Social service agencies from throughout the four-county Diocese that provide education and outreach to people of all walks of life including children, the elderly, the poor, marginalized and those in need received a financial boost thanks to the Diocese of Trenton’s 2014 Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund.

In announcing the grant recipients June 30, Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia, stated that the 2014 $10,000 Endowment Fund was named in memory of Bishop Ahr, who was the seventh bishop of the Diocese and was created to present annual grants for special projects that fulfill a spiritual need. Any parish, office, apostolate, individual, parish special ministry or organization is invited to apply for a grant.

Grant monies are determined by the Bishop George W. Ahr Endowment Fund Committee which selects from the pool of applicants who describe the amount needed with a detailed rationale for the request. The $10,000 grant is the endowment fund interest that is accumulated in a year’s time.

This year’s recipients are:

Center for FaithJustice, Lawrenceville, $1,000: Housed in the former St. Ann Parish convent, CFJ strives to provide transformative experiences of faith in action through a passionate commitment to service, peace and justice. Proceeds from the Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will help to sustain three CFJ programs: ServiceworX, a weeklong day program for middle school students that explores Catholic faith through service to those in need; JusticeworX, an overnight, weeklong service immersion retreat experience, designed to help high school age students explore the connection between faith, service and justice and everyday life; and LeaderworX, a summer opportunity for young adults/adults with at least one year of college completed.

CYO of Mercer County, $1,000: Proceeds from the Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will be given to assist the Food Program in the East State Street and South Broad Street Centers. The CYO is a public benefit, community organization whose mission is to enhance the lives of Greater Mercer County youth and their families by providing affordable, quality educational and recreational services. Most participants who attend CYO programs are from low-income families who depend on the agency for childcare. CYO’s food program is a vital element of the CYO offering, with many of the participants depending on it as their major source of daily nutrition.

HABcore, Red Bank, $1,000: HABcore is a not-for-profit corporation devoted to providing housing and supportive services in a family-like setting to low-income persons and those who are homeless, disabled or unable to care for themselves. The Bishop Ahr Endowment grant will assist with rent subsidization for residents living in the John Coffey Residence, a boarding house with 21 residents in Red Bank.

Interfaith Health & Support Services, Manahawkin: $1,000: Interfaith Health and Support Services is a non-profit organization comprised of 24 participating faith communities that provides free aid to the community members who are struggling each day to maintain their independence. Many are still coping with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will assist with purchasing needed medical equipment to the volunteers who attend to the frail and elderly homebound of Ocean County.

Mount Carmel Guild, Trenton, $1,000: An inner-city Trenton-based diocesan agency, Mount Carmel Guild provides assistance to the poor through its Emergency Assistance Program and Home Health Nursing Program. The Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will assist in covering the cost of prescriptions, utilities assistance and referrals to other social service agencies to individuals and families in chronic or temporary crisis. The guild assists people with emergency groceries, assistance to obtain prescription medication, with utility expenses and appropriate referrals to other social service agencies.

Chaplain, New Jersey State Prison, $500: Proceeds from the Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will assist with the purchase of materials for the religious development of the inmates. Bibles, religious books, CDs and DVDs and devotional materials are important tools for their continued spiritual growth.

St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson, $1,000: The Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will assist with the work of the Catholic Charities “Fix-It” pilot program which provides home assistance to the senior population. Services include making repairs around the homes such as installing grab bars and safety hand rails, replacing batteries in smoke and CO2 detectors, changing ceiling lightbulbs or fixtures, minor carpentry and electrical repairs.

St. George Social Concerns Ministry, Titusville, $1,000: The ministry will use Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund monies to help individuals and groups in need by paying utility bills, tax bills, assisting with yard work, delivering food and medical transportation. The ministry also has a new initiative, “George’s Angels,” that strives to support the elderly, infirm and disabled parishioners by doing chores ways such as yard work, preparing and delivering soups and driving them to Mass or medical appointments.

St. Rose of Lima Parish, Freehold, $1,000: The parish St. Vincent de Paul conference will use the donation from the Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund as it continues to assist the poor and needy with food vouchers, clothing, furniture and emergency funding for utility payments, infant items. Over the past three years, the conference has seen an increase in the number of people seeking assistance, as many have lost their jobs and insurance.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Katharine Drexel Parish, Burlington, $1,000: The Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund will assist in the purchase of school uniforms for students attending St. Paul School, Burlington, whose families are facing financial difficulties.  In past years, the conference has used money from previous grants to purchase equipment for the food pantry. The conference has recently broadened its services to include delivery of food to two senior citizen housing complexes in addition to the weekly food distribution which occurs at the food pantry.

The Via Lucis Program of Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Marlton, $500: Via Lucis provides spiritually sensitive care for Catholics with terminal illness, using Samaritan’s core hospice programs tailored to meet their specific needs. Proceeds from the Bishop Ahr grant will provide new continuing education for the Via Lucis chaplains.

For more information on the Bishop Ahr Endowment Fund, contact Msgr. Gervasio at 609-406-7425 or email: [email protected].