National Lutheran Awards $253,500 in Grants for 2017

December 6, 2016

National Lutheran Communities & Services’ (NLCS) Community Impact Council awarded 30 grants for the 2017 grant year, totaling $253,500. This marks the fourth year of the grant program, with a significant increase in amounts requested, number of grantees and awarded funds throughout Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and Delaware. Last year, $221,250 and 21 grants were awarded through the program.

 “Once again we are gratified by the response that the NLCS Community Impact Program has received. The Community Impact Advisory Council was pleased to see so many high-quality proposals for 2017 containing a wide variety of programs that serve older adults who are aging in place,” NLCS’ Chief Philanthropy Officer Kathryn Baerwald said. “We also are well aware of the wonderful work that has been done by the 2016 grantees that have been bringing moments of grace to the lives of seniors throughout Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and Delaware. We continue to give thanks to the NLCS Board of Trustees for making this possible.”

The Community Impact Program was established to enhance NLCS’ commitment to the greater community through working collaboratively with other organizations and continued efforts to enrich the lives of seniors. Each organization’s proposal met one of the following greatest needs identified by a recent community needs assessment: chronic disease management, navigating and accessing health care and social services, dealing with Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory loss, social isolation and financial insecurity. The awardees are:

• Augusta Health Foundation in Staunton, Va., $15,000
• Blue Ridge Hospice in Winchester, Va., $15,000
• Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington, Inc. in Washington, D.C. and Southern Md., $13,000
• Colonial Heritage Community Foundation, Inc. in Williamsburg, Va., $15,000
• Community Ministries of Rockville's Elderly Ministries Program in Rockville, Md., $10,000
• Crossroads Community Food Network in Tacoma Park, Md., $7,500
• Diakon Adult Day Services at Ravenwood in Hagerstown, Md., $7,000
• EveryMind in Rockville, Md., $5,000
• Gaithersburg HELP, Inc. in Gaithersburg, Md., $4,000
• Grace Network in Martinsville, Va., $5,000
• GraceInside in Richmond, Va., $15,000.00
• H.E.L.P. - Health Equipment Loan Program in Churchville, Va., $2,000
• Highland Food Pantry, Inc. in Winchester Va., $4,000
• Hospice Caring, Inc. in Gaithersburg, Md., $5,000
• Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, Inc. in Rockville, Md., $10,000
• Jewish Social Service Agency in Rockville, Md., $7,500
• Low Vision Center in Bethesda, Md., $2,000
• Lutheran Church of the Abiding Presence in Burke, Va., $2,000
• Lutheran Community Services, Inc. in Wilmington, Del., $15,000
• Manna Food Center in Rockville, Md., $1,000
• Mental Health America of Fredericksburg in Fredericksburg, Va., $10,000
• Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc. in Newport News, Va., $10,000
• Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services in Culpepper, Va., $7,500
• Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia in Norfolk, Va., $12,500
• Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging in Front Royal, Va., $5,000
• Shenandoah Valley Lutheran Ministries in partnership with Shenandoah County Health Ministry Coalition in Toms Brook, Va., $20,000
• Silver Spring Village, Inc. in Silver Spring, Md., $7,500
• St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., $5,000
• Valley Program for Aging Services in Waynesboro, Va., $11,000
• We Are Family Senior Outreach Network in Washington, D.C., $5,000

About National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS)

Based in Rockville, Md., NLCS is a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Delaware-Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Virginia Synods, serving people of all beliefs. With more than 125-years’ experience, NLCS provides seniors with a variety of lifestyle, residential and health care options through retirement communities and services in Maryland and Virginia. Other communities and services sponsored by National Lutheran include The Village at Rockville in Rockville, Md., The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., The Village at Orchard Ridge and myPotential at Home in Winchester, Va., and The Village at Crystal Spring in Annapolis, Md., subject to Maryland Department of Aging approval. For more information, visit www.nationallutheran.org

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