sir Rateb Rabie, KCHS, explained that the relation between HCEF and the PalTel Group/Reach is the outcome of common vision regarding the importance of establishing projects to create jobs for youth, students and recent graduates, in addition to educating western and American societies, associations and individuals, about this model of partnership. This project became effective October 2011, and coincided with HCEF s 2 nd Annual Investment and Business Conference, which provided opportunity for the Palestinian-Diaspora, particularly those in the US, to play a key role in building a Palestinian state, as well as supporting and developing its economy. 5

6 BUILDING OUR FUTURE JULY Thirty-three Palestinian American Youth participated in the Know Thy Heritage (KTH), a unique program to connect Palestinian youth in the Diaspora with their heritage in Palestine. These delegates gained important knowledge about standing in solidarity with Palestine and about being Ambassadors of Peace wherever life takes them. Delegate applications are already being accepted for the 2012 KKTH Journey to Visit and Live Palestine. The first delegation represented the great diversity and accomplishments of the Palestinian Diaspora, with young men and women, Muslims and Christians, hailing from all over the Unites States and from a wide variety of academic, professional and artistic backgrounds. The KTH program provides a unique thrust in the efforts of connecting today s generation of youth in the Diaspora with their homeland. KTH Advisory Board Members include Hashim Hani Shawa, Chairman of the Board and General Manager, Bank of Palestine, Samer Khoury, Executive Vice President Operations, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Ammar Aker, Paltel Group CEO, Paltel Foundation, Rateb Rabie, President/CEO, Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Palestinian Investment Fund, Azzam A. Shawwa, General Manager, Quds Bank, Welfare Association, Zahi Khouri, Chairman of the Palestine Tourism Investment Co. & Chairman of the National Beverage Co. (Coca Cola), George Salem, Esq., Law Offices of George Salem, PLLC, Nafez Husseini M.SC., CCP, Chief Technology & Telecom Officer, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC). While in Palestine, His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and HCEF Advisory Board Chair encouraged all people to support this program to build solidarity and a sense of belonging to the Holy Land, emphasizing the importance of this project as it represents a timely message to the world to better know the reality of the Palestinian and the Holy Land. Additionally, as Ambassadors of Peace, the KTH delegates and participants will better learn to communicate their message of peace to a listening world. Know Thy Heritage (KTH) The Mission of KTH is to empower Palestinian youth in the Diaspora by strengthening their knowledge of their Palestinian identity, culture, history, and traditions, as well as their understanding of Palestinian economic environment, political landscape, social structures and conditions. Visit & Live Palestine provides them with the necessary tools and skills to remain in continuous connection to their roots, heritage and homeland. HCEF is absolutely delighted to implement its years of experience in providing an opportunity and perpetual link for Palestinian American youth and youth elsewhere to experience their heritage and have the opportunity to become better leaders and Ambassadors of Peace. 6

7 HCEF CALVARY FUND A PLANNED GIFT Planned gifts include a variety of ways that assets can be given to the Christians of the Holy Land through HCEF. Planned gifts usually involve financial or estate planning and are created to fit the individual s situation. Planned gifts are a means through which anyone concerned about the wise use of their resources can determine that their life s interests will be respected into the future. HCEF can assist in determining the best vehicle to meet your individual situation and will work with you to insure your wishes are honored in perpetuity. Planned gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Planned giving is always done with respect for family member needs while at the same time recognizing your life s commitment to worthwhile causes. ECUMENICAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (ECRD) The mission of the ECRD is based on the HCEF mission to help the churches and people of the Holy Land enhance their role as agents for social justice. The Center is multifaceted, it serves as a welcoming place for Pilgrims, it can be utilized for meetings, retreats, conferences, and training sessions, and it has the capacity to accommodate up to 45 overnight 7

8 TRADITIONAL HCEF PROGRAMS GETTING BETTER! Although HCEF remains diligent in our pursuit of new initiatives and avenues to increase awareness and build support and bridges of solidarity, we continue our steadfast commitment to maintain our more seasoned programs. More details about HCEF and its programs is on our website at Living Stones Fact-Finding Pilgrimages HCEF organizes and /or facilitates numerous pilgrimages to the Holy Land throughout the year. Each pilgrim is a beacon of truth to his or her faith community at home. HCEF makes every effort to provide economic support to the Arab Christian community when it brings pilgrims to worship and visit with the living stones. Pilgrims travel through Jordan, the gateway to the Holy Land and to Palestine and Israel. 5 Living Stones Pilgrimages were taken in See the Holy Land in a New Way! Child Sponsorship Program (CSP) Christians Education Support HCEF grants more than in funds in support of Christian Education in the Holy Land and continues to build solidarity and strong relationships with the school children. Sponsorship Contributions help keep the Christian schools open. Children s Peace Program (CPP) Ambassadors of Peace Children from Palestine travel to the US to visit and live for 6 weeks with host families here in the United States. The visiting children attend school with host family and each gains a better perspective of the culture of the other, building strong relationships, bridges of peace and solidarity with one another. July 2011 Birzeit Senior Citizen Center (BSCC) Investing in Our Community! The BSCC was built and supported by HCEF Donors and gives new hope and love to the more than 60 elderly residents of Birzeit. These grandfathers and grandmothers pass down the sacred traditions of the Mother Church, and HCEF is honored to provide healthcare, social activities and the hope of stability to them. This summer the Birzeit Senior Citizens participated and enjoyed an outing to the Jifna Park and Swimming Pool The Birzeit Senior Citizen s center maintains the traditions and legacy through caring for the elderly. 8

