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South Side Mission receives $250K donation to expand youth ministry

The South Side Mission accepts a ceremonial check from Laura Cullinan, left, president of the Gilmore Foundation. An initial check of $125,000 will be paired with an additional $125,000 challenge grant.
Tim Shelley
/
WCBU
The South Side Mission accepts a ceremonial check from Laura Cullinan, left, president of the Gilmore Foundation. An initial check of $125,000 will be paired with an additional $125,000 challenge grant.

The South Side Mission is several steps closer to expanding its youth ministry outreach, thanks to a sizeable grant from a late Caterpillar CEO's charitable foundation.

The Gilmore Foundation will donate $250,000 to the South Side Mission for it's Vision Possible expansion of youth programming, including the Greater Academic Progress tutoring program.

"It's really this whole project and process to grow and infuse life into what we think is already a great youth ministry," said South Side Mission development director Rich Draeger.

The donation includes a check for $125,000 and a $125,000 challenge grant meant as an incentive for others to contribute.

Planned projects for the youth ministry expansion include culinary education, instruction in Spanish and American sign language, two virtual libraries, computer labs, a youth worship center, and a year-round greenhouse and garden.

"The good part about those particular ministries is that they are reaching youth at a young age, that we have the opportunity to impact our youth that we give them something positive, some positive alternatives instead of just being out in community, nowhere to go," said the Rev. Craig Williams, the South Side Mission's executive director. "We'd like to say a safe place to be able to have some other programming that will incite their interests."

Williams said the South Side Mission already has doubled enrollment in its tutoring program.

The South Side Mission's Vision Possible event on Sept. 26 also will raise funds toward expanding youth programming. Dr. Tony Evans is the keynote speaker.

"We said we have this vision. But guess what, we don't have the financial means to do it," said Draeger. "And so we really put our faith in God, and God is delivering. God's delivering us people. He's delivering us funds, and he's delivering us staff."

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.