News about the United Methodist Foundation of Western Pennsylvania

Foundation Annual Meeting Held

New Board of Directors members elected

Grant Awards for 2010 Announced by Foundation Board

Clergy Housing Seminar Held

Foundation Report Newsletter - 2Q2010

Foundation Quick Facts - 2010

Fund Your Faith Columns from InterLink

Complete listing of Founders' Day Awardees

Resources

Foundation Annual Meeting Held (Posted 6/28/10)
Board Development Committee Chair Rev. Oden Warman, Treasurer Thomas Heisey, and Investment Committee Chair Sean Rollman presented reports for the year to account holders present at the meeting, held on June 22 in Grove City. Board Chair Susan Wesmiller and Executive Director Fred Leasure updated attendees on current Foundation activities.
Presentation visuals of Rev. Fred Leasure

New Board of Directors members elected (Posted 8/2/10)
At this year’s annual meeting. Gary Olsen of Warren 1st UMC and the Rev. Ed Bailey of New Castle First UMC were elected to join eleven current members whose terms expire in 2014 and thirteen others whose terms expire in 2012. Complete list of Board members

Grant Awards for 2010 Announced by Foundation Board (Posted 6/3/10)
We are pleased to announce awards of financial support and staff time to thirteen churches and five agencies in western Pennsylvania, with a total of $42,300 to aid their vital ministries. The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Grants Committee, selected these recipients from the thirty-nine applications received earlier this year. The Foundation has been able to make these annual awards due to the exceptional generosity of Robert M. Stewart, our former Board Chair, in honor of his memory. The following list gives a brief description of the ministries funded this year, which ranged in value from $400 to the maximum of $5000.

CHURCHES

Baldwin Community UMC (2nd year)
Scholarships to children whose families are in need of financial assistance for sending them to the Christian pre-school program

Beaver Falls Homewood UMC
Instructional materials for Music Fellowship Night ministry

Blairsville First UMC
Promotional materials and supplies for Christian Music Coffeehouse cooperative endeavor

Conneaut Lake Trinity UMC
His Works, His Way ministry for materials to repair seniors’ homes in area

Erie Henderson Memorial UMC (2nd year)
Inner City Summer Youth and Children’s Outreach program supplies

Erie San Juan UMC
Purchase Bibles/New Testaments in Spanish/English and materials for two outreach events

Homestead Park UMC (2nd year)
Support for food for homeless ministry

Johnstown Roxbury St. Paul’s UMC (2nd year)
Food support for Community Fair and enhanced Vacation Bible School

Millvale UMC (2nd year)
Support for Tuesday Community Outreach dinners

Oakdale Crossroads UMC
Support for Sunday Free Breakfast program, helping to give new life to the community

Reynoldsville First UMC
Provide individual vouchers for low-income children in need of clothing

Russell UMC
Provide tools for Hands of the Carpenter program, which supports residents unable to complete work due to physical or financial limitations

Washington Jefferson Avenue UMC (2nd year)
To continue and expand Pews to Streets outreach ministry, in conjunction with the Washington Intervention Network and the Washington City Mission

AGENCIES

Center for Hope (2nd year)
Provide life-long cooking skills for children in at-risk situations

East End Co-op Ministry
Food and supplies for five-week Christian Summer Day Camp experience

UM Human Services (2nd year)
Emergency financial aid for REAP project supporting needy individuals and families

Wilkinsburg Community Ministry (2nd year)
Support for food pantry and Urban Survival program

Western PA Prison Outreach Ministry
Support for fund-raising to benefit classes in weekly Bible studies

Clergy Housing Seminar Held (Posted 5/7/10)
The 2010 Clergy Housing Seminar was held on May 5 at New Castle First UMC. The Rev. Fred Leasure and speakers from Asbury Heights, Howard Hanna, and Dollar Bank covered a wide range of topics, including: pensions, Social Security, and taxes; retirement living options; financing a home; finding housing; and making an offer and closing. All the speakers were very well received by attendees in the process of purchasing retirement housing.