Helping the helpers
Hobby Lobby is sponsoring a new grant opportunity for metro area churches, ministry organizations and non-profits.
A new grant opportunity for local ministry organizations, churches and nonprofits is being introduced to the metro-area community by Oklahoma Citybased Hobby Lobby.
The national arts and crafts retailer is sponsoring the OKC Passion Awards to identify and support effective ministries committed to advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
National Christian Foundation Heartland first launched the Passion Awards in 2001 in Kansas City, Missouri, and more than $1.2 million in grants have been awarded to 138 ministries.
The Passion Awards celebration draws the community together to honor and recognize the award recipients. The occasion has become known as “the Academy Awards for Christian ministries” and is one of the largest Christian awards events in the country. This will be the first time a Passion Awards event has been held out of the NCF Heartland headquarters in Kansas City.
Nonprofit organizations in the Oklahoma City metro area, including Canadian, Cleveland, Grady, Lincoln, Logan, McClain, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie counties, may apply for grants through Sept. 29.
National Christian Foundation Heartland estimates between 10 and 15 grants will be made available, each ranging from $10,000 to $25,000.
Assif Reid, ministry coordinator for Hobby Lobby, said the Green family founders of the retailer decided to partner with NCF Heartland to bring the Passion Awards to the metro area to give back to their community.
“The family was thinking about how they could impact the community a little bit more,” Reid said. “The community has given so much to us as an organization. As a company, they’ve watched us grow.”
Reid said Hobby Lobby receives numerous requests for donations each year, including many from the Oklahoma City area. He said the Passion Awards program is designed to raise more awareness about the nonprofits and ministries in the city. Potential donors may get a glimpse of a group or organization highlighted through the Passion Awards and decide they want to offer their help.
“There are quite a few gems in our city, that truth be told, we weren’t aware of until we got proposals from them,” Reid said.
Two informational sessions about the grant opportunity and proposal process will be July 27 and July 28 at Hobby Lobby headquarters. Hobby Lobby representatives said space is limited and registration is required.
The OKC Passion Awards will be presented on March 6 at a citywide celebration event held at the Cox Convention Center. The theme for the event will be “The Time is Now,” based on Esther 4:14.