PC(USA) - Presbyterian Women, Birthday Offering


	Birthday Offering What Is the Birthday Offering? History of the Birthday Offering Present and Past Grant Recipients Birthday Offering Grant Process Birthday Offering Application Birthday Offering Resources


	What Is the Birthday Offering? The Birthday Offering is a PW offering collected in the spring of each year to celebrate the blessings in the lives of Presbyterian Women. The offering funds up to five projects that are not included in ongoing General Assembly mission support, such as agricultural development, child care, community organization, criminal justice, drug counseling, economic justice, elderly care, employment training, homelessness, literacy, violence and women’s concerns. PW in the Congregations (PWCs) typically collect the Birthday Offering in the spring and dedicate their offerings at spring gatherings. No giving guidelines are suggested other than “give as you are blessed.” PWCs who collect the Offering should send their donation (as a check made payable to Treasurer of Presbyterian Women) with a PW Remittance Form to the treasurer of PW in the Presbytery. Email Presbyterian Women to find out the name and address of your PWP treasurer. Individuals may also donate online. Watch the Birthday offering video This five-minute video provides an overview of the Birthday Offering and the two projects that will receive grants from the 2008 Birthday Offering. See images from Congo and New Orleans that show how much your prayers and generous giving can improve lives. You may also watch the video in Spanish.


	History of the Birthday Offering In 1922, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Woman’s Auxiliary (PCUS), it was decided that an offering should be made for a definite cause. That same year, Hallie Paxson Winsborough, superintendent of women’s work, visited Miss Dowd’s School for Girls in Kochi, Japan. Realizing the school’s needs, she challenged members of the Women’s Auxiliary to give one penny for each year of their life as a birthday gift to the school. Over the years, that tradition has become known as the Birthday Offering. Presbyterian Women have given more than $29 million in support of mission projects throughout the world.


	Present and Past Grant Recipients 2008 Grant Recipients For 2008, the Creative Ministries Offering Committee selected only two projects to receive grants instead of the usual five projects. Rather than five smaller grants, PW will be giving only two large grants to the following projects, allowing them to make even larger impacts on their communities: The Presbyterian Church of Congo and the Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa, “Building a Strong Future for the Congo” (Democratic Republic of Congo) Lakeview Presbyterian Church Weekday School, Lakeview Presbyterian Church Weekday School Restoration (New Orleans, Louisiana) Learn about these two projects (including their mission/purpose statements) and what your donations will provide.

	Past Grant Recipients Learn about recent grant recipients of the Birthday Offering and what your donations provided.


	Birthday Offering Grant Process Birthday Offering grants range from $200,000 to $750,000. Grant requests come from a variety of sources including PC(USA) governing bodies, health agencies, overseas churches, ecumenical councils, community groups, educational institutions and church related groups. Projects must meet the criteria established by Presbyterian Women. Download a Birthday Offering grant application. Download a Birthday Offering grant application in Microsoft Word format. Applications for grants must be submitted by May 15. The Creative Ministries Offering Committee of Presbyterian Women meets in the fall to review applications and make selections. Up to five projects will be selected for funding. Projects will be notified in November and will receive the first payment in October; second payment will be made by May 1 if the interim report is received by February 1.


	Birthday Offering Resources Order or download the promotional materials and other resources such as bulletin inserts and covers, placemats and posters to help you celebrate the Birthday Offering.


	Questions? Email Presbyterian Women. For more information, see the January/February issue of Horizons each year.


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