Allegany Franciscan Ministries 2007 ACOR Grant Program awarded a total of $140,400 to not for profit organizations. The goal of the ACOR Grant Program is to support the community-based work of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.

Academy Prep Center of Tampa, Tampa, FL                                               
Professional Development Retreat, $5,000
Support a four-day staff training and skill development session.  Training objectives include further understanding poverty issues of students and establishment of policies and interventions with students and families experiencing extreme crisis situations such as homelessness and addiction.

Alvernia Preparatory School, Kingston, Jamaica                                
Hurricane Dean Assistance, $5,000  
Alvernia Preparatory School was founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany almost 65 years ago.  The school serves children ages three to 11 years old.  Hurricane Dean damaged the school's roof.  This has resulted in damage to the ceiling, equipment and supplies inside the school including books.   Grant funds will pay to repair the roof and ceiling and replace damaged equipment, supplies and books.

Bread for the World, Washington, DC                                                          
Sowing Seeds: Growing a Movement Scholarships, $5,000
Scholarships for men and women religious to attend a gathering of people of faith and conscience at the nation's capital.  The gathering will renew commitment to the task of ending hunger, develop skills for motivating faith communities, strategize about how to best influence the nation's decision makers, visit representatives and senators, and plan for future activities. 

Canticle Farm, Allegany, NY                                                             
Farm Tractor with Attachments, $5,000        
Replace a 50 year-old tractor with a newer model that has a rotary tiller and front load attachments.  This will allow for more efficient organic farming practices at this community-supported farm. 

Casserly House, Roslindale, MA                                                                   
Adult Literacy II: ESOL, Citizenship, and GED, $4,000      
Printed materials, software, staffing and supplies for adult programs for new immigrants.  Programs are individualized and flexible to accomodate various work schedules and include citizenship preparation, workplace skills, and pre-GED preparation.   

Convento Nossa Senhora da Divina Providencia, Araguacema, Tocantins, Brazil
Professional Technical Workshops, $4,000   
Workshops provide technical knowledge to low-income youth and adults who want to improve their skills.  Topics include: painting, embroidery, computer skills, costume jewelry making, nutrition, and music. 

Convento Nossa Senhora da Divina Providencia, Araguacema, Tocantins, Brazil
Preserve Araguaia River, $5,000      
Program seeks to protect and preserve the waters of the Araguaia River through environmental education and advocacy.  Program components include: creating a forum for environmental organizations, educating people about the Araguaia/Tocantins basin, creating informational brochures, and finally involving Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. 

Convento Nossa Senhora Do Perpetuo,  Cristalandia, Tocantins, Brazil       
Escola Sao Francisco - Education: Generating a Happy & Wholesome Person, $5,000
Teaching materials, school uniforms, and food for the lunch program.  The school provides special care to children with special needs such as autism, physical limitations and mental challenges. 

Convento Sagrado Familia, Macajuba, Bahia, Brazil
Paz e Bem, $2,500       
Outreach to youth in a city where there are a large number of low-income families.  Program activities include group therapy sessions, recreation, computing, religious education, and tutoring.

Daystar Life Center, St. Petersburg, FL                                                       
Hygiene + Health = HOPE, $5,000    
Supplies for the program including underwear, socks, tooth brush and tooth paste, deodorant, soap and razors.   The targeted populations are the elderly, disabled, working poor, homeless, unemployed, underemployed and other economically disadvantaged individuals. 

Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy, Tampa, FL                                      
St. Ambrose Clinic, $5,000     
Support for final construction costs for a medical clinic in Uganda.  The clinic will provide curative and preventative care to those in need in a small village outside Mbale.  A chaplain at St. Joseph's Hospital is a member of Eucharistic Apostles of Divine Mercy and the founder of the clinic. 

Franciscan Center, Tampa, FL                                                                      
Shelter for Souls: First Steps in a Franciscan Partnership, $4,900  
Start-up funds for program that seeks to meet the spiritual needs of the homeless population that finds sanctuary on the steps of Sacred Heart Church.  This initial phase will include training for individuals working with the homeless as spiritual directors, companions, and outreach ministers. 

Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Brazil Region, Anapolis, Goias, Brazil      
Support and Acceptance to the Family, $5,000         
Support the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany Brazil Regional Office’s outreach as they assist the needy in the area.  They provide a limited amount of financial assistance for medications, doctor's visits, and related expenses.    
 
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany - Brazil Region, Anapolis, Goias, Brazil      
Regional Historical Museum, $2,500            
Start-up funds to prepare space for a regional historical museum.  Museum will include photographs, videos and other historical objects available about the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany’s service in Brazil.  The hope is that the museum will be a source of renewed interest among the sisters, those in formation, and the laity. 

