November 25, 2011
Catholic organizations among recipients of grants from Welborn Baptist Foundation
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
Welborn Baptist Foundation, Inc. has awarded a total of 72 grants to Tri-State not-for-profit organizations, totaling approximately $3.6 million for programs within the Foundation’s target areas of Promotion of Early Childhood Development, Promotion of Healthy Youth Development, HEROES Coord-inated School Health Programs, Faith-Based Initiatives, Improve-ments to Community Health Status and General Opportunity.
Several organizations with Catholic connections were among the recipients.
As reported in the Message last week, United Caring Shelters, Inc. received a grant for its new Grace Place for Women which is located on the top floor of the former convent build-ing at St. Anthony Church in Evansville. The grant of $25,000 will allow the Shelter to address an unmet housing need among homeless single women.
Holy Redeemer School in Evansville received a grant for Faith Based Collaboration. This grant will provide $20,000 for proven family life skills training in a church setting.
The Holy Redeemer grant was in the category of “Promotion of Healthy Youth Development.”
According to the grant an-nouncement, “Adolescence is a time when teens are laying the groundwork for their future health and well-being. The decisions adolescents make about nutrition, physical activity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, and relationships affect their health and well-being, both immediately and into their adult years.”
Youth First, Inc., received a grant for school social work services. The grant will provide $350,000 for 10 dedicated social workers in a three county area.
St. Mary’s Foundation in Evansville received a St. Mary’s Community Outreach Expansion Grant. It will provide $60,000 for dental software and transportation for the previously granted mobile dental equipment for schools.
In Kentucky, Holy Name of Jesus Church in Henderson received a grant for the parish Hispanic Community Center. The grant will provide $33,000 for health education and monthly clinic services to the Latino population in Henderson.
Since the Welborn Foundation’s first grant cycle in 2000, it has overseen the distribution of more than $37.4 million through approximately 750 grants to 255 different organizations in the 14 county area that comprises its service area.