$50,000 Match Grant Announcement

With challenging financial times hitting all non-profits we are happy to announce a $50,000 match grant opportunity we have which if met will raise a total of $100,000 for this coming year. This could not come at a better time as we believe that organizationally we are positioned to have our greatest impact yet in the community and developing greater sustainability within the organization.

To qualify for the match grant, gifts must meet one of the following criteria: (1) Any onetime contribution of $600 or more, or (2) A monthly contribution of $50 or more for a 12 month period of time made through our automated on-line giving option. Will you consider partnering with us to reach this wonderful match grant goal?

The Rogers Park community of Chicago is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city in terms of ethnicity and socio-economic standing. While this provides an array of opportunities in terms of the quantity of intercultural exchanges present within our community, we recognize there is a very stark difference in the quality of life for many residents.

With 20% of the residents in Rogers Park falling below the poverty level, the majority of our constituents come from difficult situations and low income households—homes in which families are broken, education is lacking, and abuse of various kinds exists. This is the context in which we serve. This is also the context in which we see positive results: many of the students in our afterschool program are disciplined in their studies and earning good grades. Many of the adults enrolled in our E.S.L. classes continue to increase proficiency in the English language. Many of the youth attending our mentoring groups are demonstrating growth in maturity in both character and spiritual formation.

Approaching ten years of investment in the Rogers park community, the mission of Family Empowerment Centers has remained the same since the beginning: to live life with others in such a way that God’s love becomes evident through our actions as we journey with them to paths of greater stability, opportunity, and success. We endeavor to help those in need achieve a better quality of life through the various programs and services offered. By journeying with others in the midst of their circumstances, our staff and volunteers provide a hand of hope and encouragement that reminds them they are not alone; our programs provide a bridge to empowerment and opportunity. What a blessing it is to walk alongside others and shoulder their burdens.

Will you consider participating in this match grant? Your contribution will be doubled, stretching your dollars twice as far, enabling the Center to reach more of the low-income and working poor families in the Rogers Park community. Will you help us to meet this goal of raising $100,000 this year?