Contents

Partners Against Poverty
Learning Club Success Stories
Let's Start Success Stories
El Puente
Whole Kids Outreach
South Grand Senior Ministry
Strong Partners Enhances Foundation Goals
Contact Persons

The Incarnate Word Foundation and Strong Partners

The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, followed the railroad up to St. Louis in the late 1800s, staffing hospitals along the way and eventually establishing Incarnate Word Hospital in the city. They formed the Incarnate Word Foundation in 1997 with proceeds from the sale of the hospital, which had served the St. Louis area for almost a century. As the foundation continues the sisters' tradition of service, it partners with many faith-based agencies and philanthropic organizations to improve community health. Collaboration is a core value that stems directly from the Incarnate Word Sisters' charism. President Bush's faith-based initiative gives us the opportunity to bring federal dollars to faith-based groups that would not apply for such funding on their own.

The Incarnate Word Foundation is one of nine foundations in seven states participating through Emory University's Interfaith Health Program in Strong Partners, a program funded by the Compassion Capital Fund of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Emory University received a grant of $1.5 million, and the foundations allocated $900,000 in matching funds as grants to faith-based and community-based agencies that merit significant financial support. The recipients of the grants will also have access to technical assistance from Emory's program. In addition, Emory is providing grants from the Compassion Capital Fund grant it received to the agencies designated by the foundation partners.

The Incarnate Word Foundation provided a $200,000 match as part of the Strong Partners grant application. Many of the organizations receiving grants were started by individuals or faith-based groups that recognized unmet needs and initiated grassroots efforts to address them, often with few financial resources. The monies we disburse through the program will allow faith-based organizations that are making a difference to increase their effectiveness. These agencies are on the front lines serving populations most in need--children, immigrants, and the residents of two distressed city neighborhoods. The Compassion Capital Fund will help the agencies provide services that no one else is offering to vulnerable people.

This case study highlights four programs that receive support as part of the Strong Partners Compassion Capital Fund grant project.

Bridget McDermott Flood
Executive Director
Incarnate Word Foundation