wfn.org | Minority Grants Total $281,104

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Contact:  Joretta Purdue
(123)
		Washington (202)546-8722		March 2, 1998

Grants enable variety of services
to minority groups across country

WASHINGTON (UMNS) - Twenty-three grants totaling $281,104 have been
awarded to United Methodist-sponsored projects and organizations serving
various minority groups. 
The decisions were made here in a semi-annual meeting of the Commission
on Religion and Race, which administers the Minority Group Self
Determination Fund of the United Methodist Church.
A total of 74 proposals worth $1,209,441 had been received for this
round of funding.
Some of the projects are directed toward filling a need that may have
been caused at least in part by changes in legislation in recent years.
Some others are directed at helping children and youth. 
Among the work-related projects are the Career Exploration Mission of
John Wesley United Methodist Church in Washington, Pa., which serves
African Americans. It was awarded $13,000.
Another is Sewing to Make a Living in Laredo, Texas, for Hispanic
people. It was awarded $15,000.
The United Methodist Welfare to Work Project of four Richmond, Va.,
United Methodist churches received $19,000 to serve African American,
Hispanic and Asian constituencies. The churches are Asbury, Wesley,
Sherbourne and Christ United Methodist churches.
The Youth Initiative in Denver, Colo., was given $8,000 for work with
Hispanic, African American and Native American youth.
Youth Development, a project of Bethany United Methodist Church in
Brooklyn, N.Y., received $20,000 for its work with African Americans.
The Muscogee Native American Youth Project in Muskogee, Okla., was
granted $7,000 for its work with Native American young people.
The South Central Jurisdiction Vietnamese Caucus Children and Youth
Retreat in Grand Prairie, Texas, received $5,000.
MUSTER Project Mentoring and Tutorial Program was given $16,000 for a
Beckley, W.Va., program for African American young people.
First United Methodist Church, San Jose, Calif., was awarded $18,500 for
The New Generation Outreach, a project serving Vietnamese in the
community.
In Chicago, Iglesia Methodist Unida Betania will administer a $19,000
grant to the Bethany/Adalberto Immigrant Defense Fund. And in
Indianapolis, Ind., Iglesia Metodista Unida Vida Nueva received $8,000
for its Hispanic Ministry Family Project.
Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Laotion, Cambodian and
Vietnamese Ohioans will benefit from a $2,000 grant to the West Ohio
Conference Asian American Fellowship.
The Housing Assistance Project in Ypsilanti, Mich., which serves African
Americans and Native Americans, received a grant of $3,000.
An award of $10,000 was given to help the Colonia Women's Organizing and
Self Development Project in Edinburg, Texas.
Other grants will be given at the commission's next meeting in
September.
United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
Releases and photos also available at
http://www.umc.org/umns/