History

Our History

Past Projects:

Peru Project
Bolivia Literacy Project
WINGS
Al Jania School
Haiti 2010
Dominican Republic

Our History

GRACE Cares, Inc. was formed in the summer of 2002 by Ken Giancola, Zoe Kopp, and T Namaya. The directors of GRACE Cares, Inc. have over 25 years of experience in community development, education and healthcare in over 70 countries. These experiences led to the recognition of the value of community as an integral part of a healthy world. As the pressures of globalization, population increase, and economic expansion that sometimes skirts those most in need, cultural traditions and the communities they thrive in are in jeopardy.  Over the past decade Grace Cares has partnered with communities in the US and abroad on projects that improve quality of life, provide necessary services, and preserve or rediscover cultural traditions.

Grace Cares was incorproated and received 501(c)3 tax-exempt status in 2003.  Our first "official" fundraiser was for WINGS, a group that supports Mayan women and children who are victims of domestic violence in the Guatemalan Highlands.  Along with our website, 2003 saw the launch of our other early projects were launched in Bolivia, Peru, and Palestine.  Information on these projects and our current ones are available on our Projects page.

In 2004 GRACE held a Tea & Concert in July to benefit two projects for the Matsiguenkas in Peru.  2004 also saw the offering the Vermont Art Poetry Fusion Prize.   This contest served both to raise money for GRACE projects and inspire local artists in Vermont.

In 2005 and 2006 GRACE expanded into a new set of "projects".  Most of them are ongoing relationships with various smaller projects and partnerships.  The sucesses, ongoing needs,  and current goals of each project is outlined on the Project page.  For example in San Jose Adentro and La Lomita we started with an elder care project, community center, and well.  Next came the chickens, then the eggs, and in the summer of 2011 the stoves (not necessarily for the chickens or the eggs).  Most recently there was a collection for shoes and we are trying to raise funds for improvements to the local high school.  When one need has been identified many more tend to follow and an entire community can be positively affected.  So please read about our past successes and current ambitions on the Projects page.