The Grace Lutheran Endowment Committee recently met and the distribution from the fund for 2025 to support charitable organizations was calculated to be $14,000.  The committee also determined that there would be six recipients of these funds and they are Home of the Sparrow, NAMI National Alliance of Mental Illness, McHenry County, CASA, Global Refuge, God’s Child/Jackson House Hospital and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Through a generous gift, now from July 6th every dollar given above the $14,000 will be matched up to $10,000. You can give by making a check payable to Grace Lutheran Church and write “endowment missions” in the memo, or click the link (https://shorturl.at/rdufe) and use the “endowment missions” tab. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you for your support!

The Following is a brief description of the six organizations.

Home of the Sparrow

Home of the Sparrow’s mission is to reduce the prevalence of homelessness among women, children, families, and individuals through creative strategies and community partnerships that result in lasting self-sufficiency.

Currently, Home of the Sparrow operates:

  • A Transitional shelter that can hold 32-40 individuals per night
  • 28 Affordable Housing Units throughout Northern Illinois
  • 5 Subsidized Apartments for low-income individuals who are not ready for permanent housing
  • Multiple Rapid Re-Housing Program that assists people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing
  • Outreach and Prevention Program with case managers who work with at-risk individuals or those who are experiencing homelessness

 

NAMI – National Alliance of Mental Illness

Our Vision

NAMI envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares.

Our Mission

NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.

Our Values

  • Hope:We believe in the possibility of recovery, wellness and the potential in all of us.
  • Inclusion:We embrace diverse backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.
  • Empowerment:We promote confidence, self-efficacy and service to our mission.
  • Compassion:We practice respect, kindness and empathy.
  • Fairness:We fight for equity and justice.

 

 CASA McHenry county

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is an everyday citizen, specially trained by CASA of McHenry County, to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care. We advocate in Juvenile Abuse Court for the best interests and safety of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. These amazing volunteers are appointed by the Juvenile Court Judge to children ages birth – 21 years to act as the eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of the child.

An Advocate develops a relationship with the child, gathers information, and facilitates partnerships between key people in the child’s life. These volunteers speak for the child through a court report to ensure the child’s needs are met. The ultimate goal of a CASA is to help ensure every child has a safe, loving, forever home through reunification or adoption.

Global Refuge

Global Refuge, formerly Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), is a nonprofit serving newcomers seeking safety, support, and a share in the American dream. For 85 years, we have welcomed those seeking refuge, upholding a legacy of compassion and grace for people in crisis.

We walk alongside individuals, families, and children as they begin their new lives in the United States through our work in refugee resettlement, welcome and respite services, economic empowerment and employment, and family unification for unaccompanied children. To date, we have served over 800,000 people from around the globe.

God’ Child/Jackson House Hospital

Since The GOD’S CHILD Project’s founding on April 24th, 1991, GCP, through its international nonprofit network, has reached deep into some of the poorest, most dangerous parts of our world to bring hope and aid to hundreds of thousands of people.

The four legs of GCP’S service provision table are its award-winning Education, Healthcare, Dignified Housing, and Sustainable Development (Job Creation and Training) programs.

Casa Jackson Hospital for Malnourished Children has helped over 2,000 children recover from malnutrition and life-threatening starvation. Some children are sent from local hospitals, some are brought by their parents, and some are left on our doorstep. We provide intensive residential survival, medical, and long-term recovery-care to severely malnourished infants and children from across Central America. Casa Jackson is a internationally-renowned hospital and is located within the safety and walls of the Dreamer Center campus in Antigua, Guatemala.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, in partnership with Mercyhealth, provides medical care to uninsured children at “host sites” in five counties in Illinois, including Boone, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago as well as Rock County in Wisconsin.

The Care Mobile is a 40-foot, 26,000-pound pediatric clinic on wheels. The vehicle houses two patient examination rooms, a laboratory, and a reception area.

A pair of medical professionals including a nurse practitioner and a nurse travel on the Care Mobile. Staff on the Care Mobile help enroll children in the state’s All Kids Program.

Since 2003, more than 13,500 children and their families have been provided more than $3.1 million in free care through 13,500 medical visits and 3,800 immunizations.