Five organizations across Georgia have received grants totaling $173,000 from the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia. The funds, which are one-time grants, have been awarded to support various programs and missions, from underserved students to the homeless. The Catholic Foundation provides these modest, competitive grants for programs in accordance with donors’ wishes.

In announcing the grants, Clarence Smith, chairman of the board of directors of the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia, said, “All grant requests go to the grants committee, are reviewed, and recommendations are made to the full board for further discussion and approval. We believe these grant recipients are doing important work for the community and the foundation is pleased to assist them in their mission.”

The grant recipients include five organizations in Atlanta, Cumming and Gainesville. The John Paul II Training Center in Gainesville received a $25,000 grant for the operational support of the Training Center for the New Evangelization, Inc., which provides food, job training, classes and other aid to unemployed and extremely poor members of the Hispanic community.

A $50,000 grant was awarded to Pinecrest Academy, Cumming, to assist the Strengthen Our Foundation Campaign. The grant will pay off construction debt and renovate the lower school.

The Atlanta Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul received a $25,000 grant for the Sweet Dreams Program, which provides beds and cribs to families in need.

Reach for Excellence, an outreach program of Marist School, Atlanta, received a $48,000 grant to provide for scholarships for three years for talented middle school students to attend the program. These students, who possess limited opportunities and resources, are prepared for admission to college preparatory programs and fast-track high schools.

A $25,000 grant was given to Mercy Care Services, Atlanta, in memory of Rawson Haverty Sr. for his service to the archdiocese, for the expansion of their headquarters. Mercy Care Services, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy and St. Joseph’s Health System, provides a system of primary health care, education and social services to thousands of persons in need throughout the metro area.

The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia was established by Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, to provide a source of endowment income for the ongoing work of the archdiocese. Since its inception in 1992, the Catholic Foundation has given away $3,239,583. Headquartered in Atlanta, the foundation solicits and receives material support for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational purposes within the region of the Archdiocese of Atlanta that are in conformity with the theology and the discipline of the Catholic Church. The foundation focuses its support in the areas of children and youth services, community development, education and literacy, health sciences, human services and religion. Currently, the foundation oversees assets in the range of $13.5 million, with the expectation of significant growth.