The Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming announced nearly $200,000 in grant awards to Episcopal churches and community organizations statewide on Jan. 29.
 
Five Wyoming parishes were grant beneficiaries under the diocese’s Wind and Wings youth initiative. The largest grant went to The Chocolate Shoppe Teen Center in Kemmerer, which received $45,000 to support its mission of providing a safe, positive environment for at-risk youth. This community program draws much of its leadership from the members of St. James’ Church.
 
The diocese has known for decades that it would inherit the $75 million Storer Trust Fund. Last summer it received approximately one-third of the trust after the death of one of the three brothers named as a beneficiary. The $200,000 distributed during the current grant cycle did not come from the Storer Trust, however, according to John Masters, executive director of the foundation.
 
“We’ve gone from being very poor to having resources,” Mr. Masters said.
 
Mr. Masters said the foundation is still in the process of drafting guidelines for how future grants will be awarded from the trust fund. The foundation is scheduled to meet this weekend and it is likely that members will agree to limit grant applications to Episcopal congregations and organizations within the diocese.
 
“That’s not to say that policy won’t be changed later,” Mr. Masters said. “We are trying to proceed cautiously and responsibly. We want to get this right.”
 
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