VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 2/15/11)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is now accepting applications for its Children in Poverty (CIP) grants.
At least 10 one-time grants varying from $1,000 to $5,000 will be awarded to qualified applicants who address the needs of children in poverty within local communities. Not intended as a project’s sole support, the grants are awarded as expressions of gratitude to congregations, regions, and community ministries for answering the call to care for children and families struggling to overcome the challenge of poverty.
“Poverty in America is more pervasive than we willingly admit. Twenty to 25 percent of our children contend with inadequate nutrition, mediocre education, deficient health care and many other stumbling blocks to living an abundant life. Poverty affects us all, whether directly or indirectly, and the harsh reality that many of our children are living in families that are barely surviving calls for our compassionate response,” says Rev. Lisa Harris, ABHMS national coordinator of the CIP Initiative and Christian Center Relations. “ABHMS has been working with American Baptist congregations and regions to address the challenges of poverty and inspire hope in the lives of the more than 14 million children ages newborn to 18 in the United States and Puerto Rico who live in impoverished communities.”
The scope of accepted projects is broad; however, greater attention will be given to those that address at least one of the following areas:
- quality public school education,
- access to quality health care and
- livable wages.
Grant applications are due to ABHMS by Friday, April 29, 2011. Recipients will be notified by Wednesday, June 15, 2011.
For a downloadable application and instructions, go online to www.abhms.org > Ministries & Programs > Children in Poverty > Children in Poverty Grant 2011.
For questions or to receive an application by mail, contact Harris at lisa.harris@abhms.org or 800-222-3872, x2158.
American Baptist Churches is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with 5,500 local congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.