The Maclellan Foundation is partnering with the Institute for Youth Development (IYD) to involve Chattanooga and outlying area cities in President George W. Bush's Compassion Capital Fund.

The Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) is a $30 million fund that Congress appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services to help address social issues in our country. This fund represents the first appropriated federal funds that are specifically targeted to assist faith-based and community groups. "This partnership will allow Chattanooga's faith-and community-based organizations to expand their efforts in meeting local needs. From our perspective, faith-based efforts have consistently yielded high-quality outcomes at efficient costs", says Hugh O. Maclellan, Jr., president of The Maclellan Foundation, Inc.

Congressman Zach Wamp will open the Chattanooga seminar on Feb. 3, at the downtown Marriott at 9 a.m. "I am pleased that Chattanooga will host a national seminar on how faith-based groups might be better equipped to meet the needs our society faces in 2003. Chattanooga has long been a leader in spiritual and philanthropic partnerships and I hope President Bush's emphasis on a faith-based approach will encourage even more participation", says Wamp.

IYD was awarded a grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services in competing for these federal grants. This goal will be achieved by conducting

approximately 20 regional seminars per year for three years, providing information on appropriate grant opportunities, providing technical assistance in the preparation of grant applications, and conducting a federal style sub-grants competition for participants. Substantial cash awards will be given to the winners. IYD will award between 55 and 95 grants per year for three years with the average award amount being approximately $30,000.