Grants available for Catholic social agencies via annual fund

BY EMMALEE ITALIA  Contributing Editor

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 grant from the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund. With approximately $10,000 available to assist the poor and vulnerable through Catholic social service agencies, these institutions are encouraged to apply now for grant monies that will be awarded later this summer.

All churches, entities, offices, apostolates or ministries that serve those in need are eligible to apply. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 2 to be considered.

The fund was named for the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Trenton and is designed to assist recipients with special projects. The $10,000 grant total comes from the annual interest accrued by the fund over the previous calendar year.

Applicants are asked to provide the name of the project, its purpose and goal, the length of project from start to finish, who the project will impact and how its success will be measured. Following the project’s completion, grant winners are asked to submit a self-evaluation report on how the funds were utilized and how the project goals were met.

In 2022 the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund committee reviewed a pool of applications and awarded grants to six Catholic social service agencies throughout the Diocese.

CYO of Mercer County, Trenton, received a 2022 grant to supplement its Broad Street Trenton After School Program of tutoring and academic enrichment, which experienced heightened need following pandemic school closures and students losing valuable in-person instruction. In Marlboro, Collier Youth Services used its 2022 grant to fund scholarships to its Kateri Day Camp – another youth educational enrichment opportunity.

On the food insecurity and housing front, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County, Toms River, was able to use its grant last year to offset shelter and meal expenses for families, as well as its educational and lifestyles programs. Additionally, fresh produce was purchased with grant monies by Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, to give to recipients of its Summer Feeding Families project.

As fuel prices skyrocketed, the Holy Eucharist Parish chapter of St. Vincent de Paul, Tabernacle, used its grant to purchase gasoline gift cards for clients who were at risk for missing doctor appointments or job interviews for lack of fuel. And in the New Jersey State Prison, Trenton, grant money was used to purchase religious media and literature for long-term inmates.

Applications may be requested by contacting Grace Magee in the diocesan Chancery and Pastoral Center, via email: gmagee@ dioceseoftrenton.org; by mail: Diocese of Trenton, P.O. Box 5147, Trenton, NJ 08638, or by logging on to dioceseoftrenton.org/ bishop-ahr-endowment-fund

Completed applications must be mailed by June 2 to: Msgr. Thomas Gervasio, Diocese of Trenton, Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund, 701 Lawrenceville Rd., Trenton, NJ 08648.