Spring 2008 Grants Announced

May 19, 2008

The Board of Directors of the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. has approved grants for the Spring 2008 Grant Cycle. Grants totaling $1,003,000 will be made to 12 charitable organizations the week of June 2, 2008. The following is a brief description of each recipient and the purpose of the grant.

Camden Children’s Center / Golden Isles Children’s Advocacy Center
A $30,000 grant to the Camden Children’s Center in Woodbine, Georgia to support their fiscal year 2009 operating budget. The Camden Center opened in September 2002 and provides support services to child victims of abuse and their families who reside in Camden County.

The Gathering Place (www.thegp.org)
A $23,000 grant to the Gathering Place in Brunswick, Georgia to assist in the support of the operating budget for the Urban Ministry Development Program. The Gathering Place, established in 1981, is a multifaceted, youth oriented Christian ministry serving Glynn County. Specifically, the Urban Ministry Development Program will target “at risk” urban students grades 6 - 12 in Glynn County that may otherwise not have the opportunity to hear the Good News.

Magnolia Manor (www.magnoliamanor.com)
A $90,000 grant to Magnolia Manor to establish a wellness center at the St. Marys, Georgia Campus. Magnolia Manor is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church established to provide long-term care and affordable living to the elderly.

Coastal Counseling Center (www.coastalcounselingcenter.org)
A $50,000 grant to the Coastal Counseling Center in St. Marys, Georgia to support fiscal year 2009 operational expenses. Coastal Counseling Center provides mental health and substance abuse counseling services for adults in Camden County through a sliding scale fee that is relative to a family’s income level.

Epworth By The Sea (www.epworthbythesea.org)
A $10,000 grant to Epworth By The Sea to sponsor Miss Ella’s Camp For Special People in 2008. Epworth By The Sea is a Christian retreat center owned and operated by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church. The summer camp is provided to people, ages 16 and above with special mental and physical needs offering worship services, Bible study, exciting activities, music, games, quality craft projects and supervised recreation that enhance the camper’s life. Additionally, the camp provides family caretakers with respite time for personal renewal.

Hospice Satilla
A $50,000 grant to increase the hours of social service personnel whose primary function will be to service Brantley and Charlton County clients. Hospice Satilla exists to provide comprehensive, quality care services to terminally ill patients and their families using a holistic approach and addressing the physical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual issues associated with the dying process. They strive to relieve suffering, enhance comfort, promote quality of life, foster choice in end-of-life care and support effective grieving.

Wesley Glen Ministries (www.wesleyglenministries.org)
A $100,000 grant to Wesley Glen Ministries to support the FY2009 operating budget of the St. Marys, Georgia Group Home. Wesley Glen is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and serves people with mental disabilities in central and south Georgia. The St. Marys facility provides a residential home environment and cares for up to five residents.

Habitat for Humanity (www.hfhcamden.org)
A $100,000 challenge grant to Habitat for Humanity of Camden County, Georgia to build a Senior Housing Development in Woodbine, Georgia. Habitat for Humanity is an organization whose purpose is to provide affordable housing to low-income families in Camden County.

MAP International (www.map.org)
A $100,000 challenge grant to MAP International to support the construction of a new distribution facility in Brunswick, Georgia. MAP International (Medical Assistance Programs) was founded almost 50 years ago as a Christian, non-profit, global relief and development organization serving people living in the world’s poorest communities.

Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation (www.coastalgeorgiafoundation.org)
A $10,000 grant to the Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation to establish a community foundation to serve southeast and coastal Georgia. This represents the fourth year of a five-year commitment to this project. The Communities of Coastal Georgia Foundation is a collaborative effort of several foundations, including the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, organizations and individuals created to increase the philanthropic capacity of coastal Georgia. The community foundation is a creative, cost-effective and tax efficient way for people to invest in the local community and potentially will increase the amount of funding available to local nonprofits, create increased awareness of local nonprofits and community needs and improve the quality of life in southeast and coastal Georgia.

Georgia Center for Nonprofits (www.gcn.org)
A $40,000 grant to the Georgia Center for Nonprofits to continue the support of the establishment of a satellite center in Brunswick, Georgia to serve nonprofits in southeast and coastal Georgia. This represents the fourth year of a five-year commitment to this project. The Georgia Center for Nonprofits works to serve, strengthen and support local nonprofits by providing them with information, nonprofit management and business skills training, consulting, technology, insurance and employment services.

Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org)
A $400,000 grant to Church World Service to support an expansion of the Africa Initiative - Giving Children Hope Program in East and Southern Africa. This grant represents the ongoing support of a 3-year partnership between Church World Service and the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation referred to as the Africa Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to protect the rights of and to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children living in the countries of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, war and famine that they may be empowered to manage their own well being and the stability of their families, to participate in the social and economic development of their communities, and to live in the shelter of hope. The initiative will reinforce the capacity of and support the expansion of church and related organizations to build child-centered programs and networks.

