Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives to Host Summit

Press Release

Keynote address to be given by Jay F. Hein, deputy assistant to President Bush

Governor Ernie Fletcher's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which works to help meet the needs of at-risk Kentuckians, is hosting the first Summit on Faith Based and Community Initiatives.

The event, to be held Sept. 20, 2007, at General Butler State Resort Park, will educate and motivate social service organizations to expand faith-based and community initiatives in Kentucky.

Governor Fletcher will be the featured speaker at the opening session of the summit, beginning at 9 a.m.

"The new Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives works to ensure that Kentucky accepts new challenges and continues to meet the needs of its citizens," said Governor Fletcher. "We look forward to the information, inspiration and motivation the summit will provide for Kentucky's exceptional faith-based and community organizations. This conference will highlight the strong relationship between Kentucky and its social service organizations."

Following the success of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative on the federal level, President George W. Bush urged Governors across the nation to join the "army of compassion." On March 18, 2005, Governor Fletcher signed into law House Bill 383, which created the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

The office serves as a resource to local faith-based and community-based organizations, assisting them in their efforts to apply and qualify for appropriate and applicable federal, state, local and private grants and funding.

Jay F. Hein, deputy assistant to President George W. Bush and director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, will deliver keynote remarks at 10 a.m.

"The Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives works with service providers to assist a wide variety of at-risk Kentuckians," said Paul Patton, executive of the office. "This event will provide information on the abundance of resources Kentucky offers to social service organizations. We look forward to retaining and developing our strong relationship with the community."

Advance registration for the conference is required. For more information contact Erin Owen in the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at 502-564-2611 or at erin.owen@ky.gov.

For more information, visit the office's Web site at www.fbci.ky.gov.

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