SPEER TRUST AWARDS $187,750 IN GRANTS

The Speer Trust Commission of New Castle Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.),

funds projects in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The primary goal of the grants is to provide assistance to organizations of people who live on low incomes so that they are empowered to gain control over their own lives. The projects must address the root causes of poverty and work in partnership with Presbyterians.

Projects funded in June 2006 are:

DELAWARE AVP WOMEN’S RE-ENTRY PROJECT – WILMINGTON, DE

(A CENTER FOR RELATIONAL LIVING) - $36,250

Purpose of Grant: For a program focused on assisting released female inmates in developing and sustaining their goals for their transition back into society including employment, housing and parenting. Churches and church-member mentors will be involved in the process of increasing awareness of the social justice system.

REACHING TOMORROW’S LEADERS TODAY – CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM – NEW CASTLE, DE (REACHING THE HARVEST, INC.) - $9,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide a program for economically disadvantaged teenagers with the skills needed for employment and personal development.

COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT – DOVER, DE

(NEW HORIZONS COOPERATIVE) - $18,000

Purpose of Grant: To support a group of low-income immigrants and U.S. born poultry workers who are working to establish a community of new manufactured housing and an agricultural enterprise to augment, for the long term, their income and quality of life.

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORIAL PROGRAM – WILMINGTON, DE

(WEST CENTER CITY SEEKERS) - $30,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide educational and academic enrichment to at-risk children in West Center City.

Speer Trust Commission

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THE WAY HOME MEN’S TRANSITIONAL HOUSE – MILLSBORO, DE

(THE WAY HOME, INC.) - $37,000

Purpose of Grant: For a program that will support ex-offenders making the transition back into the community.

ADULT LITERACY LEARNING CENTER – WILMINGTON, DE

(LITERACY VOLUNTEERS SERVING ADULTS/NORTHERN DELAWARE, INC.) - $25,000

Purpose of Grant: To support a program which will provide free individual tutoring for adults and their families in basic reading and conversational English skills.

LATINO-AMERICAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION – LEWES, DE

(LATINO-AMERICAN YOUTH ORGANIZATION) - $5,000

Purpose of Grant: To develop a youth organization that addresses the needs of at-risk youth and supports efforts that will achieve academic excellence, leadership and community awareness.

HAITIAN IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE IN DELAWARE – SEAFORD, DE

(PRIME-ECUMENICAL COMMITMENT TO REFUGEES) - $20,000

Purpose of Grant: To support a program that will address the root causes of poverty by

providing legal immigration counseling for Haitians and training for a better community.

Haitians will also be trained to lead the program.

UNITING LOW INCOME RESIDENTS IN DELAWARE – DOVER, DE

(DELAWARE STATE WIDE ASSOCIATION OF TENANTS, INC.) - $7,500

Purpose of Grant: To support a program that will improve public awareness to fair housing laws, encourage homeownership, and strengthen communities by helping councils and residents access the resources they need to make more livable communities.

Letters of intent are due in the Speer Trust office by October 13 for the next funding cycle. For information and an application, please contact Speer Trust at

(302) 366-0595. Web site: www.speertrust.org

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