American Humanist Association and Foundation Beyond Belief combine forces to promote charitable relief in the name of humanism

For immediate release

Contact:
Merrill Miller, American Humanist Association, 202-238-9088 ext. 105, merrillmiller@americanhumanist.org
Ed Brayton, Foundation Beyond Belief, 616-894-3123, press@foundationbeyondbelief.org

(Washington, D.C., June 2, 2014)—The American Humanist Association and Foundation Beyond Belief are pleased to announce the merger of their respective charitable programs Humanist Charities and Humanist Crisis Response to encourage humanist giving.

Since 2005, the American Humanist Association’s Humanist Charities has applied uniquely humanist approaches to aiding those in need and directing the generosity of American humanists to worthy disaster relief and development projects around the world. Foundation Beyond Belief’s Humanist Crisis Response brings resources to those in desperate need and raises awareness of that need in the humanist community and beyond. The success of both programs upholds findings that atheists are just as generous as believers, contrary to frequent misconceptions. For instance, a 2013 study by Connected to Givestated that when contributions to religious institutions were discounted, charitable giving rates by the religious and non-religious were nearly equal.

Now, in order to further promote humanist philanthropy and more efficiently channel aid and funding to charitable causes, the American Humanist Association and Foundation Beyond Belief will combine these programs as Humanist Crisis Response, a jointly branded project of both organizations.

“This merger is a positive move that will grow the relief efforts of the humanist community,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “The end result will be more money directed to charitable activities, dispelling the false claim that nonbelievers don’t give to charity.”

“This merger is a great way to enhance the ability of the freethought community to respond quickly and well to major humanitarian crises,” said Dale McGowan, executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief. “We are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our work.”

The Humanist Crisis Response program will continue to serve as a major focal point for humanist aid during major disasters, and the American Humanist Association will direct all former Humanist Charities donors to Humanist Crisis Response.

More information about Humanist Crisis Response can be found here.

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Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists and other non-religious Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) demonstrates humanism at its best by supporting efforts to improve this world and this life, and to challenge humanists to embody the highest principles of humanism, including mutual care and responsibility. Since its founding in 2010, FBB has established itself as the primary group in the freethought movement with a focus on humanist generosity and compassion with charitable impact.