Outreach Grants/Special Offerings

Calvary gives over $90,000 in outreach grants for 2012

by Carissa Hussong, Outreach Grants Chair

Each year, the Outreach Grant Committee reviews funding requests from local non-profit organizations and Calvary ministries. This year Bonnie Binkley, Lucia Crenshaw, Jamey Howdeshell, Harriett McFadden, Nicole Seltzer and Jane Slatery worked with the Rev. Ellen Roberds, the Rev. Phillip Wiehe and myself to revise the grant criteria and allocate approximately $100,000. This year, we are pleased to announce the following gifts to local non-profit organizations that further our mission of “making God’s love visible in downtown Memphis.”

BRIDGES builds leaders to advance racial, economic, education and environmental justice. It will use the $7,500 grant from Calvary to fund its Bridge Builders program by providing scholarships to high school students from low-income families.

Carnes Elementary School is Calvary’s adopted public school located in Memphis Medical District. Each year, Calvary has awarded Carnes a small grant to enhance the learning environment for its students. This year the school requested $5,000 for reading tablets and e-books.

The Church Health Center is a healthcare ministry located in midtown Memphis which seeks to respond to the biblical and historical commitment of the Church to care for the poor and the sick. Their ministries provide affordable, quality healthcare for the working uninsured and their families, and promote healthy bodies and spirits for all. The Church Health Center was awarded $15,000 for its Days of Giving program, which provides medical services for individuals who can’t afford healthcare.

The Community Legal Center was awarded a grant of $5,000 to provide legal services to people of limited means who fall within the jurisdiction of the courts located in Memphis and Shelby County and to educate them as to their rights and responsibilities under the law.

Emmanuel Episcopal Center educates and empowers at-risk youth and adults through Christian ministry so that they are elevated out of poverty and become productive citizens. The Center was awarded $7,500 in general operating support and to fund the Youth-N-Action program and Camp H.O.P.E. (Helping Our Participants Excel).

Friends for Life helps people affected by HIV/AIDS live well. Their grant of $5,000 will be used to provide nutritious food to 425 dependent children living with an adult who has HIV/AIDS. Hope House was established in 1994 by the Junior League of Memphis in response to the needs for quality preschool services for children and families impacted by HIV and AIDS in the Memphis area.

Hope House requested $5,000 for a new economic stability program called “Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World,” which teaches course participants about setting economic goals, achieving those goals, and climbing out of poverty.

MIFA was awarded an unrestricted gift of $15,000 to engage the community to sustain the independence of seniors, transform the lives of families in crisis, and equip teens for success.

The Samaritan Counseling Center will use Calvary’s grant of $15,000 provide healing to those seeking a balance of emotional, relational and spiritual health. The Samaritan Centers respond to the psychological and spiritual needs of individuals, families, couples and groups by providing counseling and crisis intervention services in an environment of compassion and confidentiality.

The committee also allocated funds to two important Calvary ministries. The Community Breakfast and the Hospitality HUB. The Community Breakfast was awarded $5,000 to offer a welcoming blessing, a wholesome breakfast, and needed clothing and toiletries to 200-225 persons in need in downtown Memphis each Sunday morning. The HUB has been awarded $5,000 in addition to $25,000 provided through Calvary's operating budget to further its mission to connect homeless people with the resources they need to begin their journey out of homelessness.

The committee has additional grant funds that will be allocated over the next few months. This includes $2,000 to support a project identified by our youth groups. As we allocate the remaining funds, the committee also will work with the youth groups and Outreach to develop volunteer opportunities with all of the funded organizations. We hope that as we develop and communicate new volunteer opportunities, Calvary’s parishioners will take a more active role in furthering the missions of these vital organizations.