9 Housing Rehabilitation Program (HRP) (Job Creation) HCEF s Housing Rehabilitation Program seeks to improve living conditions for Christians in the Holy Land! More than 327 homes have been renovated. Creating 13,800 work opportunities, and generating income for 2806 families. After having their home rehabilitated by HCEF, the Giacaman family made this statement, It made a change in our life. Now we breathe air free of humidity and live healthier lives, and now we can welcome our relatives into our house with no shame. We can now move forward in our life. The Holy Land Gifts Program continues to support the Christian crafters and the long tradition of beautiful olivewood carvings and other handcrafted works. This livelihood has been a primary source of economic support for the Christian community in the Bethlehem region. However, due to the restrictions imposed on their homeland by military occupation, many shops have had to close. Many experienced and talented Christian crafters have become too poor to obtain crafting materials and are thus unable to pass their skills on to the next generation. Bethlehem Heart of Christmas The celebration of Christmas is a time of vital importance to the city of Bethlehem, Palestine. Every year, Christmas symbolizes a time of hope and peace for the people of Bethlehem, as well as the Palestinian community in general. The Christmas story originated in Bethlehem, and thus the celebration of Christmas represents a window to the world for Palestinians. Consequently, this occasion marks not just a day of religious and spiritual importance to the Christian community of the Holy Land, but in addition, denotes a day of national significance. This time of year marks a time of cooperation and unity within the Palestinian and Bethlehem community producing a message of peace to the world, along with the causes of reconciliation and unity. It is also considered a key opportunity for Palestinians to promote and take pride in their unique traditions and history, and it represents an important occasion for the Palestinian Christian community to showcase their unity, perseverance, and spirit to a local, national, and international audience. Bethlehem Washington Simulcast Journey to Bethlehem The Most Beautiful Christmas Tree in Palestine Contest 9

10 Jesus Loves the Children Suffer the little children to come to me Through donations in support of the Jesus Loves the Children program HCEF is able to distribute Christmas gifts to more than 3400 children. Additionally, it helps provide funds for the Journey to Bethlehem-Journey to Jerusalem Program which is a critical part of the Jesus Loves the Children Program. HCEF takes the children to Bethlehem during Christians and Jerusalem during Easter to visit the Holy sites, celebrate and connect with their faith, many of whom would otherwise not get this opportunity. Parish Partnerships Church to Church Solidarity Churches from the United States connect in solidarity with West Bank parishes. Parish partners arrange pilgrim visits, direct aid and pray for each other. Join our efforts to bring hope to our Christian brothers and sisters in the Holy Land! Ambassadors of the Mother Church- Holy Land Christian Support Network (HCSN) Ambassadors of the Mother Church are Christians like you who have decided to help their Arab brothers and sisters in the Holy Land through financial support, prayer and solidarity. HCEF continues to expand its activities and outreaches, developing the infrastructure of the Holy Land Christians Support Network to provide support for solidarity programs. New members are welcome and can join at anytime! HCEF Conferences, Symposia & Receptions Thanks to the tireless work of regional committee volunteers and with the help of our donors HCEF continues to hold symposia around the United States and an annual International Conference in the Washington DC area. Annual International Conference Heads of churches, religious and organization leaders, Ambassadors and other esteemed individuals travel from around the world to participate in the conference which provides a strong platform for interreligious dialogue intended to promote the cause of peace and justice in the Holy Land. The Annual Investment and Business Conference and ICT Sector Forum, held in conjunction with HCEF s annual International Conference on the Holy Land, builds on the successful partnerships and various ventures and business relations among the Americans, Palestinians-Americans and businesses in Palestine. Each Investment and Business Conference provides a forum for and features business opportunities in Palestine through the participation and showcasing of indigenous Palestinian corporations, covering a broad spectrum of sectors and business activities. Symposia & Worskshops to continue Sharing the Mission, Igniting the Vision & Broadening the Outreach The Arab Christians need our support as they continue to remain faithful and preserve our Christian presence in the Holy Land. HCEF applies your generous donations to replace despair with hope, fear with security and humiliation with human dignity for Christians in the Holy Land! June 2011 Reception for His Beatitude Patriarch Fouad Twal Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Chair, HCEF Advisory Board HB Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Dr. Hugh Dempsey, KMOB, KHS, Vice President HCEF, Sir Rateb Rabie, KCHS, President/CEO, HCEF HB Patriarch Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Lady Rocio Rabie, LHS, Public Relations Manager, HCEF 10

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14 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal. Combined Federal Campaign CFC #10897 Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Inc., 6935 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 518, Bethesda, MD ; Fax # hcef@hcef.org, 14