The David and Lucile Packard Foundation will designate at least $333 million for population planning efforts and reproductive health programs during the next five years, the San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News reports.

This is believed to be the largest population-planning effort by any private U.S. donor. It may be the largest such effort in the world, the paper reports.

The Packard Foundation already has designated $75 million in family planning and reproductive health grants in 1999.

A news conference is scheduled for later this week to announce details of the effort, the Mercury News reports.

Many governments, including the U.S., have greatly reduced or eliminated funding for family planning, birth control and other programs because of controversies over abortion, the paper reports.

The world population has doubled since 1960 and now stands at 5.9 billion. That number is expected to reach 8 billion by the year 2025, creating strains on water, food and energy supplies, the Mercury News reports.

The Packard foundation has assets of $8.6 billion.

It will give an estimated $400 million next year to such causes as scientific research, environmental protection, children's health and welfare, and the arts.

Full text of the article is currently found at:
http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/
front/docs/population07.htm