The Robert Bowne Foundation - Honoree
The Robert Bowne Foundation supports the development of quality programs that offer literacy education to children and youth of New York City, in the out-of-school hours, especially for those living in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Bowne Foundation was established in 1968 by Edmund A. Stanley, Jr. in honor of Robert Bowne (1744-1818), founder of Bowne & Company, and a pioneer in his efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged. Today, through the leadership of Lena Townsend (Executive Director) and Anne Lawrence (Program Officer), the Bowne Foundation provides grants and technical assistance to over 30 New York City out-of-school-time programs each year.
The Robert Bowne Foundation has played a significant role in the development of Page Turners, Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries’ after-school program for children in grades 1-6. In 2001, The Bowne Foundation awarded RMM its first grant for literacy development. Since then, Bowne has continued to support RMM through subsequent funding and technical resources, which has encouraged growth of participation, as well as academic and social outcomes for children in the Hell’s Kitchen community.
Smoke Rise Baptist Church - Honoree
Smoke Rise Baptist (Stone Mountain, GA) has served as a partner with Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries since 2003 and has had a connection to its Hell’s Kitchen community for even longer. SRBC first connected with Metro Baptist Church in the 1980’s during a youth mission tour to New York City at a time when MBC was facing a significant financial need in order to purchase a church building and expand social services to its surrounding neighborhood. Upon returning from the mission trip, individuals at SRBC collected a special offering in order to help meet the needs of Metro and its community.
Years later, as they began a more focused mission effort, Smoke Rise Baptist Church began looking for mission partners, with the aim to build true relationships. Smoke Rise’s second mission trip to New York City was in the summer of 2003, when a team arrived at Metro to help install a new baptistery, as well as lead a week of children’s day camp, sponsored by Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries. Since then, Smoke Rise Baptist Church has sent teams every summer to lead a week of CLUE (Children Living the Urban Experience) Camp provided toys and volunteers for RMM’s annual holiday toy distribution, and responded faithfully to building, program and staff needs at Metro and RMM. It is the goal of Smoke Rise Baptist Church to serve its mission partners and help them meet their priority needs through a long-term sustainable partnership based on relationships.
Rev. Dr. David Waugh - Honoree
J. David Waugh served as the founding Director of Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries for twelve years. After serving churches and working for community development in Kentucky, Vermont and Rhode Island, David moved to New York City in 1993 to serve as pastor of Metro Baptist Church. After only a couple of years, he led the church and community partners in the formation of RMM, in order to more fully meet the social needs prevalent in the Hell’s Kitchen community of Manhattan. From 1995 to 2007 through David’s leadership, RMM began offering such programs as free English classes, after-school tutoring and enrichment for children, HIV/AIDS support, medical clinics, and a drop in teen center; and expanded existing programs such as RMM’s weekly food pantry, toiletry distribution and winter clothes closet. During his tenure as director, David helped to secure grant funding and build a donor base that continues to help RMM meet the growing needs of the community.
Rev. Dr. Waugh holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, a Masters of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. David has served on the Board of Directors for the National Council of Churches, Alliance of Baptists, and the NYC Region of the National Conference for Community and Justice, as well as serving on the Coordinating Council for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and as Coordinator of the NYC Interfaith Dialogue (Christians, Jews & Muslims). While Director of RMM, David served as an adjunct professor for the Divinity School of Wake Forest University. He and his wife, Jane, currently live in Jackson, Mississippi.
Paul Raushenbush - Keynote Speaker
Rev. Paul Raushenbush is the Religion Editor for the Huffington Post. He is the Associate Dean of Religious Life and the Chapel at Princeton University. An ordained American Baptist minister, Rev. Raushenbush speaks and preaches at colleges, churches and institutes around the country including the College of Preachers at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C., The Chautauqua Institute in upstate New York, the Center for American Progress, and the New America Foundation. He has appeared on ABC World News Tonight and is a repeated guest on CNN and NPR. He has been quoted in The New York Times and The Washington Post and is a contributing editor for Beliefnet.com. His first book, Teen Spirit: One World, Many Faiths (HCI) was released in the Fall of 2004. He is the editor of the 100th Anniversary edition of his great-grandfather Walter Rauschenbusch’s book, Christianity and the Social Crisis – In the 21st Century (HarperOne). His work at Princeton includes strengthening the interfaith community on campus. He is the Co-Director of the Program on Religion, Diplomacy and International Relations at The Liechtenstein Institute on Self Determination at Princeton University.