The Faith Mission Christian Fund was established in 2001 by Faith Mission, Inc, a non-profit agency that was founded in Tampa, Florida in 1923 by Fred and Cora Markert. In the beginning the Faith Mission operated a home for children without other means of support. It moved to Crystal Beach, Florida in 1928. At its peak in the late thirties and into the forties, it was home to as many as 87 children at any given time.

In 2000, the Board of Faith Mission, Inc. sold all of the Faith Mission property, except for their Youth Center to Pinellas County for a park. The proceeds from the sale were placed with the Pinellas County Community Foundation for the establishment of the Faith Mission Christian Fund. Since the funds came from the work of Christian missionaries, grants are made in a manner consistent with and compatible with, Christian family values, although the applicants need not be faith-based. Special emphasis is placed on assisting the young and elderly who are, or have been, in group home settings.

Raising Hope, Inc. is pleased to accept a $10,000 grant award for 2007 from the Faith Mission Christian Fund. In 2006, we were the recipient of a $5,000 grant and assisted 302 foster children. Raising Hope’s mission of meeting the emergency clothing and toiletry needs of children in the Pinellas County foster care system fits well with the mission of the Faith Mission Christian Fund. We are honored to be chosen for this grant for the second year in a row.