Gaithers honored guests at football classic
In recognition of his appointment as the first African-American
National Commander of The Salvation Army, Commissioner Israel L. Gaither was
recently invited to serve as grand marshal of the 71st annual
Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic in Columbus, Ga.
Gaither, who was accompanied by his wife, Commissioner Eva
Gaither, headed the pre-game parade and presided over the coin toss at the
beginning of the celebrated annual matchup between the two historically black
universities. In addition, the Gaithers were presented with a key to the city
of Columbus and were recognized with a city, state and national proclamation.
"Eva and I were thrilled and humbled to be recognized
during this outstanding athletic event," Gaither said. "We hope that
our presence helped underscore the importance of The Salvation Army's
mission as well as the vital role these two institutions play in building a
better America."
Gaither met many city, state and national leaders
and supporters of the Army during the weekend. According to Captain David
Swyers, Columbus corps officer, "We are confident that Commissioner
Gaither's participation in this event will help build new and exciting
relationships for The Salvation Army in Columbus, throughout Georgia and across
the nation." Those thoughts were echoed by Major Bill Mockabee, Georgia
divisional commander: "We think this could be the beginning of a wonderful
partnership between The Salvation Army, Morehouse College, Tuskegee University
and Spelman College to work together to find new and exciting ways of doing the
most good within our communities to positively impact the lives of men, women,
boys and girls."
Dallas' Carr P. Collins Center marks 20 years
of service
The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex Command
in September celebrated the 20-year anniversary of its Carr P. Collins Social
Service Center located in Dallas. Over the past two decades the center has
provided 8 million meals, nearly 3 million nights of lodging, 298,704 grocery
bags and has helped 344,036 people with emergency financial assistance.
Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler - daughter of the late Carr P.
Collins, the philanthropic founder for whom the center was named - recalled a
phone call from her brother, Jim Collins, a U.S. congressman, who said,
"Ruthie, let's give two and a half million dollars and name it after
Dad."
Ruth Altshuler was chair of the Dallas Advisory
Board when the center was built.
Lt. Colonel John Mikles,
who was Texas divisional commander when the 169,000-square-foot complex opened
in 1986, traveled from Florida to honor the Collins family.
"What family in this great city has had such a profound
impact for so long in the field of philanthropy and social services and caring
and compassion? And so I salute each member of the Collins family for what you
have done to make this building possible," Mikles said.
The complex has a men's shelter, women's shelter,
domestic violence safe house, a court-ordered substance abuse rehab program and
social services, including a food pantry and financial assistance to help
people pay rent and utilities.
A full-color, eight-page
section was published in The Dallas Morning News on the day of the event
to focus the entire community on the center's impact on Dallas over the
past 20 years.
European court rules in
Army's favor in Russia
The European Court of
Human Rights has ruled that Russia's refusal to register the Moscow branch
of The Salvation Army violated the organization's rights to freedom of
religion and association under Europe's human rights convention.
The court said that when authorities refused to register the Army
in 1999, they "did not act in good faith and neglected their duty of
neutrality and impartiality."
The Court also awarded
The Salvation Army 10,000 euros (USD 12,700) in damages.
Commissioner Barry Pobjie, Eastern Europe territorial commander,
called the Court's ruling "significant, not just for The Salvation
Army, but for the entire religious community of Russia."
This judgment "allows us to get on with the vital ministry of
reaching out to the lost and serving the poor and suffering more
effectively," he said. Pobjie added that HIV/AIDS and human trafficking
are Russia's biggest problems.
"We are going to use every euro
of the money awarded to us for a one-off project to help those who need it
most," Pobjie said. "Not one euro will be used for The Salvation Army
or paid to our lawyers, it belongs to the poor."