American Rescued from Quake Rubble - Buried for 65 Hrs

"God gave me the tools I needed to survive - my iPhone, camera, people to talk to and most importantly His reassurance." - Dan Woolley, Age 39, Colo. Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 18, 2010—Compassion International's Dan Woolley was safely pulled from Hotel Montana after being trapped in an elevator shaft for 65 hours and is being cared for in Miami's Jackson Memorial Hospital.  David Hames, a contract worker for Compassion who was traveling with Woolley, is still missing.

Prior to the earthquake, Woolley and Hames traveled to Haiti to work with Compassion Child Survival Programs, which ensure healthy pregnancies for moms and give their children a healthier start in life.  Through child sponsorships, Compassion International serves 64,000 children in Haiti working to permanently break their cycle of poverty.  

While Compassion teams are on the ground providing immediate relief efforts, Woolley holds out hope that his still-missing colleague will be found.

STORY COMPONENTS:

• Interview Dan Woolley, interactive strategies manager for Compassion International, and wife Christy at Jackson Memorial Hospital  [Suggested Super:  Dan Woolley, Compassion.com]
• Photos Woolley took while buried in rubble he befriended while buried in rubble (DeMossNews.com/Compassion/Photos)
  
• Photos available of: Woolley and still-missing colleague at hotel the morning of earthquake, relief work Woolley was doing in Haiti prior to quake, Woolley's surroundings while buried, Woolley's still-missing colleague in action as Compassion videographer (DeMossNews.com/Compassion/Photos)
  
• The iPhone (still works) that Woolley used to call up First Aid apps to treat his own injuries
• The camera Woolley used to provide light (through the flash) to seek safer location beneath rubble
• The blood-stained, hand-written diary in which Woolley wrote "goodbye" notes to his family and logistical instructions for running their family household in case of his death
• Video statement on behalf of Renee Hames, missing videographer's (David Hames) wife, given by family's Pastor Kelly Williams, Vanguard Church (DeMossNews.com/Compassion/Multimedia)
  
• Photos of Compassion's work in Haiti before the earthquake (DeMossNews.com/Compassion/Photos)

OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORT: 

• Visit Compassion.com to make a donation
• Text "disaster" to 90999 to give $10
• Become a sponsor of a child in need, helping him/her thrive, not just survive
  • Child sponsors exchange letters, emails and photos, and some even visit their Compassion children
    

ABOUT COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty.  Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children-pre-natal through higher education - in 25 of the world's poorest countries.  Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children - enabling them to thrive, not just survive.  Compassion has been awarded eight consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

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