2018 - Recipients
Attic Youth Center - December
The Attic Youth Center is the only organization in Philadelphia exclusively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. All Attic programming is based on a youth development model and aims to build community, reduce isolation, combat homophobia, promote knowledge and life skills, and develop future leaders. Funds donated through Offering Outreach will be used for services in support of LBGTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness. The Attic intends to fill the gap caused by family and community rejection through an innovative program that helps prevent homelessness and strengthens the independent living skills youth need to secure and maintain housing.
The Bridge Way School - November
Bridge Way is an addiction recovery high school located in northeast Philadelphia. Their mission is to offer a strong academic program to students in grades 9 to 12 who are in recovery from substance abuse. The program allows students to focus on learning in an environment in which sobriety is required and supported. While the paramount objective of the Bridge Way School is to provide a meaningful and challenging educational program, the school recognizes that students need time during the school day to develop strategies for maintaining sobriety. Visit thebridgewayschool.org.
The Patrician Society - October
Located in Norristown, TPS meets the needs of the economically disadvantaged. It provides a food bank and emergency financial assistance for housing, utility bills, and medical aid. It serves elderly people on fixed incomes, homeless persons, parents who receive public assistance while caring for children, residents of hoarding homes, the recently unemployed/underemployed, and others in need in the greater Norristown area. The Society also runs a summer camp for children ages 5 to 11. Founded 35 years ago at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, the Society is an independent, nonsectarian, and nondiscriminatory nonprofit.
Feeding Thousands - September
MLUC will join with a local sponsoring church – Saint Luke’s in Devon – to package food for people in need. The money collected for Offering Outreach during the month of September will be used to purchase food for Feeding Thousands. Volunteers from MLUC will join members of Saint Luke’s congregation and other community volunteers to prepare food packages on October 20 at St. Luke’s. This is MLUC’s third time participating in Feeding Thousands.
Radnor-A Better Chance (ABC) - July/August
Radnor-A Better Chance (ABC), located in Wayne, is a community school of the national ABC program. The goal of Radnor-ABC is to develop leaders of tomorrow by providing students of color – who show strong academic and leadership potential in under-served communities – with a home away from home while they attend Radnor High School. Students complete a rigorous admissions process, are selected as eighth graders, and receive invitations to attend Radnor High School on a four-year scholarship. 94% of graduates go on to college. These scholars are a testament to the premise that high quality academic mentoring in a nurturing environment leads to a better life.
Neighborhood Bike Works - June
Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) is on a mission to inspire youth and strengthen Philadelphia communities by providing equitable access to bicycling and bike repair through education, recreation, leadership, and career-building activities. There are programs for youth and adults, designed to encourage more people to ride and maintain their bikes. NBW makes use of the joy and freedom inspired by bikes to bring about personal growth, community-building, and learning. Every year hundreds of youth earn bikes. They learn to repair donated bikes and are able to take a bike home. NBW runs a community bike shop that sells refurbished donated bikes and uses all proceeds to fund free or low-cost programs.
The Volunteer English Program - May
Located in West Chester, The Volunteer English Program (VEP) serves immigrants and refugees in Chester County who seek to empower themselves through English language skills and American cultural understanding. VEP has a unique one-to-one approach and provides services in the community rather than in a classroom. The program supports speakers of all languages and has served people speaking at least 30 different languages. VEP meets students wherever they are on the path of literacy and proficiency, regardless of income or residency status. VEP recruits and trains more than 100 volunteers each year to take on this important work. BR<BR<> This month’s recipient is Outside, an organization run by former prison inmates and formed to support prisoners who are returning to the community. Located in Philadelphia, the mission of Outside is to support and further returning citizens’ dignity and potential with education, coaching and programs to strengthen their lives. Persons in prison are interviewed and selected by former inmates and provided with mentors – former inmates who have been out of prison for at least three years. The mentors work with the prisoners through out the difficult period of reentry. Outside is a new organization that has three part-time employees. Outside benefits from the involvement of employers who provide training and well-paying jobs in the construction industry.
