Good Shepherd Foundation Awards First Grants

COLUMBIA, SC – In 2009, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church established a charitable foundation for the purpose of providing gifts through financial grants to organizations and individuals in need based on the interest earned from the endowment. The Foundation Board is pleased to announce that, in accordance with the operating policies of the Foundation, the endowment in 2014 awarded its first grants.

Grant recipients for 2014 are:

Family Promise of the Midlands

Family Promise of the Midlands is a faith-based nonprofit agency whose mission is to help homeless and low-income families achieve sustainable independence. Two grants of $1,000 each for a total of $2,000 were awarded. Each grant will be used to sponsor a family through providing assistance with startup costs associated with moving into permanent housing. Typical costs incurred include utility deposits, moving expenses, basic appliances, and renters insurance.

Lutheran Campus Ministry

LCM helps students at USC, Midlands Tech, and Columbia College grow deeper in their spiritual, vocational, and personal lives while attending their educational institutions. LCM serves to keep Christ central during this time of discovery and transition. $1,000 was awarded and will be used for Bible studies, worship resources, student outreach, and communications with alumni.

Tanzania

The Tanzania grant of $1,000 will support the pastors and evangelists by providing money for gas for their motorcycles and supplies used in evangelism and parish support throughout the diocese. The pastors have several churches in different villages and travel between them using small motorcycles. The pastors’ income is very low, and this grant money will assist them in spreading the good news of Christ throughout the Diocese.

Harvest Hope

The mission of Harvest Hope Food Bank is to provide for the needs of hungry people by gathering and sharing quality food with dignity, compassion and education. The grant awarded will provide for 500 meals to those in need.

The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Foundation distributes grants to selected applicants who fall into one of four categories:

• Community institutions and agencies to which Good Shepherd relates, and to the special programs designed for those who are in spiritual and/or economic need.
• Institutions and agencies of the South Carolina Synod of the ELCA and for missions of the ELCA at home and overseas.
• For GSLC members to attend an ELCA Seminary or other training which enables members of this congregation to grow in Christian faith and service to God’s people.
• For non-budgeted special projects of GSLC not normally funded by the congregation’s annual budget.

The Foundation Board recognizes that the people of Good Shepherd know the needs of our community and encourages them to be part of this grant-making process. For more information, please contact Libby Anne Inabinet, Foundation Board Chair, at [email protected].