News & Press Releases
Catholic Extension Provides Three-Year Grant
The Catholic Extension, an office of the United States catholic Conference, has approved a three-year, $105,000 grant to the Outreach in support of its services in general, and to assist the Neighborhood House in particular. The grant will provide $35,000 per year for each of the next three years.
In providing the grant, Catholic Extension agreed to support both the services to the residents of urban Charleston through the Neighborhood House, and to support the Outreach's efforts to promote awareness of its services in the Catholic community in particular, and in other faith communities in general.
The Neighborhood House, established by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in 1915, is the oldest continually operated social service in South Carolina.
Blackbaud System to Promote Development
The Outreach has purchased, and is in the process of transitioning to, a Blackbaud Raiser's Edge development system. This state-of-the-art system will allow the Outreach to better communicate with our supporters and potential supporters. The Raiser's Edge system coordinates donor information, gift record keeping, communications, special events and volunteer information. The system was partially supported through a grant from the Coastal Community Foundation.
Blackbaud, headquartered on Daniel Island just north of Charleston, provides software and management systems for nonprofit organizations worldwide. The Raiser's Edge system, considered by most nonprofits to be the ultimate development software system, will eventually be used by the Outreach both on Johns Island and at the Neighborhood House.
O'Neil Foundation Expands Support
The W. O'Neil Foundation of Chevy Chase, Maryland has awarded a grant to the Outreach in support of its emergency assistance services. The gift will help the Outreach meet the emergency needs of local individuals and families experiencing economic hardships. The gift, totaling $25,000, for the first time also provides support for the services provided by the Outreach through the Neighborhood House in downtown Charleston.
In 2010-2011 the Outreach provided emergency assistance to over 11,000 individuals in the sea islands area and in urban Charleston. $15,000 of the grant will support the emergency assistance services of the Outreach, and $10,000 will be devoted to the needs of those served through the Neighborhood House. The Neighborhood House is best known in the Charleston area for its weekday lunch kitchen, which served over 43,000 lunches last year. The Neighborhood House, established by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in 1915, is the oldest continually operated social service in South Carolina.
The W. O'Neil Foundation is named in honor and memory of William O'Neil, founder of the General Tire Company of Akron, Ohio.
Women Making a Difference Benefit Neighborhood House
The Neighborhood House has received a grant from Women Making a Difference in the amount of $4,200 to fund emergency assistance for women and children in crisis situations. The funds will be administered on a case-by-case basis to women with critical needs and no other available resources. Examples include inability to pay rent or utility bills, and lack of food or medications. More…
Last year, the Neighborhood House distributed over $32,000 in direct emergency assistance; however, requests for assistance far exceeded available resources.
Founded in 2001, by three women of varying ages and backgrounds, Women Making a Difference was formed to build a community of women philanthropists, generate significant annual grants and maintain a permanent endowment.
Since its inception Women Making a Difference has generated over $500,000 which has been distributed throughout the Lowcountry, enhancing the lives of countless women and children.
Grants from Women Making a Difference are administered through the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club Continues Support of Dental Clinic
The Outreach Wellness Center's dental clinic has once again received a grant in support of its services from the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club. The gift, in the amount of $10,000, continues the Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club's longstanding practice of supporting the dental services provided to those in need in the sea islands area. Mike Morris, an officer of the Club, personally dropped off the gift during a recent visit to the Johns Island campus.
The Kiawah-Seabrook Exchange Club is "a service organization committed to community enrichment through the support and development of programs which focus upon the Prevention of Child Abuse, Youth Development and Education, Americanism, and Community Outreach." The Club currently has over 90 members.
ESL: An Apple A Day
This month ESL students will be learning about various aspects of nutrition. They will be studying how to maintain a balanced diet and an active lifestyle. Students will be visited by local nutritionist, Kathleen Parramore. In addition, students will learn important life skills such as how to read nutrition labels and how to prevent childhood obesity.
Here's to a healthy new year!
Service Coordination Enhanced by Gift from Sisters of Charity of South Carolina Foundation
Through a new program entitled "The Fishing Project," the Outreach has enhanced significantly its coordination of services. The intent of the project is to magnify the ability of all of the Outreach's efforts to lift people out of poverty by coordinating the services they receive and by educating them about the means by which they can progress toward a more independent and productive life.
Social worker Deborah LaRoche coordinates the program, involving all of the direct services provided by the Outreach. This program enhancement was made possible through a three-year, $75,000 grant from the Sisters of Charity of South Carolina Foundation.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is a faith-based organization, deeply rooted in the principles of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church. As a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, the Foundation is committed to addressing the causes and effects of poverty in South Carolina. The Foundation has distributed over 1,425 grants to nonprofits working to reduce poverty in the lives of more than 450,000 individuals and families in South Carolina.