Outside - April
Outside is an organization run by former prison inmates and formed to support prisoners who are returning to the community. Located in Philadelphia, the mission of Outside is to support and further returning citizens’ dignity and potential with education, coaching, and programs to strengthen their lives. Persons in prison are interviewed and selected by former inmates and provided with mentors – former inmates who have been out of prison for at least 3 years. The mentors work with the prisoners throughout the difficult period of reentry. Outside is a new organization that has three part-time employees. Outside benefits from the involvement of employers who provide training and well-paying jobs in the construction industry.
The Clinic - March
The Clinic, located in Phoenixville, is a free outpatient medical clinic for uninsured people with low incomes. Founded in 2001, the clinic is not funded by government or private insurance programs and relies on donations and grants. The typical patient presents with a myriad of medical issues, making their treatment quite complex. Those served by the clinic are often stressed by poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and legal problems. The clinic provides patients who meet federal poverty guidelines and who do not have prescription coverage, with free medications from a national organization. In 2017, 113 patients were provided with 96 different medications and refills for a total patient benefit of $433,451 in free medications. Donations will be used toward the clinic’s program costs for the pharmacy program.
Norristown Hospitality Center - February
Norristown Hospitality Center, the only daytime shelter in downtown Norristown, is a daytime home for anyone who would otherwise be left hungry, weary, or on the streets of Norristown. It was founded in 1992 by Norristown Ministries, Inc, a group of 38 founding partner organizations, consisting of 24 Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish congregations and 14 community organizations out of true and simple love for people. The Center provides breakfast six days per week to 80-90 people, as well as access to showers, lockers, computers, and local phone service. In addition to helping with basic needs, the Center provides social services to empower those experiencing homelessness and poverty. The Norristown Hospitality Center is funded entirely without governmental funds, and is supported by contributions from congregations, foundations, corporations, groups, and individuals.
UUPALM - January
The Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Ministry (UUPALM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide educational opportunities, guidance, and support to Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout Pennsylvania on how to, “Bring Unitarian Universalist voices into the public square.” There are over 6,000 Unitarian Universalists in Pennsylvania and UUPALM provides training and education to our congregations on how to unite and bring our UU voices, principles, and values to our state legislators in Harrisburg. UUPALM works in conjunction with its sister organization, the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, a 501(c)(4) organization which many UUs in Pennsylvania, including many MLUC members, have joined.
The Attic Youth Center is the only organization in Philadelphia exclusively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. All Attic programming is based on a youth development model and aims to build community, reduce isolation, combat homophobia, promote knowledge and life skills, and develop future leaders. Funds donated through Offering Outreach will be used for services in support of LBGTQ youth who are experiencing homelessness. The Attic intends to fill the gap caused by family and community rejection through an innovative program that helps prevent homelessness and strengthens the independent living skills youth need to secure and maintain housing.
The Bridge Way School - November
Bridge Way is an addiction recovery high school located in northeast Philadelphia. Their mission is to offer a strong academic program to students in grades 9 to 12 who are in recovery from substance abuse. The program allows students to focus on learning in an environment in which sobriety is required and supported. While the paramount objective of the Bridge Way School is to provide a meaningful and challenging educational program, the school recognizes that students need time during the school day to develop strategies for maintaining sobriety. Visit thebridgewayschool.org.
The Patrician Society - October
Located in Norristown, TPS meets the needs of the economically disadvantaged. It provides a food bank and emergency financial assistance for housing, utility bills, and medical aid. It serves elderly people on fixed incomes, homeless persons, parents who receive public assistance while caring for children, residents of hoarding homes, the recently unemployed/underemployed, and others in need in the greater Norristown area. The Society also runs a summer camp for children ages 5 to 11. Founded 35 years ago at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, the Society is an independent, nonsectarian, and nondiscriminatory nonprofit.
Feeding Thousands - September
MLUC will join with a local sponsoring church – Saint Luke’s in Devon – to package food for people in need. The money collected for Offering Outreach during the month of September will be used to purchase food for Feeding Thousands. Volunteers from MLUC will join members of Saint Luke’s congregation and other community volunteers to prepare food packages on October 20 at St. Luke’s. This is MLUC’s third time participating in Feeding Thousands.
Radnor-A Better Chance (ABC) - July/August
Radnor-A Better Chance (ABC), located in Wayne, is a community school of the national ABC program. The goal of Radnor-ABC is to develop leaders of tomorrow by providing students of color – who show strong academic and leadership potential in under-served communities – with a home away from home while they attend Radnor High School. Students complete a rigorous admissions process, are selected as eighth graders, and receive invitations to attend Radnor High School on a four-year scholarship. 94% of graduates go on to college. These scholars are a testament to the premise that high quality academic mentoring in a nurturing environment leads to a better life.
