December 19, 2014
[title]
Today, the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation of East Tennessee board members, community leaders and Bishop Richard F. Stika made substantial grant presentations to local charities and nonprofit organizations serving Catholics and non-Catholics across East Tennessee.
Funding for the grants initially was made possible through funds from the sale of Mercy Health Partners – the former St. Mary’s Hospital, but has increased since that time and has been supplemented by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.
From left, Marian Ruuge-Aronson and Pat Farner of the St. Vincent de Paul Society; Carrie McConkey and Sister Mary Christine Cremin of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee; Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville, Nancy Scheurer of Ladies of Charity of Knoxville; and John Deinhart of the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation and Diocese of Knoxville.
“The money from today’s grant announcements will go to assist some of the most vulnerable and needy neighbors in our region and is going to a diverse set of projects,” said Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville. “This is an expression of our Catholic faith and continues the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy, but it is, most notably, motivated by the love displayed in the gospel and available to people of all faiths.”
Organizations receiving grant funding include the following:
• $99,650 in grants to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee for the Office of Immigrant Services, expansion of Samaritan Place, growth of a transitional housing program and pregnancy assistance projects
• $22,000 to the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville for increasing nutritional options in the food distribution program, including the addition of fresh milk
• $15,000 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Newport for emergency assistance to residents of Cocke County
• $75,000 to the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, a mobile doctor’s office serving rural East Tennesseans who are uninsured or underinsured
• $50,000 to assist Saint Joseph School with a recent addition of space at the school
• $20,000 to Holy Spirit Church in Soddy Daisy for a food pantry program and rent/mortgage and utilities assistance
• $1,000 to St. Mary’s Church in Athens for establishment of a giving center to include a food pantry and clothing closet
• $2,867 to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mountain City for technology upgrades
• $175,000 to the Catholic Education Trust Fund for tuition assistance to needy families throughout East Tennessee
• $31,150 to assist Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga with needed security upgrades
• $2,700 to St. Dominic Catholic School in Kingsport to assist with classroom technology needs
• $20,000 to Our Lady of Fatima for the Family Promise program, which assists homeless families in Blount County
• $175,000 for the creation of the diocese’s Prince of Peace retreat center
• $5,000 to St. Therese of Lisieux in Cleveland for hosting of Remote Area Medical Clinic in Bradley County
• $5,000 to Alexian Brothers for a transportation program assisting 285 elderly individuals with access to the grocery store and healthy food options in Chattanooga
For more information, visit www.stmarylegacy.org.
About St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation:
The St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation of East Tennessee was formed in 2011 to provide support for the ministry started by the Sisters of Mercy with the opening of St. Mary’s Hospital in 1930. Funding for the foundation initially was provided through funds from the sale of Mercy Health Partners and has expanded since that time.
