Sponsoring Institutions

Lilly Endowment Christian Parenting & Caregiving Initiative

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education, and religion. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities.

A primary aim in religion is to deepen and enrich the religious lives of Christians in the United States, principally by supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations. We value the broad diversity of Christian traditions and congregations today and endeavor to support them in a wide variety of contexts. We seek to ensure that all types of congregations have a steady stream of wise, faithful, diverse and well-prepared leaders. We work to strengthen theological schools as well as religious institutions and networks that nurture pastors and support the ministries of congregations. We support efforts that help Christians draw on the wisdom of their theological traditions as they strive to understand and respond to contemporary challenges and live their faith more fully. We are especially interested in efforts that nurture the religious lives of children, youth and young adults and share the beauty and vibrancy of Christian faith with a new generation.

We also work to foster public understanding about religion. While we seek to lift up the contributions that people of all religious faiths make to our greater civic well-being, we also encourage fair and accurate portrayals of both the negative and positive effects of religion on the world.

Through the Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, Lilly Endowment seeks to help interested parents and caregivers share their faith and values with their children. Eligible charitable organizations located in the United States were able submit proposals to create new or enhance existing programs that advance one or both of the following objectives:

• Supporting congregations (especially pastors, children and youth ministry staff and congregational volunteer leaders) and other Christian organizations by developing and providing resources, programs and educational opportunities that will create and/or strengthen ministries to help interested parents and caregivers share their Christian faith and values with their children.
• Supporting Christian parents and caregivers by developing and providing resources and programs to help them learn, adapt and embrace time-honored practices to share their Christian faith and values with their children.

Catholic Parenting Initiative

OLV Charities received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to develop the Catholic Parenting Initiative, a critical project designed to help parents and caregivers pass their Catholic faith onto their children.

This five-year effort, funded through Lilly Endowment’s Christian Parenting and Caregiving Initiative, will work collaboratively with the Diocese of Buffalo and engage directly with families of parishes throughout the Diocese’s Road to Renewal Parish Family Model. The Catholic Parenting Initiative will provide wholistic formation, accompaniment and support, parenting workshops and trainings, resources, formational experiences, and, most importantly, opportunities to encounter and develop a personal relationship with God. It is our sincere hope that this initiative will nourish the spiritual lives of parents and caregivers, encourage and provide opportunities for personal reflection and growth, foster a deeper love of the Catholic faith, and empower them to confidently and competently share their faith and values with their children.

OLV Charities

In gratitude for spiritual or temporal victories, countless individuals throughout history have given Mary the title of "Our Lady of Victory." Today, the faithful continue to dedicate their prayers and good works to Mary under this title while supporting the important work being done through her OLV Charities and the Our Lady of Victory (OLV) organizations.

The good work that is done through OLV Charities is possible due to the generosity of its faithful friends around the world. Thousands of people, inspired and touched by Our Lady of Victory, make contributions in her honor. Their offerings are used to help fulfill the spiritual and material needs of the tens of thousands of needy individuals and families served each year.

Father Baker's vast "City of Charity" remains today and continues to evolve and grow. Comprised of OLV Charities, OLV Human Services, and OLV National Shrine & Basilica, the OLV organizations are as vibrant as ever! Although many things have changed throughout its decades-long existence, OLV team members have never lost sight of their dependence on the Blessed Mother and the mission of the organizations' humble founder. It is this long history of service and devotion that continues to inspire and motivate Msgr. David LiPuma, his staff, and thousands of generous patrons and friends from around the world.

More information on CPI will be coming in the weeks ahead.  If you'd like additional details, or you'd like to be a part of it all, contact Riley Emer, program director, at (716) 828-9633 or [email protected]