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. was organized in January 2001 to support the charitable activities of the St. Marys United Methodist Church. Annual grant distributions will typically represent about 3% to 5% of the Foundation’s value. The Foundation awards grants twice each year, in the spring and the fall. Grant proposals are accepted year round. Proposals received from December 2nd to June 1st will be considered for the Fall cycle while proposals received from June 2nd to December 1st will be considered for the Spring cycle. Proposals to be considered must be related to:

Children, Youth and Family - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.

Adults and Elderly - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.

Health, Mental Health, and Mental Retardation - Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.

Christian Education, Evangelism, and Missions - Agencies of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the Gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the Gospel through local southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties).

Additional information about the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.smumcfoundation.org or by calling 912-510-9350.

 

General Notice

The deadline for the Fall 2008 Grant Cycle of The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation will be June 1, 2008. Proposals will be accepted pertaining to the following guidelines and focus categories:

 

Children, Youth and Families: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.

 

Adults and Elderly: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.

 

Health, Mental Health and Mental Retardation: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.

 

Christian Education, Evangelism and Missions: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the gospel through local Southeast Georgia* and international services and projects for people in need.

 

*Our definition of Southeast Georgia is Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties.

 

The international focus of the SMUMC Foundation is primarily on Christian programs in Africa that benefit children, particularly those who have been orphaned, but also those who suffer the dire consequences of AIDS/HIV, war and famine.  However, please note we will not be accepting new requests for international projects until further notice.

  

For further information, please see our website at www.smumcfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (912) 510-9350.   Guidelines for preparing proposals are included on our website. 

Proposals due for Spring 2008 Grants

The deadline for the Spring 2008 Grant Cycle of The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation will be December  1, 2007. Proposals will be accepted pertaining to the following guidelines and focus categories:

Children, Youth and Families: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.

Adults and Elderly: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that promote the spiritual, mental, and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.

Health, Mental Health and Mental Retardation: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.

Christian Education, Evangelism and Missions: Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in Southeast Georgia* that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the gospel through local Southeast Georgia* and international services and projects for people in need.

*Our definition of Southeast Georgia is Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties. 

The international focus of the SMUMC Foundation is primarily on Christian programs in Africa that benefit children, particularly those who have been orphaned, but also those who suffer the dire consequences of AIDS/HIV, war and famine.  However, please note we will not be accepting new requests for international projects until further notice. 

For further information, please see our website at www.smumcfoundation.org or call the Foundation office at (912) 510-9350.   Guidelines for preparing proposals are included on the back of this notice. 

Fall 2007 Grants Announced

November 12, 2007 The Board of Directors of the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. has approved grants for the Fall 2007 Grant Cycle.  Grants totaling $1,124,120 will be made to 13 charitable organizations the week of December 3, 2007.  The following is a brief description of each recipient and the purpose of the grant. 

Care Net Pregnancy Center (www.ourpartners.org)A $25,280 grant to the Care Net Pregnancy Center to provide a part-time nurse manager and initial ultrasound training for the Kingsland, Georgia Center. Care Net is a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to advancing the sanctity of human life and sexual purity by providing abstinence education as well as free pregnancy testing and counseling for women with unplanned pregnancies.

 Charlton County Family ConnectionsA $34,340 grant to the Charlton County Family Connections in Folkston, Georgia to help fund the Children Safe All Summer (CSAS) program in Charlton County and to provide capacity building for the local boards governing the program.  Charlton County Family Connections was established in 1987 to provide children and families in Charlton County the opportunity to meet their potential in a safe, healthy, educated and supportive environment through a collaboration of community agencies. 

The Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy of Glynn (http://www.ferstfoundation.org)A $50,000 grant to the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy of Glynn to provide funding for a program which partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to send out age appropriate books to children ages birth to 5 years old at no cost in Glynn County.  Established in August 2006, the goal is to assist every child in Glynn County to be reading ready before entering kindergarten. The organization encourages children to dream through reading and encourages parent involvement to achieve early school success. 

Cord of ThreeA $20,000 grant to Cord of Three Counseling Services to support the startup of Project Care, a family visitation and support program for children in foster care in Brantley County.  Cord of Three was established in January 2006 to provide professional, Christian counseling services to families and individuals within southeast Georgia in need of mental health and spiritual counseling. Specifically, counseling services are designed to help with abuse in the family, adolescent living, anxiety / stress / depression, bereavement and grief, drug and alcohol abuse, family enrichment and relationships. 

America’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia (www.helpendhunger.org)$132,000 in grants to America’s Second Harvest.  The grants are provided in two segments; $87,000 to assist in renovating the new warehouse facilities in Brunswick, Georgia and $45,000 to  support a Mobile Food Pantry to service Brantley, Glynn, Charlton and Camden Counties.  America’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Coastal Georgia was established in Savannah in 1981 to provide hunger relief services to counties in southeast Georgia and in 2006 America’s Second Harvest established a food distribution warehouse in Brunswick, Georgia to serve the four counties of Camden, Glynn, Brantley, and Charlton.   

