Make a donation You can participate in honoring Bishop Swing's dedication to the poor and oppressed with your pledge or gift to the Bishop Swing Fund at Episcopal Charities. Checks payable to EPISCOPAL CHARITIES. Note the Swing Fund in the memo section. Mail your donation to: Episcopal Charities Or Donate On Line: Contact Jan Parkin, Executive Director |  |
HONORING BISHOP SWING'S COMMITMENT TO THE LEAST AND THE LONELY In honor of Bishop Swing and with his blessing, Episcopal Charities has established the Bishop William E. Swing Fund, a permanent endowment managed by Episcopal Charities, to foster outreach initiatives within the parishes and social services agencies in the Diocese of California. Throughout his 27-year tenure as Bishop of the Diocese of California, Bill Swing has led the diocese with his commitment to serving those in need. His vision for new outreach ministries has helped small parish programs develop into large social service agencies, transforming lives and our community. For example, an effort to aid the homeless in the 1980s, which began with 40 cots set up in the basement of Grace Cathedral, has become Episcopal Community Services, a thriving social service agency providing housing for 1200 people every night. The Bishop envisioned the vital role that Episcopal Charities plays in supporting the parishes and agencies in the diocese. As a result, Episcopal Charities has significantly expanded its ministry, setting a new standard for philanthropy and service to our poor and needy sisters and brothers throughout the diocese. For example, on the diocesan level, Episcopal Charities leads a workshop at Ministry Day called The Wonder of Philanthropy and The Writing of Grants. This workshop teaches the basics of grant writing so that parishes can begin to tap into local foundations for their outreach work. Episcopal Charities is also hosting a symposium on the Prison and Jail Ministries of the diocese in September at Grace Cathedral. This symposium will focus on the historical perspective of crime and punishment, healing the harm caused by crime, and considering how faith fits into the criminal justice system. In addition to providing technical assistance, Episcopal Charities annually grants over $250,000 to the fourteen Partner Agencies of the diocese as well as approximately $50,000 in social ministry endowment grants. These social ministry endowment grants are available to parish outreach programs in addition to partner agencies. They fund on-going operations as well as new program initiatives. Episcopal Charities is also responsible for the granting of the $550,000 annually from the restricted endowment of the Brotherton Fund. The Bishop and Episcopal Charities recognize that much more work remains to be done. With this need in mind, and to honor the Bishop for his many years of dedication to the least of those among us, Episcopal Charities has established this permanent endowment fund in his name to help the poor, the oppressed and the endangered in the Bay Area, by supporting (a) innovative parish outreach programs and (b) creative social service agency initiatives, which further this goal. Our goal is to raise at least $1 million dollars for this fund. As the catalyst of charitable giving in the diocese, Episcopal Charities promises:
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