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What is Faith In Action
Faith in Action is an interfaith volunteer caregiving program of The Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation. Faith in Action makes grants to local groups representing many faiths
who volunteer to work together to care for their neighbors who have long-term health needs.
Faith in Action volunteers come from churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of
worship, as well as the community at large. Volunteers help those in need by providing
non-medical assistance with tasks such as:
- Picking up a few groceries or running errands
- Providing a ride to the doctor
- Friendly visiting (talking and listening)
- Reading or helping to pay bills
With this volunteer assistance, members of the community who have long-term health
needs can maintain their independence for as long as possible.
Starting in 1983 with the Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Program and continuing in
1993 with the introduction of Faith in Action, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has
supported faith-based community efforts to help meet this challenge with volunteer
caregivers. The Faith in Action program was founded on the ideal of community volunteerism
of neighbors helping neighbors. With more Americans living longer lives, many face the
challenge of helping a family member, neighbor or friend who suffers from arthritis,
diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's, AIDS, or other long-term health condition.
These efforts have helped to create nearly 1,000 interfaith volunteer caregiving
programs across the country.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton, N.J., is the nation's largest
philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care. It concentrates its grantmaking
in four goal areas: to assure that all Americans have access to quality health care at reasonable
cost; to improve the quality of care and support for people with chronic health conditions;
to promote healthy communities and lifestyles; and to reduce the personal, social and economic
harm caused by substance abuse: tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs.
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