Founded 1950 | Founders Lance Latham, Art Rorheim | |
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Type 501(c)(3) non-profit religious Location Streamwood, Illinois, U.S. Area served U.S. and Int'l (109 countries) Key people Valerie Bell, CEO; Matt Markins, President/COO; Art Rorheim, Co-Founder Volunteers 12,200 U.S. churches, 6,000 int'l churches Slogan Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed Headquarters Streamwood, Illinois, United States CEO Valerie Bell (30 Jun 2016–) Motto Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed Similar American Heritage Girls, Girl Scouts of the USA, Royal Rangers, Boy Scouts of America, Evangelical Free Church of Profiles | ||
Awana (derived from the first letters of "Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed" as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15) is an international evangelical Christian nonprofit organization founded in 1950, headquartered in Streamwood, Illinois. The mission of Awana is to help "reach kids, equip leaders and change the world for God."
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History
In 1941, the children's program at the North Side Gospel Center in Chicago laid the foundation for the principles of Awana. Lance Latham, North Side's senior pastor, collaborated with the church's youth director, Art Rorheim, to develop weekly clubs that they believed would appeal to all children.
Other churches learned about the success of the program and inquired about its availability. In 1950, Latham and Rorheim founded Awana as a parachurch organization. By 1960, 900 churches had started Awana programs. By 1972, Awana began its first international club in Bolivia. Today, children and youth in 117 countries (Dec. 2016) participate in Awana programs and millions of adults are alumni. Awana serves churches from many different denominations.
Awana claims to give children from every background and cultural setting a place to belong, build confidence and grow in Christian faith. Awana is also involved in prisons, refugee camps, slums and other hard to reach places around the world.
Awana aims to reach 10 million children with its message by 2020. Art Rorheim serves as the CoFounder/President Emeritus.
Non-profit status
Awana broadly encompasses the following tax-exempt entities:
According to the 2006 Form 990 filed with the IRS by Awana Clubs International, ACI reported gross revenues of $45,595,800 --- significantly higher than the amounts reported for both 2004 ($41,464,006) and 2005 ($41,513,499) within the Awana "2004–2005 Financial Highlights" report, but this gross revenue variation may be due to a timing difference with the actual start and end date of the ACI tax year or a transfer of funds between the various Awana EOs.
At the close of 2007, Awana was named one of 30 "Shining Light Ministries" by MinistryWatch.com, a financial watchdog group. The award is based on passing a number of stringent financial accounting and reporting standards. Awana is also a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).