GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Catholic Foundation of West Michigan will award a total of more than $92,000 dollars to some organizations that are having a positive impact on the community.
The annual grant presentation will take place next Wednesday at an invitation-only event at Cathedral Square Center. The awards are going to eight West Michigan nonprofits. They were determined through a competitive grant process.
Greg Deja is the Catholic Foundation's executive director. He told WOOD Radio the grant funding comes from a pool of sources.
"We have an annual giving program called the Bishop's Angels. And then, our sponsor is through the Catholic Business Leaders Forum. So, we take that pool of donor generosity and we invite projects from the wider community. Many of them Catholic, but not all. And we have five funding priorities that we use, and criteria to evaluate all the applications," Deja said.
The grant-awarding ceremony is an exciting time for nonprofit leaders, who get to talk about their mission and why they are passionate about it. The ceremony is mostly a reception, with a couple brief remarks by each grant recipient.
"So, given the opportunity to not only receive funding but to share the impact that the grants will have on their ministry, their mission, is a real honor," Deja said.
Here is the list of award winners. Each entity applied for a different grant amount:
- Catholic Information Center for its Leadership Formation Institute for Hispanic Ministry.
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic School for its Blaze program.
- Bishop Baraga Academy for its grand opening.
- The Diocese of Grand Rapids – Office of Communications for its “Together is Where We Belong” return to Mass campaign.
- Prince of Peace Parish for its Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program.
- Catholic Charities West Michigan for child safety classes at its St. Gianna No Cost Baby Boutique.
- Revive & Thrive Project for its nourishing meals program.
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School for its Arrowsmith Program.
"At the Catholic Foundation, we recognize that love is the greatest of virtues, and charity is the demonstration of this love in action for the well-being of others,” said Greg Deja said in a Catholic Diocese news release. He is the executive director of the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan.
He added, “It is a joy to see the tangible outcomes of our donors’ charity that impact so many lives in our community.”
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