Ellsworth Culver
Encyclopedia
Ellsworth Culver was a humanitarian and aid worker and co-founder of Mercy Corps
International.
Wesley Ellsworth Culver was a global citizen with a strong commitment to humanitarian service and promoting peace and social justice in the United States and around the world. Culver spent his early childhood in China. He had also lived and taught in pre-Castro Cuba, and worked in over 90 countries.
Educated at Asbury College
in Kentucky, Culver began his international career in 1949 as a teacher at the American School in Isle of Pines, Cuba. In 1950, Culver co-founded OC International, a Christian service organization in Asia. From 1958 to 1961, he joined World Vision
as Executive Vice President and launched programs in Asia and Latin America.
In 1965, Culver turned his attention stateside to establish corporate community involvement programs in San Francisco, which developed employee task forces to work on emerging inner-city social issues
. Over the next ten years, Culver developed programs that expanded to over 75 corporations across the U.S. As a result, he was asked to lead the Alliance for Volunteerism, a coalition of major U.S. voluntary organizations, to develop initiatives to strengthen community action at the local level.
Culver returned to international work in 1978 as the Executive Vice President of Food for the Hungry
. His work with refugees included a rescue ship on the South China Sea
; refugee camps in Southeast Asia; and food distribution programs in Kenya, Haiti, Pakistan, Peru and Bangladesh. During this time, he established the Hunger Corps, which provided young adults with opportunities for volunteer service to aid famine victims.
Culver joined Mercy Corps
in 1982 as the agency's third full-time staff member. Culver directed the expansion of Mercy Corps' international relief and development programs into Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. In Honduras, Culver helped to establish Proyecto Aldea Global (Project Global Village), an indigenous organization that provides training on agricultural methodologies, literacy, health services, and infrastructure development. Culver was instrumental in the development of Mercy Corps Europe and developing new areas of activity for Mercy Corps in Asia and around the world.
Culver served on the boards of the Arca Foundation, which focuses on empowering citizens to help shape public policy, and Global Action, an agency involved in researching and interpreting international events. He was also Chairman of the ProTem Foundation, which provides employment skills training and promotes programs that address family issues related to work, and was a founding board member of the Oregon Inter-Religious Committee for Peace in the Middle East.
Culver was a gifted and inspirational speaker. He appeared at university convocations, civic clubs, churches, panels, workshops and seminars on topics such as citizen involvement in the global community and reflections on current global events and conflicts. He had been interviewed on radio and television on numerous occasions.
His death in 2005 was unexpected and came as a shock to the Mercy Corp community. He passed after experiencing complications with melanoma surgery.
In 2006, North Korea posthumously awarded its Friendship Medal
to Culver in recognition of his efforts to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country. He was the first American to earn such a medal from North Korea. Culver visited North Korea more than 20 times.
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
International.
Wesley Ellsworth Culver was a global citizen with a strong commitment to humanitarian service and promoting peace and social justice in the United States and around the world. Culver spent his early childhood in China. He had also lived and taught in pre-Castro Cuba, and worked in over 90 countries.
Educated at Asbury College
Asbury College
Asbury University, formerly Asbury College, is a Christian liberal arts institution located in Wilmore, Kentucky. Although it is a nondenominational school, the college's foundation stems from a Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. The school offers 50 majors across 17 departments. Primarily a four-year...
in Kentucky, Culver began his international career in 1949 as a teacher at the American School in Isle of Pines, Cuba. In 1950, Culver co-founded OC International, a Christian service organization in Asia. From 1958 to 1961, he joined World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
as Executive Vice President and launched programs in Asia and Latin America.
In 1965, Culver turned his attention stateside to establish corporate community involvement programs in San Francisco, which developed employee task forces to work on emerging inner-city social issues
Social issues
Social issues are controversial issues which relate to people's personal lives and interactions. Social issues are distinguished from economic issues...
. Over the next ten years, Culver developed programs that expanded to over 75 corporations across the U.S. As a result, he was asked to lead the Alliance for Volunteerism, a coalition of major U.S. voluntary organizations, to develop initiatives to strengthen community action at the local level.
Culver returned to international work in 1978 as the Executive Vice President of Food for the Hungry
Food for the Hungry
Food for the Hungry is an international relief and development organization working in more than 26 countries around the world. Food for the Hungry was founded in 1971 by Dr. Larry Ward...
. His work with refugees included a rescue ship on the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
; refugee camps in Southeast Asia; and food distribution programs in Kenya, Haiti, Pakistan, Peru and Bangladesh. During this time, he established the Hunger Corps, which provided young adults with opportunities for volunteer service to aid famine victims.
Culver joined Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
in 1982 as the agency's third full-time staff member. Culver directed the expansion of Mercy Corps' international relief and development programs into Africa, the Middle East, and Central America. In Honduras, Culver helped to establish Proyecto Aldea Global (Project Global Village), an indigenous organization that provides training on agricultural methodologies, literacy, health services, and infrastructure development. Culver was instrumental in the development of Mercy Corps Europe and developing new areas of activity for Mercy Corps in Asia and around the world.
Culver served on the boards of the Arca Foundation, which focuses on empowering citizens to help shape public policy, and Global Action, an agency involved in researching and interpreting international events. He was also Chairman of the ProTem Foundation, which provides employment skills training and promotes programs that address family issues related to work, and was a founding board member of the Oregon Inter-Religious Committee for Peace in the Middle East.
Culver was a gifted and inspirational speaker. He appeared at university convocations, civic clubs, churches, panels, workshops and seminars on topics such as citizen involvement in the global community and reflections on current global events and conflicts. He had been interviewed on radio and television on numerous occasions.
His death in 2005 was unexpected and came as a shock to the Mercy Corp community. He passed after experiencing complications with melanoma surgery.
In 2006, North Korea posthumously awarded its Friendship Medal
Order of Friendship 2nd Class
- North Korean Friendship Medal :...
to Culver in recognition of his efforts to alleviate poverty and hunger in the country. He was the first American to earn such a medal from North Korea. Culver visited North Korea more than 20 times.