Tampa Celebrates World

Refugee Day June 14th 

(TAMPA, June 13, 2006)  Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) will hold a news conference on Wednesday, June 14^th, to commemorate World Refugee Day, designated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to honor refugees worldwide.  All other Tampa Bay area refugee resettlement organizations—Catholic Charities, Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services, the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, and the First Baptist Church—will join LSF in celebrating the many contributions refugees make to their communities. 

Featured guest speakers will include former refugees from Sudan, Liberia, and Colombia who will tell stories of their personal struggles to reach freedom, as well as representatives from the Mayor’s Office; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Hispanic Liaison, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The event, beginning at 11:00 a.m., will be held at the Lutheran Church of Our Saviour, located at 8401 West Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.  Mayor Iorio has issued a special Proclamation naming June 14^th “World Refugee Day in the City of Tampa,” and asking all citizens to “Join me in expressing appreciation to Lutheran Services Florida and all of the organizations involved in this effort for their many contributions to the citizens of our community.” 

The conference will focus on the courage of refugees and the contributions they make to their communities.  “On this special day we will honor refugees in our community and remember those still waiting in camps throughout the world,” said James A. Wells, LSF President and CEO. He added, “There are approximately 19 million refugees in the world—80% of whom are women and children— and this news conference is an opportunity to share information with the people in our community.”

Tampa joins cities in more than 100 countries around the world celebrating World Refugee Day and the courage of refugees and the contributions they make to their communities.  

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) is a statewide, non-profit, human care agency dedicated to helping all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age, or national origin.  Since the LSF Refugee Resettlement Program began nearly 25 years ago, over 200,000 refugees have received help to build new lives in freedom.  The Agency has 65 programs located across Florida and has provided assistance to nearly 750,000 children and families in need. 

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