Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program

Introduction

The Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program began in its present form in 2013.  It carries on the legacy of the Steven Roth Fund (SRF) which was established following the untimely death of Steven J. Roth in 1990 and was intended to support educational and international mission goals of members. See below for more background information.

Purpose of the Grant Program

The purpose of the Grant Program is to aid MHF members around the world as they volunteer in educational and/or service-oriented purposes which contribute to the missional purposes of the church. The Grant Program gives MHF members who are in the education phase, working to pay off loans, or working in volunteer or low-income settings the opportunity to receive the support of the larger MHF community for volunteer mission and service projects in which they are personally participating.

Grant Recipients

The following pages describe the persons and projects of recent grantees of the Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program.

• 2019 Grant Recipients
• 2018 Grant Recipients
• 2016 Grant Recipients

How to support the Grant Program

The Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program is one of several programs originally supported by the Mobilization for Mission Fund. As of September 1, 2016, the Grant Program has been integrated into MHF’s new Missional Budget Plan.  Members and others who wish to support the Grant Program are encouraged to give an extra tax deductible contribution to Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship to support this and other MHF programs.

Grant Application Process

Submission of Funding Proposals

• Summary of Steven Roth Grant Program Guidelines 2017-18
• A current MHF membership of any kind is required for proposal submission.
• Proposals will be received by the MHF Executive Director by email or postal mail.
• Deadlines for the submission of proposals will be March 15 and September 15 of each year.  Deadlines can be changed or extended at the discretion of the Executive Director.
• Grants are available for up to $1,000.
• Download Steven Roth Memorial Grant application form

Evaluation Process

• All proposals will be submitted to the Global Services Group for evaluation and recommendation.
• The Global Services Group  will send a recommendation (yes or no) for each proposal to the MHF Board of Directors.
• The Board can approve proposals either by email or at a scheduled meeting.
• The MHF Office will notify recipients of the status of their proposals and arrangements will be made for payment on approved proposals.

Criteria for proposal evaluation

1. The purpose for which the funds are requested should be stated clearly.  This would normally involve a specific project, with a specific location, task, and time frame.
2. MHF members should have a personal working connection with the project.
3. The project should have a reasonable expectation of effectiveness.
4. The project’s values and projected outcomes should be consistent with and contribute to the mission and values of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship and the Mennonite Church.
5. Any organizations receiving funds for the project should have a reputation of programmatic and fiscal integrity.
6. The project should enhance the missional awareness and mindset of the MHF member participant.
7. Preference will be given to projects which enhance the education of the MHF member participant in the practice of his/her profession and the mission of the church.
8. Preference will be given to MHF members with greater financial need for funding in order to carry out the project.

Background

The Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program began in its present form in 2013.  It carries on the legacy of the Steven Roth Fund (SRF) which was begun under Mennonite Medical Association (MMA) following the untimely death of Steven J. Roth of undifferentiated adeno-carcinoma on December 22, 1990. 

Steven Roth was a student at Ohio State University, College of Medicine, in Columbus, Ohio when he died.  His plans after medical school were to serve in some form of mission practice overseas or in this country. The Fund was originally designed to pay the interest on educational debt for a qualified MMA member candidate for medical voluntary service during the years of such continuous service following medical school.  Eventually, the family and friends who started the fund approved other usages for the fund involving missions and/or education.

The Fund was transferred to Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF) at its inception in 2011 as part of a larger Mobilization for Mission (MFM) Fund which was primarily used for the Student Elective Term (SET) program.  Since both MFM and SRF funds were also being requested and used for additional mission-related projects, the MHF Board made a decision in June 2013 (with the blessing of the Roth family) to combine the funds and further define the programs for their usage.

To honor the memory of Steven Roth, the Steven Roth Memorial Grant Program was established as one of the primary programmatic usages of the combined Mobilization for Mission Fund in 2013 and integrated into MHF’s overall Missional Budget Plan in 2016.