Episcopal Press and News
PB's Fund Shows Increasing Support for Health Care Around the Globe
Episcopal News Service. May 13, 1992 [92115]
The Board of Directors of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief approved over $1.1 million in grants on May 6 in New York City. Grants to aid 32 projects in the United States, for a total of $555,748, and grants to aid 22 international projects, for a total of $518,951, were announced.
The largest domestic grant --$300,000 -- will support relief to people in neighborhoods of Los Angeles devastated by recent riots. "The board has made it clear that they wanted to respond immediately to this extraordinary situation," said Nan Marvel, director of the grants program for the fund. "However, the board's concern extends beyond Los Angeles, and it is ready to respond to civil unrest in other places."
Marvel noted that the board is responding to an increasing number of requests to aid programs that support basic health care. "Although we continue to respond to a variety of disasters, migration-related needs, and housing programs, we are seeing a great deal of requests for AIDS-related programs, and for support of basic health care for the poor or those without health insurance," Marvel said.
Among the recent grants, the PB's Fund provided $27,000 to Transitional Living Center, a housing facility in the Diocese of Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) that meets the needs of people recuperating from illness, surgery, or bouts with chronic illness and have little or no hospital coverage.
The fund awarded $10,000 to the Anishinaable Way, an alcohol and drug abuse program in the Diocese of Eau Claire that serves Native American youth by concentrating on the spiritual potential for healing the disease.
The Diocese of Ft. Worth received $5,000 for support of Casa Ricardo Chacon, a shelter and social ministry for Central American refugees who have fled their countries in fear of their lives and liberty due to religious or personal beliefs.
In addition to projects in the United States, the fund awarded $99,515 to Anglican Childcare, a program in Ethiopia that provides care for 900 orphans, including health care and education for children, and the teaching of practical skills for older youth.
An AIDS education and prevention program in the Anglican Province of Uganda received $25,000. The funds will help underwrite an HIV/AIDS project, including purchase and shipment of medical supplies.
St. Xenia's Hospital Outpatient Clinic and Diagnostic Center in St. Petersburg, Russia, was sent $10,000, which will be used to refurbish the facilities as well to purchase two computers and an office photocopier.
The fund awarded $20,000 to Romanian Children's Aid, a project that will provide support for the St. Laurence Children's Hospice, a 100-bed hospice for children with life-threatening diseases.
A significant portion ($187,000) of $215,366 grant to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East is earmarked for projects to help alleviate the continuing plight of the Kurds in northern Iraq.