Bishop s Annual Appeal 2017 Highlights Episcopal Charities Mission Impact DaySpring s Revival Endowment Growth Diocese of Southwest Florida
March 1, 2017 Dear friends in Christ, Eight years ago we began the Bishop s Annual Appeal with the hope of honoring our tradition, building for the future, with mercy in mission. Countless generous gifts in the past eight years have enabled us in expanding this vision. Our annual donors are a treasure to the Diocese of Southwest Florida and have provided gifts ranging from $2 to $25,000, all of which bring us together in our shared vision. These gifts have created an Episcopal Charities Fund approaching $750,000, to benefit mercy-filled mission opportunities in congregations throughout our diocese. The DaySpring Endowment Fund is approaching $800,000 and has been an incredible gift to assist in honoring our tradition and building for the future. The Diocese of Southwest Florida is truly blessed by people like you who are creating a legacy for generations to come. I am blessed to serve as your bishop and grateful for your generosity expressed through the congregations you attend and the greater Church we serve together. I hope you will give prayerful consideration to this year s Bishop s Annual Appeal and join me in making a financial gift to help honor our tradition, build for the future, with mercy in mission. May God bless us in the work we do for the building up of this portion of Christ s kingdom entrusted to our care. Faithfully yours, The Rt. Rev. Dabney Smith ON THE COVER View of the new pool at DaySpring, part of our new Program Center and Pool. This page, detail from stained glass from St. Andrew, Tampa.
NEW BEGINNINGS FOR YOUTH 2016 marked the 30th year for the youth weekend program New Beginnings at DaySpring. Middle schoolers experienced Christ s love, all the while celebrating our Episcopal traditions. DaySpring ENDOWMENT FUND DaySpring is the physical center of our diocesan life, including Diocesan House (Office of the Bishop) and a 97-acre overnight camp and conference center facility. This sacred space in the heart of our diocesan community is the treasure through which we experience a full range of Christian formation, leadership development and personal restoration. DaySpring summer camps, youth retreats and leadership training programs develop our youth for mission and ministry in their home churches and communities. Each year, DaySpring engages over 5,000 youth in various programs by both Episcopal and other non-profit and educational organizations. Leadership development programs at DaySpring support the mission and ministry of congregations by strengthening administrative health and spiritual vitality. Your Bishop s Appeal donation, allocated for DaySpring, assures a permanent endowment that protects the legacy of DaySpring by creating a fund for upkeep and maintenance. Any donation, large or small, will ensure that this sacred space and beacon of Gospel training continues in perpetuity. Episcopal CHARITIES FUND Episcopal Charities is a funding support mechanism for congregation-based community outreach and special needs ministries. It promotes, encourages and supports congregation-based ministries serving the poor and marginalized, all working through the diocesan Council on Deacons. The fund aims to assist programs that are self-perpetuating, and expand the capacity of our parishes to assist the poor: Community outreach initiatives that address compelling human needs and the alleviation of poverty Special needs and emergency initiatives that develop anywhere in the Diocese Projects that partner with other non-profit organizations and parishes for broad charitable endeavors. FOCUS ON RESULTS Above, a client with first paycheck after a Resurrection House training program.
Our Charities Impact... Impact by Wheel The All Souls Outreach Program North Ft. Myers Transportation is a critical part of helping those who live on the edge. The mission program at All Souls is the church s raison d etre; most of the congregation are engaged in the mission and thrift house, and half of the volunteers are from outside the parish. It provides a food pantry, client identification program, medical triage and other assistance. One challenge they have is transportation; the Episcopal Charities gift helps magnify the program by helping with everything from occasional bus tickets to an emergency Greyhound ticket home to family. Volunteers also refurbish old bikes and provide locks and repairs. We had a gentleman visit our Wednesday program. He got a job, said The Rev. Dr. David Jackson, Rector, All Souls. About a year and a half later he came back and gave us $1,000. With that, you think: Wow! Impact by Backpack Pack a Snack All Saints, Tarpon Springs Last year, Episcopal Charities gave seed money to start the Pack a Snack program in Pasco County Schools in partnership with All Saints, Tarpon Springs. The parish had been looking at the needs of the community, and The Rev. Bob Kinney, a newly ordained deacon, had seen information about children going hungry over the weekend at county schools. Along with a retired school social worker and other volunteers, they began by targeting a dozen students at a northern Pasco elementary school; they bring the food to the school, and the children are able to remain anonymous as the food is distributed by staff. Kinney hopes to expand the program as support within the parish grows. The first few weeks you get this funny look, said Kinney. The people at the school now bend over backwards to thank us. Impact by Freezer Beach Community Food Pantry Calvary, Indian Rocks Beach For years, Calvary Indian Rocks Beach has had a major commitment to their community through their food pantry. Their hastily converted classroom, 12-years tired, was showing its age as a storage facility for community foods. Aging, second-hand refrigeration meant spoilage and less capacity. With a $4,900 grant from Episcopal Charities, Calvary replaced their refrigeration with a more efficient, larger and more dependable 47 cubic foot Turbo-Air freezer, as well finished a complete overall of their storage room. Today, Calvary is able to serve more nutritious food, to greater numbers with less spoilage and easier operations for volunteers.
