Thursday, July 15, 2010 - Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation announces grant awards totaling $1,950,714 to 45 non-profit organizations located in Buncombe, Catawba, Chatham, Davie, Durham, Gaston, Guilford, Haywood, Iredell, Macon, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, Union, and Wake Counties in North Carolina and Charleston, Greenville and York Counties in South Carolina.

The grant funds will be used for a wide variety of purposes by the organizations. Supported programs include affordable housing, children’s services, crisis assistance, education, food distribution, health care, immigration assistance, job training, legal services, services to the elderly, and social services.

The following 45 organizations will benefit from the Foundation’s most recent grantmaking activities.

• A Child’s Haven, Greenville, SC provides therapeutic intervention and prevention services for developmentally delayed, abused and neglected children and their families. They were awarded a two year grant of $62,916 to provide salary and benefits for a Master’s level parent educator.

• Achievement Academy of Durham, Durham, NC empowers at-risk students to become productive, successful members of the community through GED and post-secondary education. They will receive $35,000 to contribute to the salary and benefits of the Academic Director and case manager.

• Assistance League of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC provides food, clothing and educational materials for low-income children through various programs including the Snacks at School, Operation USA, Operation School Bell and Mecklenburg County Teen Court. They were awarded $10,000 for the purchase of food for the Snacks at School Program.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Piedmont, High Point, NC helps children to develop socially, academically and personally by placing a positive role model in their lives. They will receive $30,000 for support of a case manager’s salary.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle, Raleigh, NC will receive $50,000 for salary support of Enrollment and Match Support Specialists. The organization provides wholesome relationships for children primarily of single parent homes in need of a secondary role model.

• Blue Ridge Mountains Health Project, Cashiers, NC provides dental services to individuals who are otherwise unable to afford and obtain such services. They were awarded $30,000 to help provide operating support for the Free Dental Clinic.

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Nash/Edgecombe Counties, Rocky Mount, NC guides youth to become independent successful citizens through recreational and educational programs. Their $42,000 grant will be used for salary support of teachers for the Project Learn Program.

• Boys and Girls Club of the Piedmont, Statesville, NC enables young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. They will receive $32,000 for the salary of a Responsible Attitudes Program Manager.

• Caring for Children, Asheville, NC creates safety in the lives of children and families in crisis by providing care, shelter, education and treatment. They were awarded $60,000 to help support the Trinity Place Runaway and Homeless Shelter for Youth.

• Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC supports and empowers individuals, families and faith communities through the provision of foster care, adoption and pregnancy support services. Their $50,000 grant will be used to provide salary and support for a Bilingual Counselor.

• Center for Volunteer Caregiving, Cary, NC provides volunteer support to elderly and disabled adults to help them maintain independence, dignity and quality of life. They were awarded $19,500 for the salary of a Transportation Program Coordinator.

• Charlotte Community Health Clinic, Charlotte, NC provides healthcare services to low-income uninsured residents of Mecklenburg County. Their $71,728 grant will be used for salary support of a Nurse Practitioner.

• Charlotte Rescue Mission, Charlotte, NC provides an intensive chemical dependence recovery and rehabilitation program for homeless men and women or those about to become homeless. Their $32,370 grant will be used to provide salary and benefits support for a substance abuse counselor for Dove’s Nest, which is a free, 120-day residential chemical addiction recovery program.

• Chatham Outreach Alliance, Pittsboro, NC provides emergency food to families in need. They were awarded $40,000 to support its Summer Nutritional Assistance for Chatham Kids (SNACK) Program.

• Children First/Communities in Schools of Buncombe County, Asheville, NC works to improve the lives of children, youth and their families through community collaboration, advocacy and programs that help young people successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. They will receive $40,000 to help support the Project MARCH After-School Program.

• Citizen Schools, Charlotte, NC educates youth, strengthens communities and brings new solutions to the challenge of young adult education through out-of-school time programming for low-income middle school children. Their $50,000 grant will provide operating assistance to the Martin Luther King, Jr. and Eastway Middle Schools academic enrichment programs.

• Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Charlotte, NC helps students at risk of academic and social failure learn successfully, stay in school and prepare for life. They were awarded $50,000 to assist with case management and related student programming.

• Community Clinic of Rutherford County, Forest City, NC provides accessible, quality medical care, wellness education and medication assistance to low income and uninsured adults. They will receive $47,000 to purchase medical equipment for the Clinic’s new facility.

• Community Health Services, Charlotte, NC promotes wellness by providing health screening, physical examinations, immunizations, prescription assistance and health education services to individuals and families in low-income communities. Their $75,000 grant will be used for operating support of the Physician Reach Out Program.

• Community Health Services of Union County, Monroe, NC provides outreach services to the indigent and underserved population through community clinics, diabetes services, prescription assistance and wellness programs. Their $45,000 grant will provide salary and benefits support for the Certified Diabetes Educator and for the purchase of glucose testing strips and supplies.

• Davie County United Way, Mocksville, NC unites the resources of the community to identify and address the most pressing human needs. They will receive $30,000 for rental assistance funds for the Home Loss Prevention Program.

• Durham Literacy Center, Durham, NC works to empower Durham County residents to enrich their lives by improving their literacy skills. They were awarded a two year grant of $21,000 to provide support for the ESOL and family literacy personnel and materials costs for Escuela de la Familia Program, which empowers Latino families with limited English proficiency by preparing young children for school while helping mothers learn language, parenting and cultural skills.


• Early Learning Partnership of York County, Rock Hill, SC will receive $62,000 for the salary of a Nurse Practitioner for the Healthy Tomorrows Program. The Partnership helps prepare children to reach school healthy and ready to succeed.

