Bl. Stanley Rother Shrine receives grant for improvements

$13,600 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to improve parks, public space


The Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine recently received a $13,600 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its Parks & Public Space Initiative.

The grant enabled the shrine’s Blessed Branches project, allowing the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine to meet the health, cultural and recreational needs of citizens in Oklahoma County. With an in-kind donation from Sue Rother Bond, author of “Blessed Stanley Rother” and cousin of the martyr, this grant has enabled the planting of 134 trees around the shrine campus. The project also benefited from volunteers of OKC Beautiful, a local nonprofit that aims to lead Oklahoma City’s beautification and environmental stewardship through collaboration, education and advocacy.

“We are so excited to receive our first grant from Oklahoma City Community Foundation and to have our first collaboration with OKC Beautiful in the books,” said Christi Jeffreys, the shrine’s director of development. “We hope the Blessed Branches project provides beauty, habitats for wildlife, and shade to enhance the green space in south Oklahoma City which is very limited.”

The grant is one of 10 grants awarded to local nonprofits through the OCCF Parks & Public Space Initiative. In all, $188,088 was given to nonprofits during this grant cycle. Grants awarded through the Parks & Public Space Initiative support programs that encourage the use of public parks for recreation, health and wellness activities.

A tree farm was initiated three years ago to help beautify the shrine campus. This spring, 100 large trees were transplanted at the west entrance and pond area, making an immediate visual impact. These donation efforts were met with a grant by the Oklahoma City Community Foundation allowing for 34 more trees to be added to the campus.

“It is so fulfilling to be a part of the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine campus beatification,” Sue Rother Bond said. “This will allow continued enhancement of the shrine landscape and contribute to a place of pilgrimage, peace and reflection.”