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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In Time for Christmas, Presbyterians Help Forgive $13.3 Million in Medical Debt Across the Midwest
The Good News:
Wichita, KS, December 6, 2022 – Nearly 15,000 people facing crippling medical debt will get an early Christmas present this year with the help of Presbyterian congregations in Kansas, Missouri, and southwestern Illinois. The churches raised almost $58,000 to acquire and forgive $13.3 million in medical debt held for low-income individuals in five states. Under the sponsorship of the Synod of Mid-America, a regional body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), church members, congregations, and other church organizations were encouraged earlier this year to donate funds to its campaign called “Project Jubilee” to buy medical debt held by low-income individuals.
How It Worked:
In partnership with RIP Medical Debt (RIP), a national nonprofit organization established to relieve the burden of medical debt on persons in need, the Project Jubilee funds were used to purchase past due, unpayable medical debt on the open debt collection market at a substantial discount. The Project Jubilee campaign also opted to extend its reach and acquire medical debt portfolios in both Kentucky and Tennessee, in addition to the congregations’ three home states initially targeted. The total number of individuals benefitting from the campaign numbers 14,815, with an average debt relieved of approximately $900 each. These persons will receive RIP branded letters in the mail this month notifying them that their medical debt has been forgiven in full. Medical debt abolishment is source-based and therefore cannot be requested. RIP purchases and abolishes medical debts only for those who: are four times (or below) the federal poverty level or have a medical debt that is 5% or more of their gross annual income, ensuring those in most need are helped.
Locally, Project Jubilee resulted in 675 individuals in Kansas, and 154 of them in Sedgwick County, experiencing an unanticipated Christmas gift in medical debt relief from the Presbyterians.
What Was Said:
“Our church was delighted to participate in Project Jubilee,” said Catherine Neelly Burton of Grace Presbyterian Church of Wichita, KS. “As Presbyterians, we believe that Scripture calls us to serve the ‘least of these’ because when we do, we are serving Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate on Christmas. Project Jubilee is one small way our church is seeking to bring healing and wholeness to the community we are a part of and serve. This Christmas gift to our most vulnerable neighbors underscores that commitment.”
Who We Are:
The Synod of Mid-America (SoMA) is a regional mid council of the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A.) encompassing the states of Kansas, Missouri, and southwestern Illinois. The Synod consists of six local presbyteries, their 356 congregations, and their 37,769 members, and supports and resources its presbyteries and congregations in their engagement of mission and ministry. The Synod’s offices are located in Kansas City, Missouri. To learn more: www.synodma.org
RIP Medical Debt is a national nonprofit whose purpose is to strengthen communities by abolishing financially burdensome medical debt. Founded in 2014 by two former debt collection executives, the organization has relieved over $7.3 billion in medical debt in partnership with churches, nonprofits, and other organizations for over 4 million families. RIP Medical Debt’s offices are located in Long Island City, New York. To learn more: www.RIPMedicalDebt.org
For further information about Project Jubilee, please contact Catherine Neelly Burton of Grace Presbyterian, at 316-684-5215 or catherine@mygpc.org.
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