Dillard University is proud to announce it has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish Vision Quest, a new initiative designed to deepen children’s faith experiences through worship and prayer.
This transformative program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. This national effort supports faith-based organizations as they help children grow in faith and deepen their relationships with God.
Vision Quest aims to create innovative worship services that honor and elevate the spiritual lives of children ages 12 and under. The program’s key objectives include:
- Developing inclusive worship practices that support children with and without disabilities;
- Incorporating the arts—music, visual arts, and drama—to enrich children’s worship and prayer experiences;
- Facilitating interactive Bible storytelling to engage children with foundational faith narratives;
- Connecting worship and prayer practices to the everyday lives of children and their families.
Inspired by Dillard’s motto, ‘Ex Fide Fortis’ (Strength through Faith), Vision Quest will deepen the university’s engagement with children in worship settings, while strengthening ties with the diverse faith communities of New Orleans. The program will actively collaborate with local congregations to co-create worship experiences, provide training and resources for faith leaders, and host community-based events that bring families and churches together in joyful expressions of faith. This collaborative approach will ensure the program reflects and uplifts the unique spiritual heritage of the city while supporting congregations in their efforts to nurture children’s faith.
Dillard University is one of 170 organizations nationwide selected for funding through three rounds of the initiative, which began in 2022. Grants are being awarded to organizations serving a broad spectrum of Christian traditions to develop new programs or enhance existing ones that more intentionally and fully engage children in worship and prayer.
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through gifts of stock in Eli Lilly and Company. Although the Endowment’s assets originated from the company, it operates independently, with its own separate board, staff, and headquarters. True to the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to its hometown of Indianapolis and Indiana. Its religion grantmaking primarily seeks to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States by enhancing the vitality of congregations, strengthening leadership, and improving public understanding of diverse religious traditions.
Dillard University is honored to be a part of this meaningful work and looks forward to Vision Quest’s transformative impact on our community’s youngest believers.
