Dear Friend,

The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives invites you to participate in the Portraits of Compassion video story contest. This contest is designed to shine a light on the countless caring Americans who offer help and hope to their neighbors in need as part of President Bush's Faith-Based and Community Initiative.

The mission of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative is to strengthen both faith-based and other community-based service organizations and to grow government's collaboration with them to aid people in need. Over the past seven years, tens of thousands of partnerships have formed between government and dedicated nonprofits, extending service and hope to millions of needy individuals both at home and abroad. The Portraits of Compassion video story contest is a chance to honor this vital work and inspire others to service as well.

Eligible applicants include any domestic or international nonprofit organization that has partnered with a Federally-funded program since 2001 to serve the needy. Applications must include a "video story" of three minutes or less that can be uploaded on a free online video sharing service such as YouTube, Google Video, iTunes, or MySpace. All videos must be submitted as an Internet link by May 1, 2008. To learn more or to submit an application, visit http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/portraits/index.html.

Winning videos will be premiered during the White House National Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Washington, D.C., on June 26 and 27, 2008 and showcased nationally on the Conference website. This Conference is free and open to the public. Online registration for the Conference is available at www.fbci.gov by clicking on the "Washington DC" conference link at the top right corner.

We wish you the very best in this contest and extend heartfelt thanks for your faithful service.

Sincerely,

Jay Hein, Director

White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives

*Please do not reply to this e-mail.

Task Force for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
US Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Telephone: (202) 514-2987
E-Mail: FBCI@usdoj.gov
Web Address: www.usdoj.gov/fbci/
E-Alert Archives: www.usdoj.gov/fbci/ealert.html