The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia awarded $165,500 to help a variety of causes around the Archdiocese of Atlanta and also awarded its second round of parish enrichment grants for smaller projects.

Agencies that combat child trafficking and homelessness were the top recipients, while programs at schools also benefited from grants.

Catholic Charities received $20,000 for the Immigrant Children’s Advocacy Project, a program that provides legal representation for immigrant children who have been abused, abandoned, victims of crime or subjected to human trafficking.

The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Atlanta, received $20,000 for the redesign and enhancement of the parish hall and Central Night Shelter to help homeless men in Atlanta.

Atlanta Society of St. Vincent de Paul received $25,000 to help with costs associated with a new food distribution center in collaboration with Kroger Co.

The mission of the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia is to support the ministries of the Catholic community through the effective long-term management of endowment funds and the encouragement of stewardship.

Schools received grants to upgrade classroom equipment and provide tuition scholarships.

Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain, received $12,000 in tuition assistance for disadvantaged families attending the Little Ones Preschool program in the Stone Mountain/Clarkson area.

Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Atlanta, received $10,000 to assist in the set-up of a SMART™ classroom for children with learning disabilities, in order to better integrate technology into the curriculum.

Our Lady of Mercy High School, Fayetteville, was given $15,000 to provide scholarships for disadvantaged and minority families to attend Our Lady of Mercy High School.

St. Mary’s School, Rome, received $20,000 to purchase computers and a SMART™ board to upgrade and enhance the computer lab and technology classrooms.

Reach for Excellence, which is based at the Marist School, Atlanta, received $10,000 for scholarships for students to attend the Reach for Excellence Program, which provides talented middle school students, who possess limited opportunities and resources, with the preparation to succeed in college preparatory programs and high schools.

Other agencies awarded grants include:

Hapeville’s Advice & Aid Pregnancy Problem Center, was given $10,000 to help the center begin providing ultrasounds to pregnant women.

The Office of Archives & Records of the Archdiocese of Atlanta received $3,000 for storage cabinets specifically for large-format and oversized archives materials in the new chancery office.

Homestretch Housing Initiative, nonprofit organization that provides long-term assistance for the homeless in north Fulton County, was given $10,000 to provide transitional housing programs and services to homeless working families.

Living Room, an Atlanta agency that provides housing information, placement and financial assistance to low-income people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless due to HIV/AIDS, received $2,500 to expand outreach to parish-based AIDS ministries and the “Adopt a Family at Christmas” program for Living Room clients.

St. Lawrence Church, Lawrenceville, received $3,000 to purchase Spanish-language song books for the parish’s Hispanic community.

Rosary Army, a nonprofit Catholic apostolate dedicated to making, praying, and giving away all-twine knotted rosaries and to spreading the faith through the media, received $5,000 for marketing enhancements, program expansion, and gifting rosaries.

The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia also approved the recommendations of the Pastors Advisory Council to fund 12 small projects at parishes:

Shrine of the Immaculate Conception received a parish grant to purchase 25 mattresses for the Central Night Shelter for men.

Christ Redeemer Church, Dawsonville, received a parish grant to purchase TVs with DVD players for programs in the school of religion, the nursery, high school and adult catechism.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Basilica, Atlanta, received a parish grant to provide Notre Dame’s Satellite Theological Educational courses to catechetical leaders in the parish.

St. Joseph Church, Washington, received a grant for upgrades and repairs to the Hispanic ministry facility.

St. Katharine Drexel Mission, Trenton, received a grant for modifications to parish restrooms, allowing more parishioners to attend events.

St. Michael Church, Gainesville, received a parish grant for the purchase of supplies and classroom furniture for a new preschool program and toddler room.

St. Paul of the Cross Church, Atlanta, received a grant for the purchase of textbooks and materials and to provide breakfast for children in religious education programs.

St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell, received a parish grant to initiate a teen outreach event for the Atlanta community.

St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro, received a grant to fund the shipment of nearly 3,000 sandals to families at a sister parish in Honduras.

St. Peter Church, LaGrange, received a grant to help purchase a stove and freezer for the preschool program kitchen.

St. Vincent de Paul Church, Dallas, received a grant to purchase permanent supplies that will help provide lunches to the homeless and needy in Paulding County.