CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) awarded $120,700 in grants to projects that "help build healthy families and communities" around the world.
Through its India Endowment Fund, Women of the ELCA also awarded $63,418 in grants to primary health care organizations, education and training programs, and institutions for women in India.
"The Women of the ELCA Grants Program represents one way that the women's organization fulfills its commitment to promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world," said Doris Strieter, Women of the ELCA, program manager for grants, global education and Women and Children Living in Poverty. "Every year, Women of the ELCA grants help fund projects that help build healthy families and communities," she said.
"During 1999-2002, Women of the ELCA is centering its work on the theme,'Live God's Justice,'" Strieter said. This year grants were awarded to "intervention projects -- projects that assist women and children who are striving to overcome poverty and other crisis situations -- and prevention projects -- projects that equip people to live healthy and productive lives," she said.
"These gifts continue a centuries-old tradition of Christian women standing with each other in prayer as well as in practical, life- changing ways," said Catherine I. H. Braasch, executive director, Women of the ELCA, and a participant in the Women of the ELCA: Grants Program 2001 selection committee.
The committee chose 46 projects from 105 applications it received. It gave priority to proposals that "are innovative; can be replicated; involve collaboration with other groups; address root causes rather than just symptoms; have the potential to become self-sustaining; have limited access to other funding sources; involve women or children of color or whose language is other than English; and have existing involvement with Women of the ELCA or the ELCA, or the potential for such involvement," said Strieter.
The grants program has awarded more than $2 million since 1988. The size of the domestic and international grants ranged from $500 to $10,000.
Women of the ELCA awarded grants to projects in Montgomery, Ala.; Tucson, Ariz.; Los Angeles, Oakland and West Sacramento, Calif.; Chicago and Des Plaines, Ill.; Detroit, Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, Mich.; Richfield, Minn.; Wymore, Neb.; North Branch, N.Y.; Fargo and Fort Totten, N.D.; Toledo, Ohio; Burns and Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh, Reading and Upper Darby, Pa.; Greenwood, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.; Bristol, Tenn.; Brownsville and Houston, Texas; Lynchburg, Va.; Seattle and Tacoma, Wash.; Bluefield and Kearneysville, W.Va.; and Neillsville and West Allis, Wis.
Women of the ELCA awarded grants to projects in Croatia, El Salvador, Jerusalem, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru and Tanzania.
In addition to funds awarded through the Women of the ELCA Grants Program, special grants to programs in India are awarded through the India Endowment Fund, a legacy of predecessor women's organizations, said Strieter.
"Grants from these funds are designated for primary health care organizations, women's medical and nursing training programs, women's high school and higher education institutions, and support for lay women evangelists known as 'Bible Women,'" she said. -- -- --
Information about Women of the ELCA is maintained at www.elca.org/wo on the Web.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
