Who We Are

Our Vision

Christian Relief Services Charities seeks to connect the vast resources of the developed world with the ideas and labor of those who need help.

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Our Mission

Christian Relief Services Charities works to answer urgent needs for housing, food, water and medical care around the world as well as to support programs that address the long-term sustainability of communities locally and internationally.

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Our History

Christian Relief Services Charities (CRSC) was founded 25 years ago by Gene Krizek, born with his dream of making a difference for the poor and suffering at home and around the world — mindful of the biblical admonition that much is required from those who receive much.

Critical water and sewage problems on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota prompted CRSC´s first work: delivering water, drilling wells, installing windmills and repairing a sewage plant. Continuing on to address urgent needs for food, water, medicines and medical supplies around the world, Christian Relief Services Charities has now grown to expand its reach into establishing vital development programs to address long-term sustainability of communities for water, farming, housing, schools, orphanages, clinics and hospitals in underdeveloped areas across the United States and worldwide.

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What We Have Acccomplished

In our first 25 years, Christian Relief Services Charities and its affiliates delivered more than $600 million in assistance through programs across 31 states in the U.S. and 63 countries throughout Eastern Europe, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa. This work has benefited hundreds of communities and thousands of people helping them to a better and more self-sufficient life. Today, CRSC rates as one of the 200 largest charities in the United States by Forbes Magazine (December 2005). We are also proud to have earned the Better Business Bureau´s Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal for meeting their rigorous standards for charitable accountability.

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How We Achieve Our Charitable Program Goals

Christian Relief Services Charities provides help to those domestically and internationally by utilizing donations (both cash and in-kind materials like medicines and food) in the most efficient and effective way possible. Without these generous donations we would not be able to provide our programs with adequate resources, supplies and technical assistance. To acquire these resources, Christian Relief Services Charities works with its affiliates to procure donations and the support of volunteers and partnerships with local non-governmental organizations in order to attain adequate funding to provide for our programs.

How We Measure Progress Toward Our Charitable Program Goals

Christian Relief Services Charities measures its performance every two years with a report to the board of directors. This biennial report is entitled the Performance and Effectiveness Assessment of CRSC, and is in accordance with the Board Policy to have such a report and meets standard 7 of the Standards for Charitable Accountability of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org).

Moreover, CRSC is in constant communication with all of our partners to ensure that together we are reaching our goals of self-sustainable programs. Staff members and volunteer board members travel internationally, as well as here in the United States, to our program sites to see firsthand the improvement and development of these programs and to report on their progress or lack thereof, and to make recommendations for future funding and support. The Charity’s affiliates also publish annual reports and daily updates to their web sites to provide the public with real-time (and an annual summation) information to show how we’re doing. These can be found at the affiliate websites (see links).

Fiscal Year 2009 Progress to Date

Christian Relief Services Charities, Inc (CRSC) is the parent entity under an IRS Group Exemption with 18 subordinate charities/affiliates with a budget totaling over $50,000,000. Total expenses for the four major programs in the 2009 fiscal year were: Domestic $3,425,861; American Indian $5,699,434; Housing services $18,605,463; and, International $9,869,472.

CRSC provides 2,867 units of affordable, transitional and supportive housing for low to moderate income persons in Arizona, Kansas and Virginia through programs like “Homes for the Homeless.”

Our Americans Helping Americans^® affiliate distributed monthly, holiday and supplemental food to families in the Appalachian region of Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia Tennessee and Kentucky and various community-based efforts in the District of Columbia and Virginia. In total, 1,061,266.13 pounds of food was distributed for the year. For the holidays, 3,040 turkeys were provided along with fruits and vegetables. We also provided, 2,054 blankets, 1,539 new coats, 4,612 toys, 1,536 new shoes and 1,117 school supply kits as well as various relief and hygiene items. In addition, we assisted with cash grants to above programs, for food program support and a youth enrichment program. Over 30,000 individuals were assisted.

The Christian Relief Services affiliate provided assistance and funding throughout the world creating a re-agent fund for hospitals to receive chemical re-agents for diagnostic testing. We provided funding for re-agents to 7 hospitals for the Lithuania Medical Outreach Program located in the provinces of Kedainiai, Kauno, Mazeikiai, Pasvalys, Radviliskis, Silutes and Vilnius, Lithuania, and over 13,000 tests were provided for the year. This program assisted over 13,000 individuals.

The American Indian Youth Running Strong^® affiliate’s various programs distributed monthly, holiday and supplemental food to 15 American-Indian run and 5 non-Indian run, church and community food banks, food pantries, youth and elderly programs with a total of 1,479,941.14 pounds of food distributed for the year. For the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, 15,188 turkeys were distributed. We provided 3,100 new winter coats, 2,974 new blankets, 3,168 pairs of new shoes, 3,858 new toys, 3,381 hygiene kits and school supply kits to 3,383 children and their families. Financial support was provided that funded a summer youth feeding project, a backpack food program and food program support. Over 90,000 individuals were assisted for the year.

The Cheyenne River Youth Project^®, an affiliate in South Dakota, served the community by offering heat assistance, counseling and youth development and family services through its youth center and teen center facility to help create opportunities for the future of tribal youth.

The Bread and Water for Africa^® affiliate provided donations of medical supplies, medicines, personal care items, school supplies, blankets, textbooks, clothing, tools and new shoes to grassroots organizations, hospitals, clinics, schools and orphanages Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Cameroon. A total of 10 containers and 2 air shipments were provided, including over 284,000 pounds, 142 tons, of relief materials. Over 25,000 were individuals served.