Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland awards $373,000 in Q3 grants to support urban farming, basic needs and Catholic collaboration

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Tags: Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland , Foundations

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The board of directors of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland (SOCF) has approved $373,000 in grants for the third quarter of 2018. The grants are helping to support urban farming, basic needs and Catholic collaboration.

This quarter, SOCF invested in the Rid-All Green Partnership, which the foundation helped launch in 2011 to support the Central/Kinsman neighborhood in its need for better access to healthy food. Rid-All uses an effective model of urban farming and healthy eating education to engage community members through training programs and community advocacy. Grantees this quarter also included sister-led organizations that support human rights and social justice, as well as those who help share the model and influence of their Catholic faith through pastoral care.

“The tradition of our founding Catholic sisters is to serve the most vulnerable, to go to the margins and support those most in need,” said Susanna H. Krey, SOCF president. “In their model, we serve as strategic partner and funder to organizations helping to break down barriers for the disadvantaged, with the eventual goal of eliminating poverty at its roots.”

Approved grants for the third quarter of 2018 include the following:

Changing health & educational outcomes in Central

• The foundation awarded $75,000 to Rid-All Foundation to continue the Rid-All Green Partnership, a leader in urban farming, aquaponics (fish farming), composting, education and training for youth and adults in the Central/Lower Kinsman neighborhood.
• The foundation awarded $20,000 to Family Connections of Northeast Ohio to expand its SPARK program in Central. SPARK (Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids) is a 12-month family-focused kindergarten readiness program for three- and four-year-old children and their parents that includes home visitation, assessments, health screenings and referrals to special education services if needed.
• The foundation awarded $18,000 to Cleveland Transformation Alliance to implement its School Quality Navigator program in Central, designed to assist low-information, low-resource families in navigating the public school selection and enrollment process.

Ending homelessness

• The foundation has given $25,000 to A Way Home America to support its ongoing work in policy, practice and communications to build the movement at federal, state and local levels to prevent and end youth homelessness.

Supporting Catholic sisters and their ministries

• The foundation awarded $20,000 to the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking for continued support of the collaborative as it works toward sustainability and a coordinated effort of action and advocacy.
• The foundation awarded $17,000 to Collinwood Neighborhood Catholic Ministries, to support this intercongregational collaborative of sisters focused on direct service and ministry of presence in the Collinwood community.
• The foundation gave $10,000 to Light of Hearts Villa, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, to support its Pastoral Ministry Department and Seton Safety Net program, which provides basic needs to help alleviate hunger among seniors in need in nearby communities.
• The foundation awarded $20,000 to Regina Health Center, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System that provides compassionate and holistic health care services primarily for members of religious communities. Funds will support Regina’s Pastoral Care Department.
• The foundation gave $18,000 to the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, to co-sponsor the annual Collaboration for Ministry Initiative conference.

Additionally, the foundation’s Good Samaritan grant program furthers the foundation’s broader goal of alleviating poverty in Cuyahoga County by providing funding to organizations supplying basic needs. This year, the foundation awarded Good Samaritan grants to 30 area organizations – a $150,000 investment made possible with additional support from an anonymous donor.

This program’s particular purpose is to support non-profit organizations for which a modest grant would make a difference in continuing to provide necessary and immediate goods and services to individuals living in poverty. The program expresses the important value of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine of respecting the dignity of every individual. Grantees this year include: All Faiths Pantry, Another Chance of Ohio, Asian Services in Action, Inc., Boys Hope Girls Hope of Northeastern Ohio, Building Hope in the City, Christ Child Society of Cleveland, Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance, Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, El Barrio, Epilepsy Association, Fill This House, Fostering Hope, JD Breast Cancer Foundation, Kidney Foundation of Ohio, Lakewood Community Services Center, Malachi House, Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless, Parish Life Secretariat-Diocese of Cleveland, Project H.O.P.E. of Cleveland, Providence House, Rose-Mary, Safe Families for Children Alliance, Senior Transportation Connection, Stella Maris, St. Paul’s Community Outreach, The Centers for Families and Children, The Edna House for Women, The Garfield Human Development Corporation, UCP of Greater Cleveland and Women’s Wellness Foundation.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.