Our Lady of Mercy Awarded $500,000 Kresge Grant


Charleston, SC (January 1, 2008) – Corporate DevelopMint is proud to announce that local client Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) concluded their year by securing a $500,000 gift in support of their $3,500,000 capital campaign to endow the operations of a Wellness House.

In late December, the prestigious Kresge Foundation, a $3.9 billion private foundation which supports non-profits throughout the United States, awarded OLM with a $500,000 challenge grant that will become available to OLM when it raises another $1,250,000 as part of its present campaign. In most instances, a grant this substantial serves as an inspiration and a motivator for potential donors who have not yet committed to the cause. This grant has also inspired OLM to raise its initial $3,500,000 goal to $4,500,000.

According to Kresge Foundation President and CEO, OLM “presented a compelling strategy to use a Kresge challenge grant to help leverage support from new donors and to solicit higher level of giving from past contributors.” The awarding of this grant underscores not only the importance of the project to the community, but also the degree to which OLM is committed to good stewardship of its donors and a strong, sustainable community-service model.

This campaign seeks to raise funds to build a new Wellness House to provide dental and prenatal care for the economically challenged members of the James, Johns, and Wadmalaw Islands. The existing center has outgrown its current building and the new Wellness House will offer 5,000 square feet of treatment space as well as room for educational classes. Corporate DevelopMint Senior Consultant Greg Bowden says, “Our Lady of Mercy offers the citizens of this community help in crisis while it assists them in improving their daily lives. I am proud to work with such a worthwhile organization and thrilled that the Kresge Foundation has agreed to help us lead the charge with their generous grant.”

About Our Lady of Mercy

Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services provides educational, health, housing, and outreach services to people in need on James, Johns, and Wadmalaw Islands. OLM offers immediate and basic needs through its food pantry and clothing closets but also seeks to address “whole person” needs by promoting long-term wellness through health, education, parenting and literacy programs.

About Corporate DevelopMint

Corporate DevelopMint is a consulting firm based in Charleston, SC, which serves the development needs of non-profit organizations. With over 150 years of combined experience, CDM’s senior-level consultants have led campaigns generating hundreds of millions of dollars for non-profit hospitals, colleges and universities and a variety of community organizations.

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