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Focus on the Positive...
The staff of BCM is focused on improving the health of our community by positively affecting each member physically, mentally, and spiritually while working with partners who share this vision. |
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Foundation Facts
Baptist Community Ministries, one of Louisiana's largest private foundations, has contributed in excess of $100 million in grants to the 5-parish area that we serve since its inception in 1995. |
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Have a Story to Share?
Know of programs and people positively contributing to our community working with BCM? Send your story to cmarkham@bcm.org! |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the inaugural edition of "The BCM Messenger" - the informative newsletter from BCM. Thank you to both Cathy Vaughn and Laurie Miester for submitting the winning name for our newsletter! We received so many wonderful suggestions that it was a difficult task to pick a winner.
We are pleased to be able to bring you a sampling of the good news and positive changes occurring in our community. It is our hope that we can also provide you with the information you need to know to make a difference. Thank you for your support and readership! |
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BCM proudly presents our Employee of the Year
 During the annual BCM Employee Christmas luncheon at Ralph's on the Park on December 4, 2009, Chair Tom Callicutt announced that Ann Madden had been selected as the Employee of the Year by her peers at BCM. Ann serves as Chaplain at Woldenberg Village and has done so since 2003. For Ann, it's much more than a job. "Ann's focus is always on others. People are important to Ann and it shows through her strong faith and special gift for working with seniors." This was pointed out by some of her peers. All of her fellow workers admire Ann's wisdom and compassion, and therefore chose Ann as the Employee of the Year, 2009. A special resolution was presented to Ann in recognition of this honor. |
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Two Unique Programs from The McFarland Institute offer Health Care Options to the Uninsured and Underinsured
The Church Nurse Program and the Lay Health Advocate Program from The McFarland Institute aim to create better access to health care by educating church members as wellness ministry leaders in their congregations. To date the Institute has trained 250 church nurses and 120 lay health advocates, comprising 200 established wellness ministries. (more) |
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Potential Grantees have questions answered at recent Workshop
On Thursday and Friday, January 10th and 11th, the Grants Management team of BCM hosted a workshop for potential grantees. A total of 45 people representing various nonprofits in the 5-parish region served by BCM attended. Organizations such as the Bayou District Foundation, Orleans Parish Juvenile Court and the Partnerships Network along with many others received valuable training that will enable them to better complete the grant application. This informative workshop reviewed the history, mission, values and vision of BCM, the eligibility requirements for potential grantees, and the Grant Application process. All eligible nonprofit organizations are invited to submit their transom grant applications between March 1st and March 15th, 2010. The next workshop will be held in July. |
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September 2009 Transom Grant Recipients announced
BCM announced the awarding of six grants during the fall transom grant cycle totaling $971,000. The following organizations and programs were funded for the terms as stated below subject to annual performance reviews:
- Bridge House - Bridge House Women's Program ($338,500/3 Years)
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans - Case Management Institute ($75,000/16 months)
- Common Ground Health Clinic - Common Ground Health Clinic Strategic Direction Assessment Project ($50,000/1 Year)
- Young Aspirations/Young Artists (YAYA), Inc. - Urban Heroes ($180,000/3 Years)
- Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children - Parents in School Leadership Project ($255,000/3 Years)
- Innocence Project New Orleans - Voice of the Ex-offender ($72,600/1 Year)
There were a total of 43 applications submitted during this funding cycle. BCM funds eligible non-profit organizations in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany and Plaquemines in four zones of interest including health, education, public safety and governmental oversight. Applications are accepted twice a year, March 1-15 and September 1-15. |
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Editorial -Opinions In Philanthropy by Byron R. Harrell, Sc.D.
Darwin didn't discover private foundations. If, instead of exploring the Galapagos Islands in the Beagle, he had landed amidst a community populated entirely by private foundations, he would most certainly not have concluded that the survival of a species depends on the speed, cunning,and determination of its strongest members. Rather, he might have observed that the members rarely adapt to external conditions and we may never have understood anything about the survival of a species except for our small distorted slice of perpetuity. Even the rare mortality was most frequently the result of self-inflicted "sunset" provisions. (more) | |
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In Closing...
Each quarter it is our hope that you will find compelling information about your community and the good works of all organizations associated with BCM who are banding together for the betterment of our neighbors. A special "thank you" to Lisa Collins for providing some of the photos displayed in this issue, and to all of you who have shared your stories.
Thank you for taking your time to read this issue, and we hope you will look forward to our next due to you on April 27, 2010! |
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Sincerely,
Cindy Markham
BCM |
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