National Lutheran Communities & Services’ (NLCS) Community Impact Council awarded 21 grants for the 2015-2016 grant year, totaling $221,250. This marks the third year of the grant program, with a significant increase in applicants and awarded funds throughout Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and Delaware.

 “Once again we are gratified by the response that the NLCS Community Impact Program has received.  Of greater significance is the wonderful work that all of these organizations are doing to enhance the lives of seniors throughout Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and Delaware,” NLCS’ Chief Philanthropy Officer Kathryn Baerwald said. “Thanks should also be given to the Community Impact Advisory Council and the NLCS Board of Trustees for making this possible.”

The Community Impact Program was established to enhance NLCS’ commitment to the greater community through working collaboratively with other organizations and continued efforts to enrich the lives of seniors. Each organization’s proposal met one of the following greatest needs identified by a recent community needs assessment: chronic disease management, navigating and accessing health care and social services, dealing with Alzheimer’s, dementia and memory loss, social isolation and financial insecurity. The awardees are:

  • Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C. $15,000
  • Colonial Heritage Community Foundation in Williamsburg, Va., $17,500
  • Community Ministries of Rockville in Rockville, Md., $10,000
  • Crossroads Community Food Network in Takoma Park, Md., $7,000
  • Diakon Adult Day Services in Hagerstown, Md., $10,000
  • Family Services Inc., in Gaithersburg, Md., $15,000
  • Gaithersburg HELP, Inc., in Gaithersburg, Md., $5,000
  • Govans Ecumenical Development Corporation in Baltimore, Md., $5,000
  • Grace Network of Martinsville and Henry County, Va., $5,000
  • GraceInside in Richmond, Va., $15,000
  • Hospice Caring, Inc., in Gaithersburg, Md., $3,750
  • Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington in Rockville, Md., $15,000
  • Lutheran Community Services in Wilmington, Del., $15,000
  • Mental Health America of Fredericksburg in Fredericksburg, Va., $10,000
  • Mental Health Association of Montgomery County in Rockville, Md., $7,500
  • Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Warrenton, Va., $10,000
  • Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging in Winchester, Va., $8,000
  • Shenandoah Valley Lutheran Ministries in Tom’s Brook, Va., $20,000
  • Shepherd’s Center of Fairfax-Burke in Fairfax, Va., $10,000
  • St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., $10,000
  • Upper Montgomery Assistance Network in Gaithersburg, Md., $7,500

About National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS) Based in Rockville, Md., NLCS is a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Delaware-Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Virginia Synods, serving people of all beliefs. Celebrating 125 years, NLCS provides seniors with a variety of lifestyle, residential and health care options through retirement communities and services in Maryland and Virginia.

Other communities and services sponsored by National Lutheran include The Village at Rockville in Rockville, Md., The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., The Village at Orchard Ridge and myPotential at Home in Winchester, Va., and The Village at Crystal Spring in Annapolis, Md., subject to Maryland Department of Aging approval. For more information, visit www.nationallutheran.org