sunbirdadmin （慈济供稿）大爱足迹走过八十四国家，慈济基金会美国总会获得美国第廿一届全美急难救助志工组织年会（NVOAD）颁发「年度最佳志工组织奖」。
NVOAD（National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster）为美国急难救助志工组织，会员有110个，均是美国志工团体中的菁英。慈济于2006年10月成为正式会员，在会员组织当中是唯一的佛教团体。慈济人蓝天白云身影与默默行善的人文带动，备受美国主流社会尊重。
年度最佳志工组织（Member of the Year Award）奖，一年只颁给一个组织，今年共有五个组织入围。慈济是经美国联邦救灾指挥总署（FEMA）推荐而入围。联邦总署推荐中指出，慈济在2012年全美急难救灾行动中，以感恩、尊重、爱的精神，带动救灾的人文与善行，并且在受灾户及社区民众间推动珍惜地球的环保理念，堪为全美之楷模。十四日名单揭晓，慈济获颁年度最佳志工组织奖 。
颁奖典礼于美西时间五月十四日（台湾时间十五日上午）在奥勒冈州波特兰市举办的「全美急难救助志工组织年会」举行。当主持人宣佈2013年全美杰出志工组织得奖是佛教慈济基金会时，证严法师的画面缓缓出现在现场左右两旁电视牆上，紧接着慈济人在中正纪念堂万人浴佛的足迹，美东慈济人在桑迪颱灾中送上一碗热食的温馨画面，让在场450多位全美主流救灾机构代表们为之动容，深表肯定与敬佩
。
美国急难救助志工组织，扮演与联邦政府、非营利组织、宗教组织、企业团体、学术界环扣的角色。对美国的灾难应变计划之教育、推动与建言，有举足轻重的影响力。该组织主席 Burgo Kim女士曾经于2010年七月来台湾参访慈济。
2012年慈济美国总会于全美投入桑迪飓风、德州肥料工厂爆炸桉、萨摩亚岛资源回收专桉、中西部水患救援、西南部龙捲风灾救援等。
慈济基金会表示，1985年，侨居海外的慈济志工申请设立慈济美国分会，将慈济志业延伸到海外。至今在美国设有一个总会、八个分会、一百个据点，逾二十万名会员。
在美国历次重大灾难中，慈济志工即时肤慰陪伴，同时在灾后持续关怀的行动力，皆让美国政府救灾人员感动与感佩，是美国联邦救灾总署最佳合作伙伴。
慈济基金会美国总会获得美国「第廿一届全美急难救助志工组织」颁发「年度最佳志工组织奖」，慈济基金会美国总会副执行长曾慈慧（右五）代表受奖，志工分享受肯定的喜悦。照片提供：慈济美国总会
2013年美国「年度最佳志工组织奖」奖座。照片提供：慈济美国总会
桑迪飓风（Sandy）侵袭美国东岸，纽约分会慈济人前往美景港（Belle Harbor）进行物资发放。天气寒冷，志工为前来领取物资的灾民披上环保毛毯。照片提供：慈济美国总会
Tzu Chi Named NVOAD Member of the Year
Tzu Chi USA was named Member of the Year at the 21st National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) Conference.
NVOAD is a network of organizations that provide disaster relief in the United States. Its 110 members represent the best of American volunteer organizations. Tzu Chi officially became a member in October 2006. It is the only Buddhist organization in the network. The blue and white uniforms of Tzu Chi volunteers and the way they have quietly inspired a culture of doing good deeds are widely respected by people in the US.
The Member of the Year Award is only given to one organization each year. This year there were five nominees. Tzu Chi was nominated by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In their nomination, FEMA pointed out that in their disaster relief efforts in 2012, Tzu Chi was a national role model in many ways. They inspired a culture of gratitude, respect and love in relief efforts and doing good deeds. They also promoted environmental protection as a way to care for the earth among the disaster victims and their communities.
On May 14th, the award ceremony was held at the NVOAD Conference in Portland, Oregon. As the emcee announced Tzu Chi as the recipient of the award, a picture of Master Cheng Yen was shown on the screens, followed by pictures from the Buddha Bathing Ceremony at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall with more than 10,000 participants and a heartwarming scene of Tzu Chi volunteers serving hot meals after Hurricane Sandy. These images moved the 450-plus representatives from other disaster relief organizations and they showed their support and admiration for Tzu Chi.
NVOAD plays a role in connecting the federal government, non-profit agencies, religious organizations, companies and academia. It has a significant impact on establishing and promoting education for disaster response planning. Burgo Kim, chairman of this network, visited Tzu Chi in Taiwan in July 2010.
In 2012, Tzu Chi USA participated in disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy, Texas fertilizer plant explosion, floods in the Midwest, tornadoes in the Southwest, etc., as well as recycling efforts in American Samoa.
Tzu Chi Foundation says that in 1985, Tzu Chi volunteers living abroad established a chapter in the US and extended the reach of Tzu Chi missions overseas. Currently, the organization has one national office, eight regional offices, 100 local offices, and over 200,000 members in the United States.
Each time a major disaster strikes in America, Tzu Chi volunteers provide both immediate comfort and long-term support for the victims after the disaster. Their actions have touched and are respected by the American government’s disaster response personnel. They are a great partner for FEMA.
打开微信扫一扫
点击右上角分享
此文章到朋友圈
