The Episcopal Diocese of Utah has announced the first round of annual grant awards, totaling more than $1 million, to community agencies and organizations.
More than $150,000 was also granted to 17 Utah parish ministries.Agencies receiving grants, made from the charitable fund of the Corporation of the Bishop of the Diocese of Utah, are:
Holy Cross Hospital AIDS program; Utah Issues, Ulster Project - Utah, Salt Lake and Ogden Chapters; Alliance House, Salt Lake City; Campus Christian Center, University of Utah; Spouse Abuse Victim Assistance Project, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake; St. Mark's Millcreek; Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center; Work Activity Center; Community Pastoral Care Nurse; and Odyssey House, Salt Lake City.
Also: Habitat for Humanity; Camp Kostopulos, Guadalupe School, Salt Lake City; Utah Children; the Indian Alcoholism Counseling and Recovery House Program - Health Clinic; Planned Parenthood of Utah; Valley Recreation and Rehabilitation Camp; Utah Independent Living Center; and the Salt Lake AIDS Foundation.
A separate educational grant has been pledged to Rowland Hall/St. Mark's School for the replacement of their windows, in recognition of the historical relationship of the school and the Diocese.
The Diocese has also ensured the establishment of two trusts for indigent health care - one at HCA/St. Mark's Hospital, which has been termed the largest such trust of its kind in the country - and another to be administered by the Episcopal bishop of Utah for indigent health care throughout the state.
Following the sale of St. Mark's Hospital at the end of last year, the Diocese established a charitable fund advisory group to review funding requests and make recommendations for the disbursal of this year's funds.
While most grant awards were not released until Dec. 20, one exception was the $600,000 grant to assist completion of the Salt Lake Community Shelter and Resource Center, granted last June, to help ensure the opening of the shelter before the winter months.
The Diocese invites non-profit agencies to request applications for next year's grants. Explaining the mission behind the grants, the Rev. Canon Bradley S. Wirth, canon to the Ordinary of the Diocese, said, "We are eager to assist in efforts which actively promote respect for the dignity of every human being.
"We wish to be partners with those committed to alleviating the harsh burdens of poverty, abuse, chemical dependence, illness and oppression. We also seek to support those striving for greater independence and self sufficiency, who have disabilities.
"Special consideration will be given to organizations that seek to prevent conditions of poverty, abuse or neglect" or that provide "advocacy, direct services or support services for the targeted populations," he said.
Applications may be requested by writing: Charitable Fund Grants, The Episcopal Diocese of Utah, P.O. Box 3090, Salt Lake City, 84110-3090. Deadline for applications is June 15, 1989. Notification of awards will be by Nov. 1, 1989.