The Sisters of Mercy Many Faces of Mercy Giving Circle celebrated its 15^th anniversary of awarding grants to non-profit agencies that serve women and young girls by distributing 10 grants totaling $17,100 during a ceremony at Mercy Center, Buffalo, on Sept. 14.

Grants were awarded to:

• EPIC (Every Person Influences Children), to provide two six-week parenting and family engagement education workshops to mothers residing at Cornerstone Manor.
• Family Justice Center of Erie County, for transportation assistance to help women escape domestic abuse and save their children from the cycle of violence by the elimination of the transportation barrier.
• Gerard Place, for the Job Readiness Training Program, which will help mothers into a strong career path and break the cycle of poverty.  It will also provide a structured eight-week program for 14 mothers living on campus.
• Homespace Corporation, for the Mommy and Me program which will provide transportation of young mothers (age 14-21) to take their children to licensed day care settings or Head Start programs to increase their communication and independent living skills.
• Immaculata Home, for programs that will help in the process of healing for women transitioning out of incarceration.
• Jericho Road Community Health Center, for English as a second language learning tools such as multi-lingual books so parents can take a more active role in helping their children.
• Journey's End Refugee Services, Inc., for the women's wellness group to provide refugee women the opportunity to learn about their new community and how to access resources and services.
• NativityMiguel Middle School of Buffalo, to give the students the opportunity to supplement the curriculum with enrichment activities that take place outside of school.
• St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, for the Baby Room Project, which will provide the basic needs for babies and children to their mothers and caregivers seeking assistance.

·       Somali Bantu Community Organization of Buffalo, for the Children Are Our Future Afterschool program, which focuses on providing homework assistance, academic skill building, English immersion, mentoring and social integration for children 4-20 years old who are of Somali Bantu descent.

The Many Faces of Mercy Giving Circle in Buffalo is a philanthropic group sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy to encourage, inspire and educate laywomen to become more effective philanthropists. In the past 15 years, it has distributed $292,282 in grants to 56 different non-profits.

Any woman interested in joining the Mercy Giving Circle, or any non-profit organization interested in receiving a grant application for the 2014 Grant Awards, may call the Sisters of Mercy Development Office at 716-821-1648. Grant applications will be available beginning in January 2018. 

The Sisters of Mercy in Buffalo are part of the Community of New York Pennsylvania West, which also includes Sisters of Mercy in Erie, Pittsburgh and Rochester.