Richard Stearns (World Vision)
Encyclopedia
Richard Stearns is the president of World Vision
United States, a Christian
relief charity
based in Federal Way, Washington
.
and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Cornell, he joined the Phi Kappa Psi
fraternity. His professional career began in marketing with the Gillette Company. From 1977 to 1985, he held various roles with Parker Brothers
, culminating in his appointment as president in 1984 as the company slid towards its eventual oblivion as nothing more than a brand name owned by Hasbro
. In 1985, he became a vice president at The Franklin Mint
, then joined Lenox in 1987 as president of Lenox Collections. In 1995, Stearns was named president and chief executive officer of Lenox Inc., overseeing three divisions, six manufacturing facilities, 4,000 employees, and $500 million in annual sales. He left Lenox when he became president of World Vision
in June 1998.
As president of World Vision Inc., Stearns is responsible for U.S. operations, which include fund raising, advocacy, and program development. World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Stearns is passionate about helping children and families affected by the worldwide AIDS crisis
and has made this a priority for the organization.
Under Rich’s direction, World Vision has experienced unprecedented growth. Thanks in part to his application of corporate best practices and fostering of a strong leadership team, Christianity Today calls World Vision “an increasingly important player in world humanitarian aid.”
He is also the author of The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World . This is a story of how a corporate CEO faced his own struggle to obey God whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Using his own journey as an example, Stearns explores the hole that exists in our understanding of the Gospel.
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...
United States, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
relief charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
based in Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way, Washington
Federal Way is a city in King County, Washington, United States. Federal Way is located between Seattle and Tacoma. Its western boundary is Puget Sound. It is bordered by Des Moines on the north, Kent, unincorporated King County, and Milton on the east and Tacoma and Fife on the south...
.
Biography
Stearns holds a bachelor’s degree from Cornell UniversityCornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Cornell, he joined the Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
fraternity. His professional career began in marketing with the Gillette Company. From 1977 to 1985, he held various roles with Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe...
, culminating in his appointment as president in 1984 as the company slid towards its eventual oblivion as nothing more than a brand name owned by Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. In 1985, he became a vice president at The Franklin Mint
Franklin Mint
The Franklin Mint is a private corporation founded by Joseph Segel in 1964. The private mint operated from Wawa, Pennsylvania but that operation has now closed...
, then joined Lenox in 1987 as president of Lenox Collections. In 1995, Stearns was named president and chief executive officer of Lenox Inc., overseeing three divisions, six manufacturing facilities, 4,000 employees, and $500 million in annual sales. He left Lenox when he became president of 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...
in June 1998.
As president of World Vision Inc., Stearns is responsible for U.S. operations, which include fund raising, advocacy, and program development. World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty. Stearns is passionate about helping children and families affected by the worldwide AIDS crisis
AIDS pandemic
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome pandemic is a widespread disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus .Since AIDS was first recognized in 1981, it has led to the deaths of more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive diseases in recorded history.Despite recent...
and has made this a priority for the organization.
Under Rich’s direction, World Vision has experienced unprecedented growth. Thanks in part to his application of corporate best practices and fostering of a strong leadership team, Christianity Today calls World Vision “an increasingly important player in world humanitarian aid.”
Publications
He writes op-eds on global poverty and AIDS for major U.S. newspapers and magazines, and has appeared on CNN, Fox, ABC, NBC, and PBS. Examples include Samaritans on the AIDS crisis http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/october/38.27.html and The face of America should meet the face of poverty http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002352453_worldvision30.htmlHe is also the author of The Hole in Our Gospel: What does God expect of Us? The Answer that Changed my Life and Might Just Change the World . This is a story of how a corporate CEO faced his own struggle to obey God whatever the cost, and his passionate call for Christians to change the world by actively living out their faith. Using his own journey as an example, Stearns explores the hole that exists in our understanding of the Gospel.
External links
- Q & A:Richard Stearns, Christianity Today, 10/17/06 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/october/38.27.html