Background:  The “AFM All-Region Fund” includes funds set aside from available grant dollars for allocation out of Allegany Franciscan Ministries’ central office.  Typically these grants support state-wide or multi-regional activities that are related to health access or philanthropy.  Grants may also be made to organizations serving communities outside of Florida, and may be directed to disaster response and recovery efforts.  In 2008, $100,000 was awarded from the All-Region Fund.

Catholic Volunteers in Florida, Orlando, Florida
Retreats for Volunteers,  $15,000
Catholic Volunteers in Florida is a one year full-time volunteer service organization dedicated to providing people the opportunity to live out their faith by serving those with the greatest need.  The volunteer year is a combination of service, spiritual/personal development, growth and sharing life experiences.  Volunteers are involved in social work, health care,  legal services, teaching, working with farm workers, and in other fields.  Grant funds will assist with the annual retreat program for their volunteers to develop a stronger faith formation program of vocational discernment and awareness.  Volunteers participate together in a total of 16 days of retreats throughout the year.    

Florida Catholic Conference, Tallahassee, Florida
Health Policy Advocacy, $25,000
The Florida Catholic Conference engages in activities to improve the common good in Florida by shedding the light of faith on policy deliberations and coordinating Church activities to serve the most vulnerable.  Grant funding will provide general operating support of their health-related activities and “Health Desk.”

Florida Philanthropic Network, Winter Park, Florida
General Operating Support, $15,000
Florida Philanthropic Network’s mission is to promote and build philanthropy in Florida, to advance sound public policy that includes nonprofit sector perspectives, and to foster cooperation and collaboration among business, government and nonprofit organizations. A key activity is to commission research such as the well-received 2007 study on the economic impact of the nonprofit sector in Florida.  

Global Health Ministry, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
Hurricane Relief for Haiti     $20,000
Support for hurricane relief efforts in Haiti following Hurricanes Gustav and Hannah in 2008, which caused severe damage in Haiti.  Global Health Ministry provides teams of volunteer health care professionals and others to provincial villages and distressed urban areas in Latin America and the Caribbean to help people with little or no access to health care. Funding helped provide additional resources for them to bring on their October 2008 trip to Haiti, shortly after the devastating hurricanes.

Florida Health News (Health Foundation of South Florida, fiscal agent) Miami, Florida
General Operating Support, $25,000
Launched in March 2007, Florida Health News is an independent, nonprofit news service that consolidates, creates and communicates Florida-specific health news, information and research to all who want access.  Florida Health News has grown to over 1600 subscribers to its daily e-news.   It is working to generate more original copy in addition to the daily news service, in order to report on Florida health issues that are not being covered by the mass media.