• Foundation Meets with Congress
• Foundation Awards $65,000 in Grants
• Collaborative for Ministry Planning Grants Awarded
• Fatherhood Brochure Wins Regional Award
• Bailey Hired as Communications Manager

Foundation Meets with Congress

On April 25 a team visited Washington, D.C. to meet with staff in each delegation regarding the South Carolina Fatherhood Initiative. Pictured above is the team in Congressman Joe Wilson's office, one of the delegates they spoke with. Pictured (left to right): Kelly Walker, executive director of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition; Congressman Joe Wilson; Tom Keith, executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina; Pat Little John, interim director of the Center for Fathers and Families and Robin Bachman, director of public policy for the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine.

Foundation Awards $65,000 in Grants

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has awarded 25 Caritas Fund grants totaling $66,500 to non-profit and faith-based organizations across South Carolina.

"In omnibus caritas" - "In all things charity." As a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina makes Caritas awards twice a year to worthy endeavors of non-profit and faith-based organizations reaching out to meet the immediate needs of the poor. This series of grants are awarded to organizations with social services, education, health, employment and training and community programs.

Organizations receiving grants are as follows: Bluffton Self Help, Inc., Doris Johnson Ministries Banner of Truth, Faith and Hope Intervention Program, First Christian Fellowship Church, Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County, Greater Spartanburg Ministries, Help of Beaufort, Helping and Lending Outreach Support (HALOS), Interfaith Hospitality Network of York County, Lighthouse Ministries, Medication Assistance Program, Nazareth Apostolic Church In Jesus Christ, Inc., Occupational Outlook Center, Outfitted for Work, Pawley's Island Civic Club, Inc., Pee Dee Indian Tribe of South Carolina, PK Outreach, Inc., Reformation Lutheran Church, St. Joseph Conference St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, St. Theresa, The Little Flower Catholic Church/St. Vincent de Paul Society, Woodruff Free Medical Clinic, Young Ladies Conquering Obstacles, Inc., Youth Empowerment Services and Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.

Collaborative for Ministry Initiative Planning Grants Awarded

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is funding seven Collaborative Ministry Initiative projects totaling $55,500 in funding. Collaborative Ministry funding is awarded to ministries of women religious that are working toward sustainability through collaboration.

Collaborative Ministry Grantees:

Clemson University Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life ($15,000)
Project: A Film Project of South Carolina's Women Religious

Franciscan Center ($7,500)
Project: Center of Hope

Franciscan Sisters of Mary ($7,500)
Project: Wholeness Holiness Retreat Program

Saint Gregory The Great Catholic Church and School ($7,500)
Project: Proactive Parenting at SGG

Sea of Peace House of Prayer ($3,000)
Project: Board Development Workshop

Springbank Retreat Center ($7,500)
Project: "Under the Palmetto Tree - planning the future together"

Thumbs Up, Inc. ($7,500)
Project: Thumbs Up Succession Planning

Fatherhood Brochure Wins Regional Award

The Foundation's Fatherhood Initiative Overview Brochure, Changing Labels on Absent Fathers, received a Silver Addy in the American Advertising Federation's (AAF) annual Addy Awards competition. The Addy Awards, honoring creative excellence in advertising, is considered the world's largest advertising competition with 60,000 entries each year.

Bailey Hired as Communications Manager

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has hired Brooke Bailey as its communications manager. In this position, she will be responsible for the public relations activities of the Foundation including media relations, board and staff education, website development and Foundation publications.

Bailey holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of South Carolina. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was the assistant marketing communications manager for Wild Dunes Resort in Charleston, S.C.