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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 13, 2002

WOMEN OF THE ELCA STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES
02-290-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) awarded $164,100 in grants to projects that strengthen
families and communities domestically and internationally.
     The Women of the ELCA Grants Program represents "one way in which
the women's organization fulfills its organizational commitment to bring
healing and wholeness in the church, society and the world," said Doris
Strieter, grants program administrator, Women of the ELCA.
     "Because of the generous gifts of predecessor women's
organizations and the ongoing gifts from Women of the ELCA, the
organization has been able to award more than $2.5 million since Women
of the ELCA's beginning in 1988," said Strieter.
     The program selection committee chose 54 projects from 120
applications it received.  The committee gave priority to proposals that
demonstrate community needs; make a difference in people's lives;
request funding for one year and have objectives that can be achieved
within that year; demonstrate significant involvement of women in
planning, decision making, implementation and evaluation; and are
consistent with Women of the ELCA's purpose statement, said Strieter.
     The women's organization awarded $123,000 in grants to support
projects in Fremont and Ontario, Calif.; Washington, D.C.; Bradenton,
Fla.; Chicago, Macomb, Palatine and Rockford, Ill.; Spencer, Iowa;
Atchison, Kan.; Baltimore; Marlboro, Mass.; Minneapolis and St. Paul,
Minn.; Long Beach, Miss.; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Camden,
N.J.; Brooklyn, Buffalo, Plattsburgh and Rochester, N.Y.; Cherokee,
N.C.; Fargo, N.D.; Dayton, Toledo and Warren, Ohio; Burns and Portland,
Ore.; Lock Haven, Pa.; Providence, R.I.; Sioux Falls and Vermillion,
S.D.; Wichita Falls, Texas; Everett and Seattle, Wash.; Elkhorn,
LaCrosse and Racine, Wis.
     In addition to funds awarded through the Women of the ELCA Grants
Program, special grants to programs in India were awarded through the
India Endowment Fund, a legacy of predecessor women's organizations.
Through this fund, Women of the ELCA awarded $21,100 in grants to
primary health care organizations, education and church organizations
for women and girls in India.
     The organization also awarded $20,000 in grants to support
projects in Haiti, Jerusalem, Kenya, Madagascar, Nicaragua, Philippines,
South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
-- -- --
     Information about the Women of the ELCA Grants Program is
maintained at http://www.elca.org/wo/whatwedo/02awards.html on the
Internet.

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