Together Office BeBe Hobson, Senior Vice President
We recently completed a highly successful $1 million Hard-to-Fund (HTF) Grant distribution. Our initiative started in November 2017 and concluded in December 2019. Over 100 HTF areas received grants, ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Each grant was matched by the area’s corresponding region. In total, $2 million was disbursed to HTF areas. Funds were allocated to these areas for the purpose of creating and sustaining healthy ministries, as well as contributing to the reduction/elimination of chronic financial hardship. Of the areas we helped, nearly two-thirds ended 2019 in a better financial position than the year before. The average financial increase among these areas was $13,741. Beyond the financial success, many HTF staff commented that this grant provided them hope to continue growing healthy ministry. As our country continues to grow in diversity among young people, efforts to equip and train staff in cultural intelligence (CQ) continue to expand. Our second and third rounds of “Diversity Deep Dive” are scheduled for this year to take a select group of participants through an immersive three-day workshop. Our February training of 30 individuals will include many from Young Life College, and in September, those in Legacy Leader Training will be equipped as our next-generation leadership. Plans are also underway to design an effective orientation for all staff and volunteers on the topic of CQ. Participants will be taken through a series of video trainings and select resources to help them in their understanding of how growing in their knowledge and practice of CQ can ensure our ministry’s impact in all communities.
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Spring Board 2020
