Current Grant Recipients

The following are some of the outstanding organizations that have received funding through the Foundation for Purposeful Living:

Field of Dreams Horse Rescue & Adoption

Located in Elburn, IL, Field of Dreams Horse Rescue & Adoption is a non-profit organization with the goal to assists horses that are “in between” homes to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit. This is a group of dedicated volunteers who work with community agencies and volunteers to facilitate the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of abused, abandoned, or relinquished horses. The standard of care is exemplary; the facility, the stalls, are immaculate; and horses are given everything they need. Field of Dreams also offers educational programs promoting responsible horse ownership.

The Good Samaritan Ministries of Stokesdale

This North Carolina ecumenical cooperative outreach ministry has a mission to serve those in need. This effort is carried out by the hands of dedicated volunteers who provide assistance in the form of education, financial support, counseling, etc. This good-spirited endeavor is slowly but surely making a difference in the lives of many, and it greatly enriches the community.

Kybele

An inspiring, grassroots, Winston-Salem based all-volunteer organization with a global scope,  volunteer nurses, midwives, medical administrators and doctors travel to developing nations and train hospital staff in proper newborn care.  In nations where this training has been given, a 5 percent decrease of newborn mortality has been documented, often from the sharing of simple procedures such as removing mucus from the nostrils.  The Kybele team works within the country’s existing infrastructure and selects training sites from applicants who are seeking to be trained. Volunteers, who come from all over the country and other parts of the world, pay their own expenses. In addition to training, they have distributed millions of dollars worth of medical supplies to needy areas. 

In July of 2007, FPL sponsored two of Kybele’s board members to attend TRP’s most recent “Train the Trainer” session.  They were very grateful to participate in the workshop. They envision sharing these skills not only with the core volunteers of Kybele, but also with their partners in countries where they provide their services (i.e. Turkey, Ghana, Rumania, Hungary, etc.)  http://www.kybeleworldwide.org/

Mr. C.M. Yogi and Hindu Vidya Peeth Schools (HPV)

HVP is serving the need for quality elementary and secondary education and making a profound difference in lives of children in Nepal. With over 20 years of service, HVP has been an example of committed effort. The organization includes more than 1200 students, a core group of dedicated teachers in Nepal and committed supporters in the UK and USA. The school encourages the volunteer spirit in its pupils, while simultaneously attracting many volunteers from the UK and other countries as well.

Their vision of an “ideal education” is unique in its holistic approach that embraces the best aspects of the conventional, modern western style of academic education together with an emphasis on open-minded thinking, global awareness, tolerance and the value of selfless service to society. Their core principles: educating the whole person, grounding spirituality within the practical everyday working life, emphasizing the value of combining the mind and the heart, and assisting the children become active citizens with good ethics and morals.   http://www.hvpuk.org.uk/hvp.htm

Haley House

Haley House has demonstrated longevity (about 40 years) and consistent effort (volunteer-based) in giving back to the community. This unique organization provides a variety of services that include: Bakery Café, which prepares and trains people for transition into the work environment; a housing program for low income families; a soup kitchen for homeless people; the Food Pantry; a residential intentional community; What’s-Up magazine; and Noonday Farms, where food is grown and distributed to the needy.  The following quote is from a phone conversation with Kathe McKenna, one of the founders of HH:  “Your recognition of the importance of a grounded spiritual life is also refreshing for us, so few foundations seem to be aware of the inner ground which powers volunteer commitment.”  www.haleyhouse.org

Kitezh

Kitezh Children’s Community is a non-government, non-profit Partnership of Foster Families who offer homes and education for orphaned Russian children in a rural area 300 km south of Moscow in the Kaluga region. Despite harsh economic conditions, this dedicated group has built a thriving rural working community that provides an education and a home with foster families for orphaned Russian children from extreme social situations. The Foundation for Purposeful Living is one of many supporters of the Kitezh community as they work to build this unique environment. (See a full-page article).    http://www.kitezh.org/orion.htm

Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (Our Little Brothers and Sisters)

German Mercado is the National Director of this organization in Bolivia.  FPL has chosen him and his work with orphaned children for our first Reversing the Flow Award.  German represents the selflessness and dedication that we seek to honor with this award.  Having grown up in Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) Mexico, German is now reversing the flow by serving as the National Director of the center in Bolivia. 

Since 1954, NPH has cared for orphaned and abandoned children in many Latin American countries. To date, over 15,000 children have found a home within this unique and loving family.

Every child at NPH has a daily job, from dusting and mopping to cooking and farming. The older youth give a year or more of service as house directors, medical assistants, craft apprentices, office staff and other important roles. The children find pride in contributing to their family’s success. They keep each other accountable in their work, studies and relationships with others. Their spirituality is fostered in everyday activities and is the underlying value in everything they are taught at NPH. 

After growing up in an NPH orphanage, German received his college diploma in Florida.  Though he could have stayed in America or chosen any number of careers, he has dedicated his life to caring for children through NPH. When asked about his choice at such a young age, German replied,  “It is an honor to work with the children – it is my passion in life.”  www.nph.org

Kids Connect

Kids Connect serves as a conduit for families to engage in community service together, striving to provide the resources parents need to involve their children in community service, believing that it is never too early to involve kids in activities that benefit the community. Age-appropriate volunteer opportunities are available for children of all ages.

It sees that one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is helping them develop the capacity to care about others and the community as a whole, and that it is important to teach children to reach out, to get involved and learn about the issues and events that affect their lives. One of the goals is to help parents show their children that the world does not revolve around them; the community and world are much bigger than their own backyards, and also to help kids understand that it is everyone's responsibility to reach out and help others.

Kids Connect aspires to create a community of caring families who can support and inspire one another and whose collective efforts will have a positive impact on our local and global communities, and in the lives of our children.

It is operated entirely by the efforts of volunteers: parents and citizens interested in sharing a passion for community and service.

French Division of the International Institute for Global Leadership (IIGL)

The IIGL provides servant leadership training worldwide through online courses, and global mentoring via email. IIGL’s French Division works with French-speaking nations, primarily, including countries in Africa.

IIGL’s mission is to identify and train individuals who show promise of becoming consciously aware, high-integrity, heart-centered leaders in their communities. Their mission is based on the belief that there is a “new breed” of young people coming of age on the planet at this time, individuals who recognize the responsible role that they play in the transformation of both the planet and of human consciousness. They are emerging in every country, every culture, every religion and every ethnic group around the world, and very soon they will be the world leaders in their various fields. IIGL strives to provide them with non-academic educational resources that introduce and develop the idea that one’s attitude and state of consciousness is the foundation for one’s experience in life—both individually and collectively. IIGL exposes them to cutting-edge ideas and resources in their respective fields, further encouraging their leadership potential.

The Shepherd's Center of Greater Winston-Salem

The Shepherd’s Center of Greater Winston-Salem is an interfaith ministry that supports and promotes successful aging through educational, service, support, and volunteer opportunities for older adults. The belief that older adults are valuable members of society serves as the basis of the organization’s goals, which include:

  • Supporting adults who wish to live independently in the community
  • Providing opportunities for older adults to use their experience, skill, values, and gifts
  • Enhancing life satisfaction through life-long learning, caring, relationships, creative expression, and community service
  • Encouraging interfaith collaboration and community action through work with older adult ministries
  • Developing new programs and services that enhance the aging experience for both active and homebound older adults

See letters from recipients.

Past Recipients of Grants: