Thousands of Faith Organizations to Participate in National Celebrations of Children's Sabbaths®
Children's Defense Fund's sponsors the 17th annual Observance

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Thousands of faith communities across the country will take part in the Children's Defense Fund's (CDF) 17th annual National Observance of Children's Sabbaths® Celebration beginning October 17 through the end of the month. The theme of this year’s Children’s Sabbaths, which asks “When Will We Hear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Call to End Poverty America?" will be carried out through the service of worship and prayers.

Churches, synagogues, mosques, Buddhist and Bahá'í communities and other places of worship will hold special services and education programs using CDF's National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Manual as a guide. The manual includes resources for worship services, educational programs, direct service activities and social justice initiatives to guide faith communities in year-round child and family advocacy and in celebrating the Children's Sabbaths weekend.

"Though every Children's Sabbath celebration is unique, they all come together as a unified prophetic voice to nurture, protect and advocate for all children in America," said Matt Rosen, Children's Defense Fund Deputy Director of Religious Action. "Participating religious communities continue the strong tradition of engaging in social justice by joining this powerful movement. Every step the faith community takes to improve the lives of its children will improve the lives of every one of us."

The multi-faith National Observance of Children's Sabbaths Celebrations are sponsored by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Children's Defense Fund and supported by Catholic Charities U.S.A, the Islamic Society of Northern America, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., the National Spiritual Assembly of Bahá'ís in the U.S., the Sikh Council on Religion and Education, the Union for Reform Judaism, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and more than 200 religious organizations and denominations.