Funding Emphasis Includes: Microfinance, Vocational Training and Telecommunications in Africa, Young Adult Services Programs throughout America and Education Advocacy in Metropolitan New York

Contact: Linda Hanick, Trinity Church-St. Paul's Chapel, 212-602-0797, lhanick@trinitywallstreet.org

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Wall Street, a 300-year old Episcopal parish in Manhattan's financial district, has awarded more than $1.4 million in funding during the second quarter of 2010, through its Trinity Grants Program. The focus for this grant-making cycle reflects Trinity's continuing support of micro-lending, job development and telecommunications in Africa; its commitment to young adult leadership programs in America; its advocacy of education initiatives in metropolitan New York; and strengthening the bonds of the Anglican Communion.

"These grants represent the people of a parish in lower Manhattan working in mutual partnership with people near and far, for a world of good," said the Rev. Dr. James H. Cooper, Rector of Trinity Wall Street. "The world is a better place when the presence of the Church is felt in deep and lasting ways."

In Africa, Trinity continues its support of microfinance initiatives to encourage economic growth in Angola and Ghana with grants totaling more than $210,000. In Zambia, a grant of $65,500 supports and expands vocational training. A telecommunications grant in the Sudan also provides $331,000 to be used to connect ten dioceses to the Internet and support the provincial infrastructure, including the development of an Episcopal Church of the Sudan website.

Trinity is supporting programs in the United States to help raise the next generation of leaders, with more than $250,000 grants across the country -- from Connecticut to California -- for young adult service programs that foster civic engagement, community, and spiritual growth.

Trinity Grants is providing $245,000 in grants to metropolitan New York organizations that support education advocacy and student engagement in connection with All Our Children, an education initiative that encourages Episcopal parishes to connect with public schools (www.allourchildren.net). Trinity is also allocating $15,000 to churches in Monroe, Nyack and the Lower East Side that are partnering with their local public schools to strengthen public education.

A complete list of second quarter 2010 awards and program descriptions is available at www.trinitywallstreet.org/action/grants/.