Trinity Episcopal School in Natchez was awarded a $40,000 grant from the 2011 United Thank Offering Board. Diocese of Mississippi ECW President Gloria Steiner said the grant was to install an air conditioning system in the school’s gym where athletic events, assemblies and worship takes place.
“All UTO grants must be used to fund something permanent as opposed to funding salaries, supplies or maintenance,” said Steiner. “For example, Camp Caritas received a trailer in 2010 to help store supplies, but UTO grants could not be used for buying the supplies.”
The gym of Trinity Episcopal School qualified for the grant status because the structure had never been air conditioned before. “It’s Mississippi. The student body needed air conditioning and the UTO board agreed.”
In October 2011, grant applications for 2012 may be downloaded online at the Episcopal Church’s website: //www.ecusa.anglican.org/110043_ENG_HTM.htmUTO.
“Each diocese in the church may apply for one grant for itself and one grant for its companion diocese,” said Steiner. “All applications for grants must be turned into the diocesan office by December 31st; however, we urge all applicants to turn in grant applications early as each one must be approved by the Bishop.”
The UTO screening committee for the Diocese of Mississippi’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) meets in January at Gray Center to review all the grant applications. One request is chosen for the diocese and for our companion diocese, The Diocese of Panama. These applications are sent to the national church where the UTO board chooses from applications throughout The Episcopal Church.
The UTO national board is composed of one woman from each province in The Episcopal Church plus three positions that are appointed.
To learn more about applications for grants, contact the 2012-13 UTO Chairperson for the diocese, Julia Young, a communicant of St. Philips, Jackson, at jyoung@mdaa.state.ms.us.
