BRYN ATHYN, Pa., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Vagnone, Exec. Director of Charity In Action, Philadelphia's "grassroots" relief organization, will present the vision for the future of the organization's humanitarian relief efforts in a presentation on Thursday, May 18th. The public gathering is to celebrate the successes of the relief work, as well as set a trajectory for future volunteering efforts, and ultimately, how volunteers can help through Charity In Action.

Now that the initial disaster recovery phase after Hurricane Katrina is transitioning into a more long-term rebuilding phase, Charity In Action is looking at its own future. This network of individuals, small companies, and church congregations came into existence spontaneously; but, according to Vagnone, it is here to stay for the long term. "We are dedicated to making a difference in people's lives - we helped last September, we are helping today, and we will continue to help the Gulf Coast tomorrow." More details of Vagnone's plans for the future of Charity In Action will be presented at the program on May 18th.

In addition, a number of people will describe their personal experiences as Charity In Action volunteers working in the disaster area in Mississippi. As part of the presentation, a fifteen-minute film will be shown, documenting their work and the challenges they faced.

Charity In Action was originally formed as a community response to the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation in Mississippi and Louisiana. Leveraging the power and flexibility of both the Internet and personal interconnections, the group quickly put together a network of volunteers from several different parts of the country, including organizations throughout the state of Pennsylvania. These grassroots groups and individuals provided materials, finances and labor.

About Charity In Action

Charity In Action (http://www.charityinaction.org) is a humanitarian and emergency services collaborative, based in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania. By combining and leveraging the commitment of individual volunteers and church congregations with larger aid agencies and with state and local governments, they bring rapid relief to areas where there is unmet need. Charity In Action is a 501(c)3 corporation.

Contact: Frank Vagnone, Director, +1-215-947-4878 or frank.vagnone@charityinaction.org.