Lutheran housing organization receives $15,000 grant from Thrivent

For Immediate Release

Contact:

David Yow; Director, Public Relations; The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | 314-996-1236 | david.yow@lcms.org

Brett Weinberg, Thrivent Financial Foundation | 612-844-4272, 612-219-3244 (c) | brett.weinberg@thrivent.com

Lutheran housing organization receives $15,000 grant

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 22, 2014 — The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod National Housing Support Corporation, which does business as Lutheran Housing Support, recently received a grant from the Thrivent Financial Foundation. For every dollar the organization Lutheran Housing Support raises through the end of 2015, the Thrivent Financial Foundation will match 50 cents up to $15,000 through the end of 2015.

The purpose of the grant is to strengthen Lutheran Housing Support’s ability to raise funds in support of national community development programs conducted by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) entities and partners.

“We are very grateful for the Thrivent Financial Foundation’s support of our work to engage LCMS congregations, social ministry organizations, districts and their partner organizations in community development work that meets the bodily needs of our neighbors and opens doors for the spreading of the Gospel,” said Nicole Ridley, chief executive officer of Lutheran Housing Support. “Thrivent’s match will help further our ability to recruit and retain new stakeholders and partners in these efforts.”

The grant is part of the foundation’s “Lutheran Grant Program,” which assists Lutheran organizations and those they serve in achieving economic security and sustainability. In 2013, the program distributed close to $2 million in grants.

Eligible grant applicants include: Lutheran congregations, regional divisions of the three largest church bodies, small church bodies, high schools, colleges, universities, seminaries, camps, campus ministries, social ministry organizations and other independent Lutheran organizations or institutions.

“We trust that this support will strengthen Lutheran Housing Support’s outreach to those it serves,” said Richard Kleven, vice-president of the Thrivent Financial Foundation.

About the Thrivent Financial Foundation

The Thrivent Financial Foundation is a private foundation funded by Thrivent Financial. As a nonprofit organization with its own board of trustees, the foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious, scientific, literary and educational purposes and makes grants and gifts to other nonprofit organizations. The foundation does not provide grants to individuals. To learn more about the foundation and its grant programs, visit www.thriventfoundation.com.

About LCMS National Lutheran Housing Support Corporation

Lutheran Housing Support (LHS) is a separately incorporated nonprofit that expands the housing ministry of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The agency connects LCMS congregations, districts and LCMS Recognized Service Organizations with expertise and financial resources to help revitalize neighborhoods and provide affordable housing. LHS has partnered with congregations and civic and business leaders to revitalize the Spring Creek Nehemiah area in New York City, the Ezra Housing project in Chicago, the College Hill neighborhood in St. Louis and the Lutheran Community Outreach Center in Fort Wayne, Ind. To learn more, visit www.lcms.org/lhs.

About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is a biblical, confessional, witness-oriented Christian denomination with 2.2 million members – 600,000 households – in 6,100 congregations. Through acts of witness and mercy, the church carries out its mission worldwide to make known the love of Jesus Christ. Learn more at www.lcms.org.

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