Franciscan Foundation For The Holy Land

THE FRANCISCAN FOUNDATION FOR THE HOLY LAND WAS ESTABLISHED TO SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE CONTINUED PRESENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINORITY IN THE HOLY LAND. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND WITH HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM - TO ASSIST CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND, FFHL PAYS THE COST OF A COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR SELECT CHRISTIAN STUDENTS WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED AND WHO MAINTAIN A "B" AVERAGE THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY CHRISTIAN STUDENT APPLYING FOR A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE PROGRAM. SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE CHOSEN BY THE FFHL SCHOLARSHIP BOARD COMPRISED OF FOUR U.S.-BASED COLLEGE PROFESSORS. TUITION IS CONTINGENT UPON RECEIPT AND VALIDATION OF THE STUDENT'S ACCEPTANCE LETTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY. THE STUDENT BEGINS THEIR STUDIES IN THE FALL AND THE PAYMENT FOR THEIR SCHOOL TUITION COMMENCES. OVER 20 YEARS, THE FOUNDATION HAS DISBURSED $6,536,277 FOR COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, WITH 359 STUDENTS GRADUATING. OUT OF THE 359 GRADUATES, 75% ARE PROFESSIONALLY EMPLOYED; 210 ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WERE ATTENDING COLLEGE AT DECEMBER, 31, 2021. SPONSOR A CHILD PROGRAM - SPONSORS PROVIDE $500 PER YEAR FOR SEVEN YEARS TO PAY THE TUITION OF A CHILD IN A LOW-INCOME FAMILY. IN 2021, OUR CHILD SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM PROVIDED THE TUITION FOR 6TH TO 12TH GRADE ECONOMICALLY MARGINALIZED STUDENTS IN THE HOLY LAND WHO WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE RECEIVING AN EDUCATION. SINCE 2004, WE HAVE PROVIDED $1,281,000 IN FUNDING FOR THEIR EDUCATION.

HUMANITARIAN - THE FOUNDATION SUPPORTS A VARIETY OF HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS IN THE HOLY LAND INCLUDING THE BETHLEHEM BOYS' HOME, THE FRANCISCAN FAMILY CENTER, AND CHILDREN WITHOUT BORDERS. THE BETHLEHEM HOME WAS ESTABLISHED TO CARE FOR CHRISTIAN CHILDREN IN NEED BECAUSE OF SERIOUS SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. THE HOME PROVIDES THESE CHILDREN (AGES 6-18) WITH A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEIR NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF. THE FRANCISCAN FAMILY CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED IN BETHLEHEM IN 2004 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING TO THOSE CHRISTIAN FAMILIES WHO HAVE SUFFERED TRAUMA FROM THE CONFLICT IN BETHLEHEM. THE CENTER ALSO SPONSORS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS. CHILDREN WITHOUT BORDERS UTILIZES THE PRACTICE AND TRAINING OF SOCCER TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN YOUTH OF DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN AN ENVIRONMENT OF PEACE, LIBERTY, AND COOPERATION THROUGH THE FUN AND FELLOWSHIP OF ATHLETICS.

HOUSING - FAMILIES ARE PROVIDED HOUSING IN APARTMENTS THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED BEGINNING IN 2001. SINCE 2001, WE HAVE HOUSED 34 CHRISTIAN FAMILIES IN BETHLEHEM AT A COST OF $3,050,116. THIS SUBSIDIZED HOUSING HELPS ALLEVIATE THE ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES FACED BY CHRISTIAN FAMILIES IN THE HOLY LAND.

OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE AID TO SYRIAN REFUGEES, SUPPORTING THE RESTORATION OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ISRAEL AND THE WEST BANK.