Charities Grants for 2016 For 2016, the following grants were announced: $2,000 for the All Saints, Tarpon Springs Pack a Snack program. $2,500 for the Iona Hope Lee Interfaith for Empowerment STEADY ENDOWMENT GROWTH after school program in Ft. Above, the purple bars represent our Episcopal Myers. Charities Endowment, which has grown from $2,500 for All Souls, North $36,000 to now $734,802. At top, Resurrection House in St. Petersburg. Below, Calvary Indian Ft. Myers Transportation Rocks Beach Community Food Pantry. Outreach program. $4,900 for the Calvary Indian Rocks Beach Food Pantry Renovation. $1,700 for Church of the Holy Spirit s Holy Spirit Kingdom Care. $7,500 for new air conditioners at St. Bartholomew s Food Pantry. $4,150 to launch a new Science and Mathematics based curriculum at Tampa s St. James House of Prayer with Cornerstone Kids. $3,750 for the Cathedral Church of St. Peter s Resurrection House.
VIEWS OF RENEWAL From top: Episcopal Church Women hold first meeting & Holy Eucharist in the new Program Center. Below, new pool area and basketball court. DaySpring RENEWED THANKS TO YOU 2016 was a landmark year for DaySpring Episcopal Center. The beginning of the year commenced with the county s approval of a longterm master plan for DaySpring. In February, we broke ground on a necessary and initial phase of the master plan which included the new Program Center and Pool. This building complex completes our youth area, by adding a large auditorium, classrooms and a resort-style pool. The new construction was enthusiastically received and put in use by events such as the Episcopal Church Women, youth gatherings and Quiet Day. Increased attendance capacity and event quality with new foodservice equipment, bathrooms, audio and wireless capabilities and handsome, quiet interiors has enhanced the life at DaySpring. Our Bishop s Cabinet also initiated awareness gatherings around the Diocese to tell the story of what we do, under the banner of God s Word, Your Light, Our Legacy. Supporting the effort was a prayer team that ensured that our efforts were infused and undergirded at all times by a Gospel component. This year, further small-scale, incremental improvements are planned, including regular interior upgrades to our other conference facilities, supported by DaySpring Endowment Fund distributions. We realize that DaySpring is not about buildings. The buildings are but a tool, as much as a baptismal font, youth cabin bunk, kneeler, mattress or even a roof over camper or Cursillo-pilgrim heads. Last December, Bishop Smith dedicated a new, portable altar for the Program Center crafted by Christ Church Bradenton parishioner Aaron Welch. It is already in use for Eucharists at events like Cursillo. On the front is a Jerusalem cross, which represents, among many meanings, Christ s message going out into the four corners of the world. Christ is here among us, and always reachable, but the imperative is not just that He is around, but that we know how to share your light and His word to those who do not yet know. Your donation, at whatever level you prayerfully consider, will provide DaySpring with dedicated funds that give, year after year, into Eternity.
TEAR HERE Be a Part of the 2017 Bishop s Appeal GIVING LEVELS After prayerful consideration, I/we wish to contribute: r$5,000 r$1,000 r $500 r$100 r$50 r$25 r$ USE MY GIFT r For the Episcopal Charities Endowment Fund r For the DaySpring Endowment Fund r Share my donation equally between the two funds OTHER CONSIDERATIONS r I would like to remain anonymous r I would like to set up an automatic recurring contribution r Donate my gift in honor of r I have already included the Diocese in my estate plans r My company matches; the matching form is enclosed NAME(S): ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: ZIP: PHONE: PARISH: EMAIL: MAIL A CHECK, Please make payable to: The Diocese of Southwest Florida, 8005 25th St. East, Parrish, FL 34219 DONATE ONLINE AT EPISCOPALSWFL.ORG The Diocese of Southwest Florida has a safe, secure online donation page at episcopalswfl.org/appeal.html Questions? Call (941) 556-0315 All donations are fully tax-deductible. LET S TALK MORE r I would like to be involved in the development plans for DaySpring Episcopal Center. Please contact Anne M. Vickers, C.F.O., through the information above.
The Diocese of Southwest Florida DaySpring Episcopal Center 8005 25th St. East Parrish, FL 34219 (941) 556-0315 www.episcopalswfl.org/appeal.html HONOR OUR TRADITION BUILD FOR THE FUTURE MERCY IN MISSION Easy Donation ONLINE: For more on the Bishop s Appeal, and links to our giving, endowment policies and programs, visit www.episcopalswfl.org/appeal.html Non. Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Manasota, FL Permit No. 946