Operation Blessing International

Operation Blessing International was founded on November 14, 1978, by businessman and televangelist Pat Robertson.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-15 |title=The Day Pat Robertson Surprised Everyone by Suddenly Announcing the Creation of Operation Blessing |url=https://www2.cbn.com/news/us/day-pat-robertson-surprised-everyone-suddenly-announcing-creation-operation-blessing |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=CBN |language=en}} Its stated purpose is to assist people facing challenges by connecting their needs, such as clothing and appliances, with donations from viewers of The 700 Club.

OBI collaborates with local churches and organizations to provide assistance to low-income families, including food and financial aid. In 1990, the organization transitioned its focus from individual assistance to funding outreach centers throughout the United States, focusing on local ministries, food pantries, and shelters. OBI's international activities include medical aid, hunger relief, and disaster response efforts. The organization became officially registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1986, following a partnership with Development Corporation.

File:Operation Blessing in Port Charlotte after Hurricane Ian.jpg after Hurricane Ian]]

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.{{Cite web |last=Blessing |first=Operation |date=2018-09-21 |title=PRESS RELEASE: Operation Blessing International Now Coordinating Volunteer Cleanup Efforts In New Bern, NC |url=https://www.ob.org/press-release-operation-blessing-international-now-coordinating-volunteer-cleanup-efforts-in-new-bern-nc/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Operation Blessing |language=en-US}} Internationally, Operation Blessing has assisted victims of humanitarian crises in Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, and Kenya.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-02 |title=Operation Blessing sending humanitarian supplies from Chesapeake to Ukrainian refugees |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/ukraine/operation-blessing-humanitarian-aid-ukraine/291-278e4778-7685-448b-a86d-8753e303040f |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=13newsnow.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Help for earthquake victims in Turkey |url=http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/10/25/iyw.howtohelp.turkey.quake/index.html |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=www.cnn.com |language=en}} 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.{{cite web | url = http://pilotonline.com/news/local/health/operation-blessing-launches-effort-to-combat-zika-virus-in-el/article_6ae724fb-cd81-558e-be67-be55e2268751.html | title = Operation Blessing launches effort to combat Zika virus in El Salvador, Haiti | access-date = 2016-06-01 | publisher = The Virginian-Pilot}}

OBI's involvement extends to various natural disasters, including the April 2015 Nepal earthquake,{{cite web | url = http://hamptonroads.com/2015/05/operation-blessing-delivers-food-supplies-nepal | title = Operation Blessing delivers food, supplies to Nepal | access-date = 2015-05-07 | publisher = The Virginian-Pilot}} the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami,{{cite web | url = https://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46693862#46693862 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313224111/http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46693862#46693862 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2012-03-13 | title = New fishing fleet signifies progress in Japan | access-date = 2012-07-20 | format = Video | publisher = NBC}} and the 2010 Haiti earthquake and accompanying cholera outbreak.{{cite web |title=Cholera in Haiti: a view from a first responder |url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-506270?ref=feeds%2Foncnn |access-date=2012-07-20 |publisher=CNN}}

Operation Blessing has partnered with several organizations and nonprofits, including the Mayo Clinic of Minnesota,{{Cite web |last=Clayton |first=Cindy |last2=Online |first2=Pilot |date=2016-02-29 |title=Operation Blessing helps to fight the Zika virus in Mexico |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2016/02/29/operation-blessing-helps-to-fight-the-zika-virus-in-mexico/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=The Virginian-Pilot |language=en-US}} International Justice Mission, Free Wheelchair Mission,{{Cite web |last=Blaesser |first=Whitney |date=1 March 2010 |title=Free Wheelchair Mission Final Report |url=https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACQ476.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027071850/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDACQ476.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 27, 2011 |access-date=1 March 2024}} and Tide Loads of Hope.{{Cite web |last=Gamble |first=Procter & |title=Tide Loads of Hope Commemorates first Anniversary of Haiti Earthquake with the Introduction of a Documentary Short Film |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tide-loads-of-hope-commemorates-one-year-anniversary-of-haiti-earthquake-with-the-introduction-of-a-documentary-short-film-113344549.html |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} OBI has also conducted annual food distributions with professional sports teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals.{{cite web | publisher = Chiefs | title = Chiefs & Royals Help Feed Kansas City | year = 2007 | url = http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/06/11/chiefs__royals_help_feed_kansas_city | access-date = 2007-08-31 | place = Kansas City | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930203537/http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/06/11/chiefs__royals_help_feed_kansas_city |archive-date = 2007-09-30}}

Operation Blessing is a member of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO),{{cite web | publisher = AERDO | title = Member Organizations | year = 2007 | url = http://www.aerdo.net/directory.php | access-date = 2007-08-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070720023250/http://www.aerdo.net/directory.php | archive-date = 2007-07-20}} and is registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA){{cite web | publisher = FEMA | title = Thousands of Volunteers Embark On Massive Gutting in Orleans Parish | year = 2007 | url =http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=34493 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070308170542/http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=34493 | archive-date =2007-03-08 | access-date = 2007-08-31}} and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).{{cite web | publisher = USAID | title = Ocean Freight Reimbursement Success Stories | year = 2007 | url =http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/private_voluntary_cooperation/ofrstories.html | access-date = 2007-08-31 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070816123951/http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/private_voluntary_cooperation/ofrstories.html | archive-date = 2007-08-16}} 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).{{cite web | url = http://www.ob.org/_about/affiliation.asp | work = About | title = Affiliations | access-date = 2012-07-20 | publisher = Operation Blessing}}

Operation Blessing is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA),{{Cite web |title=Operation Blessing - MinistryWatch |url=https://db.ministrywatch.com/ministry.php?ein=541382657 |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=db.ministrywatch.com}} and is audited annually by KPMG, LLP.

{{see also|Pat Robertson 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.{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/05/mission-congo-pat-robertson-aid-rwanda | title = Mission Congo: how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent aid project | access-date = 2013-09-07 | work = The Guardian|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130914151028/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/sep/05/mission-congo-pat-robertson-aid-rwanda |archive-date = 2013-09-14|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/missioncongo |title=Mission Congo - Toronto Film Festival |access-date=2013-09-07 |publisher=Toronto Film Festival |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130904062149/http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/missioncongo |archive-date=September 4, 2013 }} According to Operation Blessing records, Robertson owned the planes used for Operation Blessing airlifts.{{cite web | url = http://www.ob.org/press-releases/#2013 | title = OBI Responds to Malicious Mission Congo Allegations | access-date = 2015-10-12 | publisher = Operation Blessing}}

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.{{cite web |title=Guardian Newspaper Apologizes |date=13 December 2013 |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/guardian-newspaper-apologizes-donates-to-pat-robertsons-operation-blessing-for-inaccurate-report-on-mission-congo-documentary-110715/ |access-date=2014-02-11 |publisher=The Christian Post}}

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. 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."{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/dec/12/corrections-and-clarifications | title = Corrections and clarifications | access-date = 2014-02-11 | work = The Guardian| date = 12 December 2013 }}

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Category:1978 establishments in Virginia

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Category:International charities

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Category:Charities based in Virginia

Category:Evangelical Christian humanitarian organizations