07/23/2015

Wheat Ridge Ministries Awards Five New GrantsPlus Grants Totaling $180,000

Itasca, IL – Wheat Ridge Ministries recently approved five grants totaling $180,000 that will assist inspired leaders who are serving others and sharing health and hope around the world. The GrantsPlus Program supports new and innovative health and human care programs led by congregations and nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Lutheran community. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 over two to three years. GrantsPlus recipients participate in capacity-building activities offered by Wheat Ridge during the term of the grant, including webinars, convening events, workshops or consultations.

The five new grant recipients are:

Housing and Healing for Human Trafficking Survivors
Lily Pad Haven, Inc., Charlotte, NC
Grant Amount - $50,000
North Carolina is consistently ranked as a top 10 state in the country for human trafficking cases. Lily Pad Haven is working with Lutheran Services Carolinas, law enforcement agencies, and local congregations to offer specialized case management services for survivors of human trafficking and their children. The purpose of the project is to facilitate healing, restore hope, and inspire survivors to live beautiful, happy and productive lives.

Breakaway Retreats
Lift Disability Network, Winter Garden, FL
Grant Amount - $42,500
Lift Disability Network (LDN) is expanding the scope and geographic reach of its Breakaway retreats for families with disabilities. The Minnesota camp will expand to five days in length, and LDN will also establish a new five day retreat in Missouri and establish a three day mini retreat for families in Florida. All Breakaway retreats provide relaxation, recreation and spiritual renewal for individuals and families with disabilities.

Unaccompanied Refugee Children Support Program (Egypt)
St. Andrew’s Refugee Services, Cairo, Egypt
Grant Amount - $40,000
The Unaccompanied Refugee Children Support Program will provide a range of holistic interventions for refugee children who have fled war, persecution and violence in their home countries. They seek sanctuary in Cairo but there is little in the way of support for these at-risk young people. St Andrew's provides the only dedicated program for unaccompanied children and will use the grant to build on these foundations to give refugee children the best chance to survive and thrive. Services include psychosocial support and education groups, youth leadership training, weekly sports activities, advocacy, and community mobilization.

Steps to Success Program
Family Promise Metrowest, Natick, MA
Grant Amount - $40,000
Families arrive at Family Promise Metrowest (FPM) seeking emergency shelter with limited education and marketable job skills. Many have not achieved a high school diploma and few understand their own job potential. Limited education has trapped them in low paying jobs or they are unemployable, guaranteeing a cycle of poverty. The goal of Steps to Success Program is to break the cycle of poverty by assisting motivated parents in reaching their highest earning potential to provide a sustainable livelihood. This is a comprehensive approach including skills assessment, job exploration options, skills development, networking and employment.

The Guardian Angels Project
Southwest California Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Glendale, CA
Grant Amount - $7,500
The Guardian Angels Project is a response to the current crisis of unaccompanied migrant children crossing the Mexican border. The all-volunteer program is comprised of immigrant and non-immigrant teams of congregation members who observe immigration hearings of unaccompanied children to ensure transparency and fairness in the courts and to provide information and support to the children and their families/guardians. Volunteers distribute cards with information about low-cost legal and medical services, and also provide pastoral support as needed. Volunteers also report evidence of violations in court procedures to the National Lawyers’ Guild located near the immigration court in order to ensure that this vulnerable population receives fair consideration of their immigration cases.

About Wheat Ridge Ministries

Established in 1905, Wheat Ridge Ministries provides funding and support for inspired leaders starting new health and human care ministries. These ministries encompass a wide range of innovative solutions from free health clinics to after-school programs, refugee support to care of older adults. We believe that all of God’s people are called to help others experience a more abundant life. Our efforts support those who are focused on improving the health of the whole person, by addressing wellness of body, mind and spirit. We’ve helped thousands of ministries get started. Currently, more than 70 Lutheran-affiliated ministries around the world are receiving assistance through Wheat Ridge grants and WeRaise crowdfunding grants. To learn more, please visit www.wheatridge.org. You can also find Wheat Ridge on Facebook and Twitter.