Operation Blessing International
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Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is an Evangelical Christian organization headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1978, OBI operates in more than 90 countries, focusing on disaster relief, medical aid, clean water, hunger relief, community development, and orphan care programs.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
History
Operation Blessing International (OBI) was founded on November 14, 1978, by businessman and televangelist Pat Robertson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its stated purpose is to assist people facing challenges by connecting their needs, like clothing and appliances, with donations from viewers of The 700 Club. OBI works with local churches and organizations to expand its support to include food and financial aid for low-income families. In 1990 OBI shifted its focus from individual assistance to funding outreach centers across the U.S. These centers collaborate with local ministries, food pantries, and shelters. In 1986, it partnered with Development Corporation and became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Activities
Disaster relief
Operation Blessing has been involved in domestic relief work for victims of many natural disasters, such as severe flooding in Nebraska, tornadoes in Mississippi, and hurricanes Michael and Florence in Florida and North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Internationally, Operation Blessing has assisted victims of humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, and Kenya.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With a focus on public health, Operation Blessing was involved in working to combat the spread of Zika fever through educational initiatives, distribution of mosquito nets, and providing insect repellent.<ref name="Operation Blessing launches effort to combat Zika virus in El Salvador, Haiti">Template:Cite web</ref>
OBI's involvement extends to various natural disasters, including the April 2015 Nepal earthquake,<ref name="Operation Blessing delivers food, supplies to Nepal">Template:Cite web</ref> the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami,<ref name="New fishing fleet signifies progress in Japan">Template:Cite web</ref> and the 2010 Haiti earthquake and accompanying cholera outbreak.<ref name="CHOLERA in HAITI: a view from a first responder">Template:Cite web</ref>
Partnerships
Operation Blessing has partnered with several organizations and nonprofits, including the Mayo Clinic of Minnesota,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> International Justice Mission, Free Wheelchair Mission,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Tide Loads of Hope.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> OBI has also conducted annual food distributions with professional sports teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Affiliation
Operation Blessing is a member of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also a national member of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), Christian Service Charities, Christian Service Organizations of America (CSOA), the Global Compassion Network, the Virginia Trucking Association, and the American Trucking Associations (ATA).<ref name="Operation Blessing Affiliations">Template:Cite web</ref>
Financial accountability
Operation Blessing is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and is audited annually by KPMG, LLP.
Controversies
In 1994, Pat Robertson made pleas on The 700 Club for cash donations to Operation Blessing to support airlifts of refugees from Rwanda to Zaire. The Virginian-Pilot later discovered that Operation Blessing's planes were transporting diamond-mining equipment for the African Development Corporation, a venture Robertson had established in cooperation with Zaire's dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko, whom Robertson had befriended earlier in 1993.<ref name=guardian>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Mission Congo">Template:Cite web</ref> According to Operation Blessing records, Robertson owned the planes used for Operation Blessing airlifts.<ref name="Operation Blessing Press Release">Template:Cite web</ref>
A 1999 report concluded that, while Robertson's request for donations to Operation Blessing had been misleading, it was not an intentional attempt to commit fraud.<ref name="Guardian Newspaper Apologizes">Template:Cite web</ref>
A September 2013 article in The Guardian reported that Operation Blessing's volunteers recited Bible passages to dying refugees. Robertson was accused of taking credit for work that was done by Médecins Sans Frontières.<ref name=guardian/> In a December 2013, The Guardian issued an apology to Operation Blessing, retracting many of their accusations, acknowledging that they had not mentioned a further report that cleared Operation Blessing of any wrongdoing, and agreeing to donate to their "relief efforts for victims of the typhoon in the Philippines."<ref name="The Guardian">Template:Cite web</ref>