On the heels of reaching its 1 millionth sponsored child, Colorado Springs-based Compassion International, the world's largest child development through sponsorship organization, will be presented with a tribute from the Colorado State Senate by Sen. Dave Schultheis (R-Colorado Springs).

Sen. Schultheis will be presenting the tribute on June 24 to congratulate Compassion for reaching its 1 millionth concurrently sponsored child and for serving more than 2 million children around the world since 1952.

Compassion's 1 millionth sponsored child, Fellow Blewussi Kpodo, lives with his father outside Togo's capital city of Lomé. Togo, a country whose population is affected by the devastation of AIDS, is the most recent country to join the growing list of 25 nations where Compassion works. 

The child's sponsor, Jang Mi-ran, is from South Korea, the country in which Compassion began its mission 57 years ago. Jang is known as the world's strongest woman since she won a gold medal in weightlifting at last year's Beijing Olympics.

Media Opportunities:

On June 24, Sen. Dave Schultheis will be presenting the tribute to Compassion leaders at 9 a.m.

*  Cover the tribute live at Compassion's Global Ministry Center, located at 12290 Voyager Parkway in Colorado Springs.

*  Interview Sen. Schultheis, a businessman with 30 years of experience and state senator of the 9th District, to hear his reflections on an organization that, for the past 57 years, has released children from poverty and become an important mainstay of the Colorado Springs community.

*  Interview Compassion President and CEO Wess Stafford to hear what it means for the organization to have reached its 1 millionth sponsored child and his vision for the organization moving forward.

*  View "day in the life" b-roll footage of Fellow, and hear his unique and tragic story.

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 in 25 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works holistically through local churches to address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children -- enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator, has awarded Compassion its highest rating -- four stars -- for seven consecutive years.