B.W. COOK -- The Crowd

Before the holidays, I received a letter from Susan Champion of

Newport Beach concerning the work of a local organization called Women of

Vision. The group, which I have reported on before via the word of

Champion who represents the Orange County chapter, is a 10-year-old

conference dedicated to helping impoverished women and their children

around the nation and the world.

Women of Vision is an arm of World Vision, a Christian coalition with

missionary as well as humanitarian goals.

Any organization operating in the world political arena with a

connection to a particular religious purpose will come under the

microscope of public opinion. World Vision, founded in 1950, has come

under such scrutiny for operating programs in developing nations under

the most difficult conditions.

Humanitarian efforts to prevent female mutilation in Africa mixed with

the missionary aspect of spreading Christian ideology and beliefs in a

non-Christian world have been met with mixed reactions.

The presence of World Vision in the territory occupied by the

Palestinian people has fueled geo-political debate over charitable and

religiously-based American organizations working in regions where

American diplomatic foreign policy may be in direct conflict with the

organization’s work.

The road to helping the poor is paved with political land mines. The

issue of religious proselytization by humanitarian organizations aside,

the question remains: If no one will step forward to help out of fear of

political, cultural or religious bias and subsequent condemnation, how

then will the poor and disadvantaged ever be freed from their bondage of

hunger, hurt and death?

Women of Vision dares to make a difference. Granted, this organization

has a very direct connection to Christian theology. But what is perhaps

more significant is the group’s commitment to assist the poor.

The credo of Women of Vision asserts it is essential that each

volunteer embody a strong commitment to the poor, along with a firm

belief the affluence of one woman can be used to help less fortunate

women not just survive, but thrive.

These are very important ideas. So many people give lip service to

charity. They attend functions to enliven their social lives, donate

funds to find an avenue of tax deduction or to elevate their social

status on the food chain of who’s who. Having a real commitment in your

heart to helping the poor is a virtue.

Women of Vision are serious about their work. They began as a small

cadre of Orange County ladies who traveled with World Vision to Guatemala

and Kenya to witness conditions in these sectors of humanity. They came

away with ideas and plans to change the lives of women and children.

Today, there are programs in 13 countries, and Women of Vision sponsors

some 900 children around the world through the donations of their

volunteers, a large majority of whom are from Newport-Mesa.

In 1990, the fund-raising tally exceeded $2 million. That’s money that

goes to all kinds of projects, many perhaps not deemed politically

correct. Projects that include the Atfaluna School for the Deaf in

Palestine, the Maasai Female Genital Mutilation Project in Kenya and the

Micro Enterprise Development Project in Peru, which assists 120 widows

who must act as head of households without support.

In a publication explaining the work of Women of Vision, an

unidentified author uses a biblical reference from the Book of Esther in

the Old Testament. The author relates the story of Queen Esther, a Jewess

married to the King, who had to reveal her Jewish ancestry to the King in

order to save the Jewish people from his order of destruction.

“Who knows if you have not attained royalty for such a time as this,”

says Esther’s Uncle Mordecai, commenting on her selfless act.

Simply restated, Esther went against the tide of her time and did the

right thing. It is the calling of Women of Vision to follow this example.

At a recent gathering in Corona Del Mar at Five Crowns Restaurant,

some 100 ladies dedicated to making a difference through action gathered

in the dining room to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the group’s

founding in 1990.

Ann McKusick, a founder of Women of Vision, addressed the crowd that

included local women such as Penny Wood, director of the group, Angela

Mason, Betsy Tarbell, another founder, along with Mary Hamilton, Gail

Ochs, Karen French, Beverly Peters and Susan Champion.

Also in attendance were Mary Amundson with her daughter Ann Hoover,

Binnie Beaumont, Bobbi Dauderman, Joan Hadley, Ann Huffman, Susan

Jenkins, Becky Pollock, Karen Stockman, Ann Sullivan, Diane Sweet and

Kimberly Tegarden.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.