Contact: Mary Dickey, Director of Communications, 212-870-1046; Desiree Frieson, Communications Manager, 212-870-1053; both with Odyssey Networks 

NEW YORK, April, 19 /Standard Newswire/ -- Marriage, music, compassion, youth in action---Odyssey Networks members offered a range of topics for consideration in the organization's annual production grants awards program. Seven proposals, emphasizing dialogue among different faith traditions, were selected for the first round of funding by the non-profit, multi-faith media organization. The recipients represent a range of faith-focused groups that produce programming for radio and television, as well as documentary films and short-form videos. Announced last week during the Religion Communicators Congress in Chicago, the grants will go to:

First Radio Parish Church of America (FRPCA)--First Radio Parish Church of America, located in Portland, Maine, and led by Rev. Peter B. Panagore, was awarded $24,000 for the production of 40 short form inspiration videos for its well known program, Daily Devotions.

Chicago Sunday Evening Club (CSEC) -- Chicago Sunday Evening Club was awarded $45,000 for the production of six long form programs and 30 short form segments for  their program "30 Good Minutes", a  weekly broadcast on WTTW Channel 11 (PBS Chicago) and in syndication in other U.S. cities. It features many of America's great religious thinkers, selected from a broad range of denominations and faith traditions. The program explores topics of faith through short meditations (sermons), documentaries, interviews and commentaries.

Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) -- Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago- based organization that brings young people from diverse faiths together to work and serve others, was awarded $20,000 for the production of a series of short video pieces profiling exceptional young leaders.

Seventh Day Adventist Church -- The Seventh Day Adventist Church, headquartered in Silver Springs, Maryland, was awarded $35,000 for the production of 40 short form videos on marriage.

Interfaith Voices -- Interfaith Voices of Brentwood, Maryland, an independent public radio show providing engaging and informative discussions on the key issues of the day through the lenses of many different faith perspectives, was awarded $10,000 for the production of 15 "compassion in the first person" interviews. The program is hosted by Maureen Fiedler and produced by Laura Kwerel.

New York Board of Rabbis -- The New York Board of Rabbis was awarded $35,000 for the production of A Piece of Bread, a one-hour documentary on peace, compassion, and hunger. The program will be produced by the  Emmy award-winning  Diva Communications in association with the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and Religions for Peace and with the support of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and other faith groups.

Harran Productions Foundation -- Harran Productions Foundation of  Chicago,  a new member of Odyssey Networks, was awarded $10,000 toward the production of Sounds of Faith-New York, a multi-faceted work celebrating the interconnection and diversity of the sacred sounds of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

To learn more about Odyssey Networks memberships, visit the members' area on www.odysseynetworks.org.

About Odyssey Networks
Odyssey Networks is the nation's largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that promotes peace and tolerance and addresses issues of social justice.  Established in 1987, Odyssey Networks is a service of the National Interfaith Cable Coalition, Inc. For more information visit www.odysseynetworks.org.