Neighborhood Bike Works - June
Neighborhood Bike Works (NBW) is on a mission to inspire youth and strengthen Philadelphia communities by providing equitable access to bicycling and bike repair through education, recreation, leadership, and career-building activities. There are programs for youth and adults, designed to encourage more people to ride and maintain their bikes. NBW makes use of the joy and freedom inspired by bikes to bring about personal growth, community-building, and learning. Every year hundreds of youth earn bikes. They learn to repair donated bikes and are able to take a bike home. NBW runs a community bike shop that sells refurbished donated bikes and uses all proceeds to fund free or low-cost programs.
The Volunteer English Program - May
Located in West Chester, The Volunteer English Program (VEP) serves immigrants and refugees in Chester County who seek to empower themselves through English language skills and American cultural understanding. VEP has a unique one-to-one approach and provides services in the community rather than in a classroom. The program supports speakers of all languages and has served people speaking at least 30 different languages. VEP meets students wherever they are on the path of literacy and proficiency, regardless of income or residency status. VEP recruits and trains more than 100 volunteers each year to take on this important work. BR<BR<> This month’s recipient is Outside, an organization run by former prison inmates and formed to support prisoners who are returning to the community. Located in Philadelphia, the mission of Outside is to support and further returning citizens’ dignity and potential with education, coaching and programs to strengthen their lives. Persons in prison are interviewed and selected by former inmates and provided with mentors – former inmates who have been out of prison for at least three years. The mentors work with the prisoners through out the difficult period of reentry. Outside is a new organization that has three part-time employees. Outside benefits from the involvement of employers who provide training and well-paying jobs in the construction industry.
Outside - April
Outside is an organization run by former prison inmates and formed to support prisoners who are returning to the community. Located in Philadelphia, the mission of Outside is to support and further returning citizens’ dignity and potential with education, coaching, and programs to strengthen their lives. Persons in prison are interviewed and selected by former inmates and provided with mentors – former inmates who have been out of prison for at least 3 years. The mentors work with the prisoners throughout the difficult period of reentry. Outside is a new organization that has three part-time employees. Outside benefits from the involvement of employers who provide training and well-paying jobs in the construction industry.
The Clinic - March
The Clinic, located in Phoenixville, is a free outpatient medical clinic for uninsured people with low incomes. Founded in 2001, the clinic is not funded by government or private insurance programs and relies on donations and grants. The typical patient presents with a myriad of medical issues, making their treatment quite complex. Those served by the clinic are often stressed by poverty, homelessness, unemployment, and legal problems. The clinic provides patients who meet federal poverty guidelines and who do not have prescription coverage, with free medications from a national organization. In 2017, 113 patients were provided with 96 different medications and refills for a total patient benefit of $433,451 in free medications. Donations will be used toward the clinic’s program costs for the pharmacy program.
Norristown Hospitality Center - February
Norristown Hospitality Center, the only daytime shelter in downtown Norristown, is a daytime home for anyone who would otherwise be left hungry, weary, or on the streets of Norristown. It was founded in 1992 by Norristown Ministries, Inc, a group of 38 founding partner organizations, consisting of 24 Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish congregations and 14 community organizations out of true and simple love for people. The Center provides breakfast six days per week to 80-90 people, as well as access to showers, lockers, computers, and local phone service. In addition to helping with basic needs, the Center provides social services to empower those experiencing homelessness and poverty. The Norristown Hospitality Center is funded entirely without governmental funds, and is supported by contributions from congregations, foundations, corporations, groups, and individuals.
UUPALM - January
The Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Ministry (UUPALM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide educational opportunities, guidance, and support to Unitarian Universalist congregations throughout Pennsylvania on how to, “Bring Unitarian Universalist voices into the public square.” There are over 6,000 Unitarian Universalists in Pennsylvania and UUPALM provides training and education to our congregations on how to unite and bring our UU voices, principles, and values to our state legislators in Harrisburg. UUPALM works in conjunction with its sister organization, the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network, a 501(c)(4) organization which many UUs in Pennsylvania, including many MLUC members, have joined.