Healing Acts of Love
THE HORIZON OUTREACH FUND MAKES HISTORIC FIRST DISBURSEMENT, BENEFITING BACHMAN LAKE TOGETHER
“Extending the grace of Saint Michael’s gift of the North Land beyond its doors in bold, life-changing and strategic ways is the mission of the Horizon Outreach Fund (HOF),” says HOF Chair Matthew Waller. The HOF is the result of a bold and brave decision made several years ago by Saint Michael leadership to use the income from the 8111 Douglas Avenue project to intentionally focus its usage in a way that would have the most impact outside the Church. The HOF is a separate charitable extension of the All Angels Foundation, sharing Saint Michael’s same resolve and dedication to making a difference in the lives of our communities.
Every year going forward, grants from the HOF will focus on enriching our surrounding communities through its alignment with the All Angels Foundation’s three pillars of Elevating, Empowering, and Healing Acts of Love. Specific examples of those pillars would be supporting Discipleship (Volunteerism), Sustainability (Educational Access, Food Insecurity), and Reconciliation (Housing, Youth, Racial Justice).
ACHIEVING MILESTONES
It is with this purpose and great excitement that the HOF recently made history with its first disbursement of grant funds to Bachman Lake Together, a non-profit organization based in the Bachman Lake community here in Dallas, Texas. This grant is a significant milestone for the HOF and supports a turning point for Bachman Lake Together’s journey from a kindergarten readiness program to a place-based collective impact organization.
According to HOF Grants Committee Chair Stacey Malcolmson, “With this first grant, the HOF’s Committee chose to focus on the Healing Acts of Love pillar. Healing Acts of Love take time and investment, and they lend themselves to a deeper relationship between SMAA and the Bachman Lake community in much the same way as we have done over time through the work of Jubilee Park and Community Center.”
This pillar emphasizes celebrating and honoring the uniqueness of all people and seeking to help them heal when they are hurting. The grant to Bachman Lake Together aligns perfectly with this pillar’s focus as the organization’s mission is to promote economic mobility and self-determination for families in Bachman Lake and beyond.
The $50,000 grant from the Horizon Outreach Fund will specifically support Bachman Lake Together in its transition to a place-based collective impact organization. Executive Director Dr. Olga Martínez Hickman states, “Support from the Horizon Outreach Fund will propel Bachman Lake Together to strategically plan for the future of our organization and identify ways to grow our impact sustainably—we are very grateful to be the first organization to receive this gift and are excited to grow our partnership with Saint Michael and All Angels!”
The organization plans to use the funds for strategic planning as it seeks to become a collaborator and convener of community partners seeking to broaden opportunities for children and families in the Bachman Lake community. Through this community collaboration, Bachman Lake Together intends to develop scalable models to promote economic mobility and self-determination for families in the Bachman Lake area and beyond. The grant will help Bachman Lake Together define its goals for the next five years, taking a holistic approach including the input of critical community stakeholders and partners. This plan will provide a clear pathway to positioning itself at the center of growth, building opportunities for lasting impact, and creating a ripple effect that will be felt far and wide.
Bachman Lake Together currently serves as a community convener for families with young children to provide them a safe space to have a strong start in early learning and beyond. Its success in kindergarten readiness, through a unique formula of high-quality early childhood education, parent leadership, and community, resulted in a unique sense of trust among families it serves and the community.
HOF’s grant to Bachman Lake Together reinforces Saint Michael’s commitment to the Bachman Lake community following behind initial grants by the All Angels Foundation and Saint Michael’s Mission & Outreach Committee.
THE HORIZON OUTREACH FUND
The Horizon Outreach Fund benefits Dallas-area non-profit agencies and ministries with grants that align with the three guiding pillars of the All Angels Foundation (AAF) whose work impacts Discipleship (Volunteerism), Sustainability (Educational Access, Food Insecurity), and Reconciliation (Housing, Youth, Racial Justice).
The Horizon Outreach Fund is established under an agreement between Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and the All Angels Foundation. The AAF holds and manages the investment of the Horizon Outreach Fund. Over time, the Horizon Outreach Fund is set to generate millions in grants to impact strategic changes addressing some of our surrounding community’s greatest challenges. Learn more here.
**This article was featured in the 2023 Summer Archangel.