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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 18, 2001

WOMEN OF THE ELCA SUPPORTS DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
01-167-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) awarded $120,700 in grants to projects that "help build
healthy families and communities" around the world.
     Through its India Endowment Fund, Women of the ELCA also awarded
$63,418 in grants to primary health care organizations, education and
training programs, and institutions for women in India.
     "The Women of the ELCA Grants Program represents one way that the
women's organization fulfills its commitment to promote healing and
wholeness in the church, the society and the world," said Doris
Strieter, Women of the ELCA, program manager for grants, global
education and Women and Children Living in Poverty.  "Every year, Women
of the ELCA grants help fund projects that help build healthy families
and communities," she said.
     "During 1999-2002, Women of the ELCA is centering its work on the
theme,'Live God's Justice,'" Strieter said.  This year grants were
awarded to "intervention projects -- projects that assist women and
children who are striving to overcome poverty and other crisis
situations -- and prevention projects -- projects that equip people to
live healthy and productive lives," she said.
     "These gifts continue a centuries-old tradition of Christian women
standing with each other in prayer as well as in practical, life-
changing ways," said Catherine I. H. Braasch, executive director, Women
of the ELCA, and a participant in the Women of the ELCA: Grants Program
2001 selection committee.

     The committee chose 46 projects from 105 applications it received.
It gave priority to proposals that "are innovative; can be replicated;
involve collaboration with other groups; address root causes rather than
just symptoms; have the potential to become self-sustaining; have
limited access to other funding sources; involve women or children of
color or whose language is other than English; and have existing
involvement with Women of the ELCA or the ELCA, or the potential for
such involvement," said Strieter.
     The grants program has awarded more than $2 million since 1988.
The size of the domestic and international grants ranged from $500 to
$10,000.
     Women of the ELCA awarded grants to projects in Montgomery, Ala.;
Tucson, Ariz.; Los Angeles, Oakland and West Sacramento, Calif.; Chicago
and Des Plaines, Ill.; Detroit, Muskegon and Muskegon Heights, Mich.;
Richfield, Minn.; Wymore, Neb.; North Branch, N.Y.; Fargo and Fort
Totten, N.D.; Toledo, Ohio; Burns and Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh,
Reading and Upper Darby, Pa.; Greenwood, S.C.; Sioux Falls, S.D.;
Bristol, Tenn.; Brownsville and Houston, Texas; Lynchburg, Va.; Seattle
and Tacoma, Wash.; Bluefield and Kearneysville, W.Va.; and Neillsville
and West Allis, Wis.
     Women of the ELCA awarded grants to projects in Croatia, El
Salvador, Jerusalem, Kenya, Madagascar, Peru and Tanzania.
     In addition to funds awarded through the Women of the ELCA Grants
Program, special grants to programs in India are awarded through the
India Endowment Fund, a legacy of predecessor women's organizations,
said Strieter.
     "Grants from these funds are designated for primary health care
organizations, women's medical and nursing training programs, women's
high school and higher education institutions, and support for lay women
evangelists known as 'Bible Women,'" she said.
-- -- --
     Information about Women of the ELCA is maintained at
www.elca.org/wo on the Web.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html