Episcopal Press and News
Presiding Bishop's Fund Approves Over $1 Million in Grants
Episcopal News Service. June 26, 1996 [96-1502]
(ENS) The board of directors of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief awarded $1,037,729 in relief and development grants during its semi-annual meeting in New York, June 5 and 6. The board also approved the release of $340,500 in emergency and special grants made during the time between board meetings.
"This grand total of $1,378,299 in grants for half a year represents a significant response by the Episcopal Church to people in need throughout the world," said Ann Vest, president of the Fund's board. "I give thanks that the fund is stronger now than it has been in quite some time."
In civil war-devastated Liberia, the fund made an emergency grant of $40,000 for food supplies sent to Liberian families who had been evacuated to places outside of the country and who were living as refugees. Archbishop Robert Okine of West Africa received a grant of $15,000 to assist Liberian refugees who were displaced in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.
In Myanmar, the fund granted $25,000 for a water supply project that would deliver clean drinking water to people in six dioceses.
The largest single grant was $62,000 made to the Diocese of Jerusalem to aid in a number of ongoing diocesan relief and rehabilitation efforts, including a crisis and peace building fund, a Beirut extension for the Palestinian Refugee Community Center, and St. Luke's Center for the mentally handicapped in Beirut.
The two largest grants made in the United States were $20,000 to rebuild a homeless shelter in Minnesota which had been destroyed by fire and $20,000 to the Grace Training Foundation Life/Work Planning Project in the Diocese of Olympia, a program dedicated to moving its clients from welfare to work. In the first five months of 1996, the fund made nearly $300,000 in emergency grants of amounts up to $25,000 to address needs in West Africa, the Caribbean, Central America and the United States. At the request of Bishop Larry Maze of Arkansas, the fund sent $25,000 for relief after tornadoes hit the towns of Van Buren and Fort Smith. Bishop John Smith of West Virginia received $10,000 to address damages caused by May flooding. The severe bombing of the south of Lebanon caused the internal displacement of 400,000 people. St. Luke's School, a school for handicapped children in a suburb of Beirut, was converted into a shelter for the parents of the children during the bombing. Bishop Samir Kafity received $25,000 emergency grant to assist these refugees.
"Episcopalians are compassionate people and they want to help as long as they see there is a need," Vest noted. "And I think the fund has done a good job of showing need."
"The fund is the Episcopal Church's response to pain and suffering in this country and around the globe," said Bishop Charlie McNutt, chief operating officer of the Episcopal Church, "I rejoice that so many Episcopalians take part in this ministry of hope through their gifts."
The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief is a major response by the Episcopal Church to provide funds for the relief of human suffering around the world through emergency relief, rehabilitation and development.
