Outreach

Outreach has been a core component in the mission of GPC for many decades.  We have an ambitious giving program in four categories:

• Supporting Youth in Better Achieving their Potential;
• Housing, Family Services and Advocacy;
• Global Mission; and
• Denominational.

Our outreach activities reflect projects and programs supported by members or friends of the congregation.  As part of our inward/outward journey of faith GPC supports each of these activities both financially and with hands on participation.

Supporting Youth in Better Achieving their Potential

Bright Lights Initiative: This youth development program fosters high standards in literacy, cultural awareness and citizenship among Philadelphia area elementary school students. By creating an environment in which participating students become agents in their own learning, children become avid readers who are well-informed citizens and are eager to contribute to the larger concept of society.

Philadelphia Scholars Program: Students at participating Philadelphia Public Comprehensive High Schools are eligible for scholarships, ranging from $200 to $5,000, to fill the gap between students' financial aid and the real costs of college, such as travel expenses, books, and even computers. The program is led by a volunteer Advisory Committee, which helps raise funds for scholarships, and oversees a $18 million dollar endowment committed for future generations of Philadelphia Scholars.

Philadelphia Scholars attend 61 different colleges and universities across the country. The Philadelphia Scholars Advisory Committee is led by A. Morris Williams, Jr. who has served as committee chairperson since the program's inception.

www.philaedfund.org/scholars/index.html

Project Forward Leap: This program is committed to closing the gaps of academic achievement and developmental opportunities between disadvantaged children, and their advantaged peers. Accordingly, we are dedicated to the creation of optimal learning communities that enhance the chances of maximizing academic and personal growth. Successes in these learning communities should provide a foundation and momentum upon which participating schools and districts can build. The core components of PFL’s strategy for achieving these goals are: accelerated curricula, master teaching practices, the mandate of intensive parental involvement, the enrollment of a critical mass of students from participating districts, and collaboration with those districts and other educational organizations. a residential summer college prep program for youth from underserved middle schools.         

www.projectforwardleap.org

Housing, Family Services and Advocacy

Broad Street Ministry: What would a faith community that was organized along the Avenue of the Arts look like? One that would:

· Embrace creativity

· Nourish the imagination

· Push against the limitations of conventionalism

· Visualize and realize a more compassionate and just society

We have set out to create such a place—where artists and visionary people of faith can come together. Let's face it—Philly is an exciting place right now! People of all ages are moving into Center City in droves. The arts scene in Philadelphia is dynamic and full of energy; from the most excellent expressions in the fine arts—to some of the most challenging of the emerging art forms, the city has made prudent investments to encourage a dynamic and creative city center—that's where we are going to make a go of this! This is where the Broad Street Ministry will make its home.

The Broad Street Ministry!

The Hispanic Initiative at Central Presbyterian Church  provides worship, fellowship and English language training opportunities to the Latino population in Norristown. 

Ludlow Community Association provides low income housing in the Ludlow area of Philadelphia.

Mothers in Charge: This grass roots organization is focused on reducing violence in our communities.             

www.mothersincharge.org

People’s Emergency Center:  An agency providing temporary housing and social services to homeless women, teen girls and their dependent children.

PEC's comprehensive co-located services break the cycle of homelessness by helping families achieve permanent stability and self-sufficiency. Grounded in 32 years of experience servicing homeless families in Philadelphia, PEC's program provides families with case management; emergency shelter, food and clothing; transitional housing; on-site child care and health care services; specialized after school and summer enrichment programs; mental health services; parent education; welfare-to-work services; and housing counseling. Thirty percent of staff are formerly homeless and become role models, showing parents by example that independence is possible. For homeless mothers, children and teens, PEC is not only a place where the basic needs of food and shelter are met, but also a community where minds and spirits are nurtured through responsive services and programs.

www.pec-cares.org

Peter’s Place: This counseling center provides a safe and supportive environment for grieving children and their families a.nd acts as a community resource to foster understanding of the effects of death and grief

Global Mission

Anglican Center for Haiti:  This supports the work long-time Gladwyne friend, Roger Desir as he struggles to bring a gospel of hope amid the desperate conditions in Haiti today.           

Bread for the World:  an organization dedicated to ending hunger worldwide.                 

www.bread.org

Scholarship Soley:  an organization in Haiti focused on empowering women with jobs and education.

Denominational

Presbyterian Church Unified Mission                  

BorderLinks: Our goal is to give participants the opportunity to personally experience these issues and to develop their own opinions. We do this by offering travel seminars, a college credit (study abroad) program, mission trips, debt skits, conferences, meetings, and other opportunities for people from both sides of the border to come together.

With a multinational staff and bi-national headquarters on either side of the border - one in Tucson (USA) and the other in Nogales (Mexico) – BorderLinks offers unique opportunities to learn about economic and social issues along the US-Mexico border. Among the economic topics we explore are the global economy, free trade, NAFTA, international debt, microcredit programs, community banking, Mexican maquiladoras, labor conditions, and environmental problems. Social issues include politics, women's rights, immigration policy, the US Border Patrol, crime, health concerns, and human rights.

Our goal is to give participants the opportunity to personally experience these issues and to develop their own opinions. We do this by offering travel seminars, a college credit (study abroad) program, mission trips, debt skits, conferences, meetings, and other opportunities for people from both sides of the border to come together.

www.borderlinks.org

Chester Eastside Ministries: Chester Eastside Ministries' Mission is to bring urban and suburban people together in worship and service. Our goal is to render services to those individuals in need of food, clothing, spiritual guidance, and educational and recreational opportunities so they may meet the challenges of life. It is also our aim to convey respect for human dignity and to offer people the opportunity to realize their potential by cultivating their inner strengths, so that they may, in turn, help others to expand their horizons.

www.chestereastsideministries.org

PCUSA Mission Partners:  provides aid to Presbyterian missionaries throughout the world. GPC specifically partners with Daniel and Elizabeth Turk who work with environmental and health issues in Madagascar.

www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/turkd.htm

Presbyterian Children’s Village: Presbyterian Children's Village Services promote healing of the spirits of children and families broken by violence, neglect, addiction, poverty, mental illness, racism and other serious societal problems.

Unspecified Giving              

In addition to this scheduled annual giving, the GPC community participates in scheduled fundraising activities:

• Mother’s Day Concert this year raising funds for the Foster Care program at Presbyterian Children's Village
• Crop Walk
• Bike-A-Thon where our youth ride laps around the church to support the Heifer Project
• Souper Bowl Sunday   Our contributions support Hunger Campaigns
• Other Giving Sundays like One Great Hour of Sharing