Endowment Funds UU Prison Ministry of IL: April 1, 2022

Endowment grants come in different sizes and the impact of each may be difficult to measure. The use of Endowment funds by the UU Prison Ministry of IL for Solidarity Circle grants clearly shows that a small amount of money can make an impactful difference in an individual’s life.

These Endowment grants, distributed over the past year, benefited four Solidarity Circle leaders making their way back into society after being in prison.

• Robert, in his Evanston circle for over three years, has recovered from health problems and currently has a job as a tow truck driver.  He used $400 in September 2021 to help replace his car. He received $400 in March, 2022 to repair damage to his car from an uninsured motorist.  
• Jimmie, in a solidarity circle at 2U for two years, used $400 in November 2021 for groceries, money on his bus pass, and some winter clothing items.  He is in a job training and housing program and is eligible for another grant.
• Thomas, in a circle since 2019 at First and Third Unitarian, received $400 in December, 2021 for a warm jacket and boots and housing supplies.  He is eligible for another grant.
• James is a new circle leader at Tree of Life.  He received $400 in December 2021 for brake repair on his car. He is eligible for another grant.

Members of the UCE UU Prison Ministry of IL Team are: Becky Taveirne (convener ), Les Butler, Mary Ellen McGoey, Steve Serikaku, Gail Smith, Jordan Strueber and Dale Griffin. Thanks to Dale Griffin for this report.

Whatever size grant may be under consideration, the first deadline for Endowment proposals is May 31. At the June Endowment Committee meeting applications for the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, will be reviewed and recommended to the Board of Trustees for funding approval.

If you have questions about submitting a grant application to the Endowment Committee, please contact  an Endowment Trustee:

• Margaret Schatz, chair, mesharbor@gmail.com 
• Tom Hempfling, thempfling45@gmail.com 
• Bill Hartgering, bhartgering@gmail.com