Danbury's New Opportunities, 31 Other Charities Receive Grants From Mustard Seed Ministry

Danbury, CT — Thirty-two local charities recently received "Mustard Seed" grants from Sacred Heart Church in Southbury, according to Voices News.

The Mustard Seed church ministry was started in 2003 by two sisters— Mrs. Irma Ziegler Smith and Miss Mildred Ziegler, who left a combined grant of over $1,000,000, the church stated.

• Sign up for our free newsletter and breaking news alerts for Danbury

The Sandy Hook charity Ben’s Lighthouse, Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation of Ridgefield, New Opportunities, a Danbury-based senior nutrition services organization, Rides For Ridgefield, Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury and many more are some of the nonprofits who received the grants.

Ben's Lighthouse was formed by a group of teachers, counselors, social workers, clergy, parents and local businessmen who began meeting to discuss the long-term effects of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization was named after 6-year-old shooting victim Benjamin Wheeler and for his love of lighthouses.

The Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation was established in 2004 by Todd Tango and Cathy Tango- Dykes in memory of their daughter Molly who passed away at age 10 in 2003. Molly was born with multiple disabilities and required ongoing extensive medical care. To honor her memory, her parents established the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation in 2004 to provide support to other families who care for children with special needs.

According to their website, New Opportunities' mission is "to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals by providing the necessary resources to increase their standard of living, foster self-improvement, and maximize self-empowerment."

In addition to the 32 charities granted funds, students were awarded as well.

Read the full list on Voices News here.

Image via Flickr Creative Commons