Plan NOW! National Marriage Week USA (Feb. 7-14)

A Growing Campaign to Strengthen Marriage--the key to economic stability

Contact: Sheila Weber, 646-322-6853, sheila@nationalmarriageweekusa.org

FRONT ROYAL, Va., Jan. 23, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- National Marriage Week USA (February 7 to 14) is growing fast in just its third year, posting thousands of marriage classes across the nation and building collaborative efforts for one-week-a-year to strengthen marriages, reduce divorce, and increase the marriage rate, which curtails poverty, benefits children, and builds financial stability for our nation and for individuals.

"Rebuilding our economy is tied to rebuilding marriages," said Sheila Weber, executive director of National Marriage Week USA. "Taxpayers spend at least $112 billion a year for divorce and unwed childbearing. Marriage brings vastly more financial stability to individuals," she continued.

"The economic cost of marriage breakdown is huge -- only one example is prisons. Most prisoners come from broken homes or have grown up without a father in their lives. In 2009, California judges ordered the state to release 27 percent of its prisoners due to overcrowding," Weber continued. "And women and children are more likely to become impoverished through divorce. Research shows that virtually all of the growth in child poverty in the United States since 1970 can be attributed to the nation's retreat from marriage."

National Marriage Week USA is part of an international marriage week movement in 16 countries around the world. It seeks to:

1. elevate strengthening marriage as a national issue with the media and policy makers,

2. promote the benefits of marriage -- longer life, better heath, more wealth and greater happiness

3. provide a new national clearinghouse of existing, trusted marriage classes and conferences to help couples find help for their own marriages or to help others

New efforts this year include:

•A 2-hour webcast called "Date Night Challenge," with Dr. Greg Smalley and comedian Jeff Allan, perfect for home or church gatherings -- already 500 churches are registered one month ahead.

•A Reception in Congress to encourage policy makers about why strengthening marriage is so critical to the economy. Weber asks citizens to encourage your Congressman to RSVP to an email about a January 31st Reception honoring National Marriage Week USA.

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