• Family Violence Prevention Center, Raleigh, NC provides safety and support to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their families. They also promote violence-free relationships and communities by providing direct services, residential counseling and community education and training. Their $50,000 grant will provide operating support for the organization’s Emergency Shelter’s residential case manager and children’s counselor.

• FIRST at Blue Ridge, Ridgecrest, NC provides guidance, opportunity and education to those with addictions. Their $50,000 grant will provide salary and benefits for a Licensed Clinical Director for the new Women and Children FIRST substance abuse recovery program.

• Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, Hickory, NC unites the resources of the community to serve people in need of crisis assistance, support and education. They were awarded $65,000 to increase the hours of the pharmacist and pharmacy technician and to purchase medications.

• Habitat for Humanity of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC promotes and assists in the development, building, renovation, rehabilitation and maintenance of housing for economically disadvantaged persons in Charlotte. Their $50,000 grant will provide support for the Habitat Critical Home Repair Program.

• Henderson County Free Medical Clinic, Hendersonville, NC provides health, prevention, education and coordination services to uninsured, low income clients. Their $35,000 grant will be used for the salary of a half-time RN Case Manager and diabetic supplies.

• Hispanic Liaison of Chatham County, Siler City, NC fosters cultural understanding among Latinos and other residents of Chatham County. They were awarded $35,000 for general operating support for its four core services of Basic Assistance, Financial Counseling, Assistance to Latino Victims of Crime and Latino Youth Development and Gang Prevention.

• Homeward Bound of Asheville, Asheville, NC works to end the cycle of chronic homelessness by offering service-enriched, permanent supportive housing. They were awarded a two year grant of $47,000 to help provide the salary and benefits of a licensed substance abuse counselor.

• Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, Waynesville, NC reduces child abuse and neglect through prevention programs, education, victim services, family support and community awareness activities. They will receive $23,000 to provide operating support including a portion of the salary and benefits of a Victim Advocate.

• Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, Charlotte, NC provides civil legal assistance in the areas of public benefits, housing, family and consumer law to eligible low-income people. They will receive $75,000 for the Employment Law Program.

• Lowcountry AIDS Services, Charleston, SC was awarded a two year grant of $34,000 to provide support for the case management program. The organization provides case management services, financial and supportive assistance to individuals affected by HIV, AIDS or related diseases as well as information and educational programs for the public.

• Mercy Housing SouthEast, Atlanta, GA creates and strengthens healthy communities through the provision of quality, affordable, service-enriched housing for individuals and families who are economically poor. Their $25,000 grant will provide salary support for a part-time nurse’s salary as well as computer costs for Mercy Place in Gaston County. Mercy Place provides affordable housing for 42 low-income seniors aged 62 and older.

• Metanoia Community Development Corporation, North Charleston, SC invests in neighborhood assets to build leaders, establish quality housing, and generate economic development. They were awarded $32,000 to support the Young Leaders Afterschool Program, specifically the salary of the Director of Children’s Leadership Development.

• Mountain BizWorks, Asheville, NC provides business training, technical assistance, group support and loans for low-income people who want to start or expand a local small business. They will receive $65,000 to provide personnel and operating support for the Foundations Business Planning Program.

• On Track Financial Education & Counseling, Asheville, NC provides financial education and counseling for consumers to promote effective money management and to provide assistance to those experiencing financial difficulty. Their $45,000 grant will provide salary and benefits for a Housing/Financial Counselor.

• Prevent Blindness North Carolina, Raleigh, NC prevents blindness, preserves and restores sight. They were awarded $25,000 to help support the Preschool Photo-refractive Vision Screening Program.

• Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, Charlotte, NC provides care, education and leadership development to persons affected by AIDS. Their $45,000 grant will provide salary and benefits for medical case management staff.

• Room at the Inn, Charlotte, NC provides maternity and after-care support for pregnant mothers, new mothers and their children through residential and non-residential rehabilitative and counseling services. They were awarded a two year grant of $60,000 to contribute to the salary of the professional counselor for the Pre-Natal Counseling and Extended After-Care & Outreach Program.

• Rutherford Lifeservices, Spindale, NC provides services to individuals and families with special needs that enhance the quality of their lives. They will receive $18,200 to support the Life Care Adult Day Health Program.

• Second Harvest Food Bank, Charlotte, NC feeds the hungry by soliciting and distributing food and other grocery products through partner agencies. They also educate people in the community about the nature of and solutions to the problems of hunger. They were awarded $60,000 to contribute to the purchase of food for the Mobile Pantry Program.

• Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abuse, Durham, NC helps chronic drug addicts become healthy members of the community. They will receive $66,000 for the salary of a Men’s Program Case Manager.

• Wake Interfaith Hospitality Network, Raleigh, NC provides shelter, meals assistance and compassion to homeless families. They were awarded $35,000 to provide salary and benefits support for a clinical social worker in the Transitional Housing Program.

• Women’s Resource Center of Greensboro, Greensboro, NC promotes the self-reliance of women by assessing needs, providing services and acting as a gateway to community resources. Their $25,000 grant award will contribute to the salary of the Program Director of the New Choices Program, which provides pre-employment training and placement case management to assist displaced homemakers to increase their employability.

Since announcing in October, 1996 that it was ready to begin receiving grant applications, the Foundation has awarded 1,058 grants totaling more than $47,800,000 to organizations serving unserved or underserved populations. For information concerning the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation, please call 704/366-0087 or visit our web site at www.somncfdn.org.