Dear Sisters, Catherine McAuley is often quoted as saying, “Hurray for new foundations!” Yet we know that after she accepted the request for a new foundation, much planning and negotiation occurred before the sisters moved in and began their work. As the Board of Mercy Foundation, we want to say, “Hurray for Mercy Foundation! Hurray for the difference it will make in the lives of those most in need in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming Counties!” And, we want to share with you that after much planning and negotiation, the Foundation will be ready to award its first grants in the spring of 2013. We want to thank each of you who participated in focus groups, gave suggestions and offered help as the behind‐ the‐ scenes organizational details were being addressed. We would like to share some of those details with you. 
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We are delighted and grateful that Jenny Blanchard, Director of Development in Dallas, will assume the responsibility of Administrative Director of the Foundation. She will continue as Director of Development for the Mid‐Atlantic Community in Dallas and will incorporate the part‐time work of the Foundation into her existing role. Jenny brings great competence and experience to her overall development responsibilities as well as the expertise needed to administer the Foundation. When the Foundation was first formed and a Board of Directors needed to be named, Sisters Christine McCann, Catherine McGroarty and Patricia Vetrano were named. As a Board we recommended new appointees to the Members which they approved. In keeping with the bylaws that require 3 appointees from the former Dallas area, one other Sister and the President of the Mid‐Atlantic Community or her designee, the following are the new Board members who will assume responsibility effective January 1, 2013: Sr. Mary Ann Dillon Sr. Jane Kennedy Sr. Patricia Vetrano Sr. Martha Hanlon Sr. Nancy Donovan 
The Foundation will give priority in its disbursements to what we are calling Legacy ministries in the three‐county area. These are Mercy ministries either sponsored by or affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy. The affiliation could be the presence of a Sister of Mercy in the ministry. They are ministries that in the past received financial support at times from the Dallas and Mid‐Atlantic Community. A new ministry that a Sister of Mercy begins would also fit this category. The legacy is that of Mercy presence and service in the area. The ministries will still need to submit an application and meet standards in the application process, but the support for these ministries will receive priority consideration. Other projects or programs in the three‐county area whose services conform to the purposes of the foundation “to meet needs of those who are poor and underserved” will also be eligible to apply to the foundation. 
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A formal, public announcement/press release will be made in December or early January with information about the origins of the Foundation, the legacy of service of the Sisters of Mercy, the application process and contact information for inquiries. This communication gives advance notice to you, especially anyone who may be considering application to the Foundation. The focus of the Foundation in the three‐county area was required by the PA attorney‐general for his approval of the Foundation. By the laws that govern foundations in the State of Pennsylvania, the Foundation is required to distribute 5% of its funds annually. Given the value of the Foundation now, @ $400,000 ‐ $500,000 may be available for distribution in 2013. However, part of the annual distribution will support administrative costs for the Foundation. It is intended to keep these costs to a minimum. Since the Foundation support is limited to programs in the three‐county area, programs or ministries sponsored by or affiliated with the Sisters of Mercy in the three‐county area will apply for grants to the Foundation rather than to the Mid‐Atlantic Community Ministry Fund. The Board met with the Corporate Members (Leadership Team) and agreed that this would potentially enable greater support for programs in other areas of the Community by the Ministry Fund. We know all of us have eagerly awaited this next step in the Foundation. You can expect further communication from Jenny when the public announcement is made. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact her. She is most willing to respond to inquiries or support and assist you as you may consider applying for funds. Although this is not confidential information, the public announcement will not be made until January. You may be aware of programs or agencies that are not Legacy ministries whom you would want to encourage to apply. We ask that you hold off any personal communication to them until after the public announcement is made. Hurray for Mercy Foundation! In mercy, Sr. Christine McCann, RSM Sr. Catherine McGroarty, RSM Board of Directors The Mercy Foundation, Inc. Sr. Patricia Vetrano, RSM