Millions for faith-based care groups

Christian Century, May 9, 2001

One of the largest U.S. philanthropy organizations says it will devote $100 million to faith-based volunteer groups who serve the elderly, disabled and chronically ill people. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation hopes the money will boost the number of participants in its 19-year-old Faith in Action program.

"We're hoping to triple the number of interfaith volunteer coalitions around the country to approximately 3,000," said Paul Jellinek, vice president of the foundation. "Ultimately, our vision is that interfaith volunteer caregiving will be a part of the fabric of every community in this country."

The Princeton, New Jersey-based organization announced recently that it will disburse the funds during the next six years, but only to volunteer groups comprised of people from a variety of faiths. Caregiving is a service that can unite all religions, Jellinek said, since it "taps into a value that is common to all faith traditions that is caring for one's neighbor."

Though the foundation had been working on the recent grant expansion for several years, the Bush administration's focus on partnering with faith-based social service programs is "a fortunate event" for the foundation, Jellinek said. "Lots of people are beginning to pay attention to the issue now."

--RNS