Franciscan Sisters of Divine Mercy , Anapolis, Goias, Brazil                       
Continuation of the Construction of Convent, $10,000           
Support to complete the construction of a convent for this congregation in Mariapolis.  The congregation ministers to the community through evangelization, catechism, retreats, family visits and collaboration with other social programs which help children.     

Franciscan Sisters of Divine Mercy , Anapolis, Goias, Brazil                       
Building St. Francis Convent - Luziania, $5,000       
Support initial construction efforts to build a convent on donated land in the Diocese of Luziania.  In this area, the sisters work at a home for persons dependent on alcohol and drugs and provide pastoral service including work with liturgy and youth groups in the surrounding communities.  

Franciscans International, New York, New York                                        
HIV & AIDS Component of the Western and Southern African Leadership Seminars 2007, $5,000       
Franciscans International is a non-governmental organization with General Consultative status at the United Nations.  It seeks to unite voices of Franciscan brothers and sisters from around the world.  Grant funds are requested to support the organization's Africa program and specifically two HIV/AIDS training programs this year.  Participants will be grassroots Franciscan sisters and brothers who serve the poor and marginalized in Africa.

Fraternidade Franciscana Intercongregacional, San Jacinto, Madres de Dios, Peru
Educating to Be Happy, $3,500          
Teaching materials, food and transportation for youth program.  Program focuses on evangelization and the formation of values including life and human dignity, solidarity, peace and environmental stewardship.     

Genesis House, Olean, NY                                                                          
After Care Program, $4,000   
Support staffing, supply, and food costs for program for residents and graduates of a homeless shelter so they may become and stay independent.  Program participants receive help with medical expenses, transportation needs, and are invited to participate in shelter activities. 

Gerard Place Housing Development Fund Company, Buffalo, NY
Health and Wellness Center, $5,000
Support for nurses’ salary and equipment and supply costs for the wellness center.  Center  provides education, vaccinations, immunizations, check-ups, prescriptions, health-related counseling, parenting, referrals, and first aid/CPR classes to victims of domestic violence. 

Gibsonton United Methodist Church, Gibsonton, FL                                  
Daystar Faith Center, $5,000
Start up funds for a new social service agency in the Gibsonton and Riverview area.  The new center will buy food to create a food bank and to serve hot meals, pay for staff, pay 501 (c)(3) filing fees, and have funds available for daily bus passes and emergency needs of clients. 

James B. Sanderlin Family Center, St. Petersburg, FL                              
St. Petersburg Grandparents Support Group, $5,000           
Support efforts to provide additional health and mental health education, special days of respite and activities for children and a stipend for the group coordinator.   The group is comprised predominantly of low-income African American women struggling to make ends meet. 

Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Port de Paix, Haiti 
Hope for Children in Haiti, $5,000     
Program will open a kitchen at a Catholic elementary school to provide two hot meals a week and pay school fees for children orphaned by AIDS. 
 
NACRI, Anapolis, Goias, Brazil                                                                      
Green Area of Preservation and Leisure, $5,000     
Prepare the acquired adjoining property for outdoor play for the children.  Also, repairs will be made to the  small house located on the property. 

NACRI, Anapolis, Goias, Brazil                                                                      
Retaining Wall at Rear of Property, $5,000  
Construct a fence to enclose the new tract of land on the property and help canalize the rain water to avoid the new wall from falling due to heavy rains.  The lack of fencing is a safety concern for the organization.    

New Faith Free Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL                               
Made Free Transitional House Project, $5,000        
Pay staff stipend and initial rent and utilities expenses for new transitional house for recovering substance abusers.  House will provide a safe, family group living environment for up to six people.

Our Lady of Lourdes Health Foundation, Inc., Camden, NJ                      
Community Health Practice - Administrative Assistant, $5,000      
Partial salary and benefits for an administrative assistant to work eight hours per week at the free health clinic.  The assistant will work with data collection, clerical and phone support, scheduling and preparing documents and reports.

St. Joseph's Teachers’ College, Kingston, Jamaica                                              
Hurricane Dean Assistance, $5,000  
Repair roof, walls, and electrical equipment at a Teachers’ College.  The building which houses the Math, Music and Physical Education departments called "The Villa" suffered major roof damage due to Hurricane Dean. 

World Relief Tampa, Network of Emergency Trafficking Services, New Port Richey, FL
Tampa Bay Community Response to Survivors of Human Trafficking, $5,000     
Support of costs associated with interpretation, transportation, housing, food, clothing, health care, and employment assistance for victims of human trafficking and homeless persons.