Area Foundation grants to help children, chaplains

At their April 19 quarterly meeting, the Indiana Area Foundation's Grants Committee awarded six grants totaling $10,500. A total of twelve grant requests were reviewed.

The principal charge of the Indiana Area Foundation of the UMC is to manage funds which support higher education scholarships and worldwide mission projects, specifically those upheld by the Indiana Area UMC. It is also the responsibility of the Area Foundation to manage established trusts, distribute earnings and/or principal as prescribed by the donor.

The following individuals and groups were awarded grants:

Brightwood Community Center, an organization of Metro Ministries -- $2,000 to help fund the Summer Fun and Frolic Program. The program brings hope to the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood by providing a full day, no-cost summer program established to help at-risk children develop personal skills and values.
Helping Hands Work Projects, an organization of Metro Ministries -- $1,000 to fund the addition of new bathrooms at St. Paul UMC/Brightwood Community Center. Built by volunteers, the addition of handicap accessible bathrooms will enable the community center to expand programs, thus reaching additional residents of the Brightwood community.
The Indianapolis Civil Aviation Airport Chaplains, based out of Indianapolis International Airport -- $1,000 to help finance the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains Conference. A number of the chaplains attending the October event are from third-world countries. Grant monies will help to cover a portion of their lodging, meals and transportation.
Beryl Johnson, a music student at the University of Indianapolis -- a $1,000 education scholarship grant. After earning her degree, Johnson plans to return to Jamaica and expose musicians to professional opportunities through Music Mentors, a non-profit organization she co-founded in 1992.
KidTown, located at Grace UMC, Gary -- $2,000 to help fund their program that reaches out to at-risk children and youth ages 8-17. KidTown was developed to nurture these young people to become positive, confident and spiritually grounded persons who can live a meaningful and joy-filled life, with a strong foundation in the Christian faith.
Operation Classroom, a program of the United Methodist Church -- $3,500 to assist their ministry in three ways: evaluation of solar energy for West Africa; salary support for Peal Center staff; and purchase of furniture for school classrooms. Operation Classroom's ongoing mission is to help upgrade the educational system in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Matthew Carlisle

Last updated on 01/14/2004

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