SPEER TRUST AWARDS $197,475 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 cause of poverty and work in partnership with Presbyterians.

Projects funded in January 2007 are:

CALVARY CORNER HOUSE: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR ELDERLY HOMELESS MEN, WILMINGTON, DE (CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH) - $12,475

Purpose of Grant: To provide up to six months of housing to homeless men from Friendship House’s Andrew’s Place Emergency Shelter who have demonstrated the life skills and self-discipline to graduate into independent housing.

DAYTIME EMPOWERMENT CENTER FOR CECIL COUNTY, ELKTON, MD

(MEETING GROUND) – $25,000

Purpose of Grant: In addition to emergency services, the grant will help support the center’s workshops designed to assist the homeless citizens of Cecil County in developing skills enabling them to transition into society and achieve self-sufficiency.

SOCIAL EMPOWERMENT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, NEWARK, DE

(YWCA DELAWARE) – $20,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide a project coordinator for a program designed to help women transitioning from welfare, widowhood or divorce to learn practical skills and develop confidence to become economically self-sufficient.

CECIL COUNTY’S NEW SERVICE PARADIGM, ELKTON, MD (COMMUNITY COALITION FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INC.) - $30,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide affordable housing to individuals who have experienced mental health issues and/or homelessness with the skills, strategies and resources to be successful tenants.

Speer Trust Commission

January 2007 Funding

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AT-RISK YOUTH ASSESSMENTS AND TRACKING, WILMINGTON, DE (INTERFAITH COALITION BUILDING BLOCKS FOR WILMINGTON) –

$40,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide funds to develop an at-risk youth assessment and tracking program in order to minimize the likelihood that hard to reach, at-risk youth will become involved in delinquent and criminal behavior, and set them on a developmental path toward high achievement.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR SALARY AND RELATED EXPENSES, GEORGETOWN, DE (SUSSEX COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY) - $35,000

Purpose of Grant: To provide staff to manage the recruitment and placement of volunteers needed to fulfill the organization’s growth as they strive to address the affordable housing needs in Sussex County.

SUMMER CAMP FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, CLAYMONT, DE (CLAYMONT COMMUNITY CENTER) - $25,000

Purpose of Grant: To fund a camp that will support continued learning and cultural enrichment of elementary students. The camp will also engage their parents, other adults and older youth in planning and implementing the program.

DELAWARE FUTURES EXPANSION, WILMINGTON, DE (DELAWARE FUTURES, INC.) - $10,000

Purpose of Grant: To expand the program that helps prepare at-risk urban youth for college. With a college acceptance rate of 84%, the program, through experiential education and other creative techniques, releases its students’ potential with four years of social, emotional and motivational support.

NEW APPLICATION GUIDELINES: Copies of a five-page proposal and budget are due in the Speer Trust office by 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 30, for the next funding cycle. For information and an updated application, please contact Speer Trust at (302) 366-0595. Web site: www.speertrust.org

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