Benevolence

The Benevolence Committee’s purpose is to prayerfully distribute Benevolence funds provided by the congregation to our local community, the nation, and the world. Over 20% of every dollar pledged at Westminster goes to support mission and outreach through many organizations.

The committee distributes funds based on the following goals:
•    Giving to causes that change lives and improve conditions
•    Supporting efforts of church members involved personally in Mission
•    Giving to causes where our size of gifts can make a difference
•    Giving to causes that use our funds responsibly

Each year the committee solicits letters of proposal for support from organizations the church has supported in the past and new ones suggested by members of the congregation. The committee reviews these proposals and allocated funds within the budget guidelines.

Funds are distributed in an attempt to balance issues of Education, Help for Children, Refugee Services, Community Services, Medical Assistance, Provision of Shelter, Hunger and Advocacy & Community Organization.

In 2008, the Benevolence Committee contributed a total of $198,000 to the following organizations:

AIDS/HIV Services Group
Alliance for Interfaith Ministries
ANERA - Gaza Women's Loan Fund
Bangkok YMCA - Save a child
Blue Ridge House
Boys & Girls Club of Charlottesville
Bread for the World
Camp Holiday Trails
CASA
Center for Restorative Justice
Charlottesville Area Dental Access
Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice
Charlottesville Free Clinic
Church World Service
Covenant Network
Crop Walk Donation
Crop Walk Expenses
District I Mission Trip
Emergency Food Bank
Forman Christian College
Habitat for Humanity
Hospice of the Piedmont
IAHC After School Day Care
IMPACT
Innisfree Village
Interfaith Gay/Straight Alliance
International Rescue Local
Kenya Student (Amos)
Literacy Volunteers
Martin Luther King
Massanetta Springs Capital Campaign
Meals on Wheels KCRC
Mediation Center
Mission Trip
Mohr Center Region 10
Monticello Area Community Action MACAA
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam
New Church Development - Blue Ridge
Opening Doors Transportation
PACEM - Expenses for Westminster hosting
PACEM - Support of Headquarters
Piedmont Housing Alliance
Play Partners/CYF
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Hunger Program
Presbytery Support
Ronald McDonald House
SARA
Seminary Support Vanderbilt
Seminary Support Yale
Shelter for Help in Emergency
That All May Freely Serve -  Presbyterian Church
University Mission
Virginia Council of Churches
Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
Virginia interfaith Power & Light
Virginia Organizing Project
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
WCCC Scholarships
Westhaven Clinic
Westhaven Clinic Parish Nurse Program
Westminster Canterbury Transportation