Connectional Ministries of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist ChurchAn $85,000 grant to Connectional Ministries to bring the Hope for Africa Children’s Choir to the June 2008 South Georgia Annual Conference Meeting to provide additional information about and create partnerships for HUMBLE Place, a ministry of the South Georgia Annual Conference, in Uganda.   

MAP International (www.map.org)A $25,000 grant to MAP International to provide back-up servers for the MAP headquarters in Brunswick, Georgia.  MAP International (Medical Assistance Programs) was founded almost 50 years ago as a Christian, non-profit, global relief and development organization serving people living in the world’s poorest communities. 

Open Door Community House (www.opendoorcommunityhouse.org)A $75,000 grant to Open Door Community Center in Columbus, Georgia to support the organization’s FY2008 operating budget.  Open Door is an agency of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and provides a number of social services to low and moderate-income residents of Muscogee County, Georgia.  Services include case management for homeless women, programs for children, youth and senior citizens, a clothing ministry, a community parenting program, a GED program, a transition home for women in crisis and a showering program for the homeless. 

Society of St. Andrew (www.endhunger.org)A $75,000 grant to the Society of St. Andrew to support operating expenses for the regional gleaning office located in Tifton, Georgia.  The Society of St. Andrew is a ministry of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church which distributes millions of pounds of food annually to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, churches for local distribution and individuals.   

South Georgia Annual Conference the United Methodist Church (www.sgaumc.org)A $15,000 grant to the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to fund a video project for the Annual Conference which would highlight conference agencies.  Specifically, the project would create a video with 90-second segments for conference agencies which would be presented during the June 2008 Annual Conference Meeting.  Additionally, an expanded video with 5-minute segments for the same agencies would be created to be sent to all South Georgia United Methodist churches.   

UMCOR (www.umcor.org)A grant of $100,000 to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to support the development and implementation of a U.S. based disaster management software system.  The web-based system provides the capability to communicate with the Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN) and consequently any other disaster response agencies that utilize a web based database and will benefit disaster victims and organizations (including but not limited to UMCOR) that respond to disasters for many years to come. This represents the first year of a three-year commitment to this project.  UMCOR was established by the United Methodist Church in 1940 in response to the suffering of people during World War II and continues to provide a channel through which people may express their Christian compassion for people around the globe, often the poorest in society, who are undergoing hardship and suffering as a result of natural catastrophes, conflicts or wars. UMCOR is called on to provide immediate relief and long-term recovery wherever and whenever needed.  

Coastal Medical Access Project (CMAP)An $87,500 grant to CMAP in support of their sustainability initiative to expand services in southeast Georgia.  This represents the third year of a four-year commitment to this project.  CMAP provides access to free pharmaceuticals, access to medical service, and chronic disease case management and serves the uninsured and under-insured residents of Camden, Charlton and Brantley counties.   

Church World Service (www.churchworldservice.org)A $400,000 grant to Church World Service to support an expansion of the Africa Initiative - Giving Children Hope Program in East and Southern Africa. This grant represents the first year of a new 3-year partnership between Church World Service and the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation referred to as the Africa Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to protect the rights of and to provide support to orphans and vulnerable children living in the countries of Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, war and famine that they may be empowered to manage their own well being and the stability of their families, to participate in the social and economic development of their communities, and to live in the shelter of hope. The initiative will reinforce the capacity of and support the expansion of church and related organizations to build child-centered programs and networks. 

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. was organized in January 2001 to support the charitable activities of the St. Marys United Methodist Church. Annual grant distributions will typically represent about 3% to 5% of the Foundation’s value. The Foundation awards grants twice each year, in the spring and the fall. Grant proposals are accepted year round. Proposals received from December 2^nd to June 1^st will be considered for the Fall cycle while proposals received from June 2^nd to December 1^st will be considered for the Spring cycle. Proposals to be considered must be related to: 

Children, Youth and Family – Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of children, youth and families.  

Adults and Elderly – Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that promote the spiritual, mental and/or physical well being of adults and elderly.  

Health, Mental Health, and Mental Retardation – Agencies of the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs in southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties) that provide research, treatment, or care in the fields of health, mental health and mental retardation.  

Christian Education, Evangelism, and Missions – Agencies of the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church and programs that equip God’s people for evangelism, programs whose sole focus is spreading the Gospel, and mission programs which seek to spread the Gospel through local southeast Georgia (Camden, Glynn, Brantley and Charlton Counties).  

Additional information about the St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation, Inc. is available on the Internet at www.smumcfoundation.org or by calling 912-510-9350. 

Jeff Barker, President

The New St Marys United Methodist Church Foundation website debuts

The St. Marys United Methodist Church Foundation has launched their newly designed website at www.smumcfoundation.org.  Please visit our website and and view the resources now available. While you are there, please notice our new Foundation Blog page, which will contain the most up-to-date events and information regarding the Foundation and our community partners.  Additionally, we have added a Nonprofit Highlight section where various nonprofit agencies will be highlighted throughout the year.  We hope you visit out site and find the information useful.