The Christian Broadcasting Nework's sister organization, Operation Blessing International, was recently honored by the Virginia Emergency Management Association with the organization's annual Humanitarian Award.

OBI received the award at the association's luncheon April 2.

"We are absolutely thrilled with this," said Bill Horan OBI president. "To be recognized in our own home state is especially gratifying. We've been a player in disaster relief efforts here in Virginia for a long time."

The award recognizes nonprofit organizations or government groups for helping emergency management in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Disaster relief teams from across the state praised OBI for its work following last year's tornadoes in Suffolk, Va.

"With all the work Operation Blessing has done in the Gulf States, these past couple of years, it was really time for us to recognize Operation Blessing," Hui-Shan Walker VEMA president said.

Right now, Operation Blessing volunteers are in North Dakota helping victims of the recent floods.

Sources: OB Press Release, vemaweb.com