Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina Awards $89,050 to Sister-led Ministries

September 19, 2012

CHARLESTON, SC – September 19, 2012 – The Sisters of Charity Foundationof South Carolina awarded seven Collaboration for Ministry Initiative(CMI) Strengthening Ministry grants, totaling $89,050, to programsassociated with women religious (Catholic nuns) across South Carolina.

Since its inception, the Foundation has supported women religious intheir efforts with the poor and underserved, and recognizes the needsand challenges facing congregations of women religious in SouthCarolina. The CMI Strengthening Ministry grants are designed to supportwomen religious and strengthen their outreach ministries, which have arange of needs.

The following organizations received 2012 Collaboration for Ministry Initiative grants:

Felician Sisters of St. Ann Catholic Outreach Center inKingstree received $15,000 to set up a technology lab and subscribe to areading and phonics program for underserved children in the afterschool program. ($15,000, Williamsburg County)

Franciscan Center in St. Helena Island was awarded $25,000 forthe Center of Hope project. This project helps economicallydisadvantaged families improve their living conditions, by providingnecessary materials for roofs, ramps, flooring, kitchens and bathrooms,while the family procures labor. It also improves the temporary livingconditions of 1,200 migrant agricultural workers and their families byproviding food, linens, toiletries and clothing. ($25,000, Beaufort County)

Our Lady of Mercy Neighborhood House in Johns Island received$10,000 to support nutritional and educational services that meet theneeds of the poorest of the poor in urban Charleston. ($10,000, Charleston County)

Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Center in Gloverville was awarded $5,000 to help establish a job preparedness center for low-income residents of Horse Creek Valley. ($5,000, Aiken and Edgefield counties)

St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School in Greenville received$14,050 for a comprehensive Student Support Team (SST) to provideassessment, individual education planning and behavioral counseling tostudents. ($14,050, Greenville County)

St. Cyprian Outreach Center in Georgetown was awarded $10,000 to provide low-income families with emergency utility and rent assistance. ($10,000, Georgetown County)

St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Columbia received$10,000 to support the Reading Through the Arts and Technology IIIprogram. The program actively engages students in a global awarenesscurriculum which includes reading, art, music, technology and socialstudies. ($10,000, Richland County)

Visit the Foundation’s website at sistersofcharitysc.com or call 803.254.0230 ext. 17 for more information on the Foundation’s Collaboration for Ministry Initiative.


About the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative

Historically, Sister-affiliated ministries have a strong and successfulrecord in reducing poverty in South Carolina. Sisters have establishedschools, hospitals and social service ministries that have servedhundreds of thousands of people in the state over the past 200 years.Today, due to aging of Sisters and the decline in new recruits, there isan accelerating loss of Sisters’ ministries in South Carolina.Additionally, the few active Sisters remaining are scattered throughoutthe state and they, along with their ministries, are frequently alone intheir efforts to address poverty.

In light of their circumstances, nine years ago, the Foundationbegan an initiative which seeks to understand and assist theseministries in South Carolina. Working to strengthen and sustain theseministries, the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative conducts a varietyof activities including convening meetings, providing technicalassistance, facilitating transitions of leadership of Sister-affiliatedministries, providing grants and evaluating these efforts.

About the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, established in1996, is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. TheFoundation is committed to addressing the needs of the poor andunderserved in all 46 South Carolina counties, and strategically usesresources to reduce poverty through action, advocacy and leadership.