Antillean, the only Puerto Rican organization selected for a national initiative that will share stories of faith from Puerto Rico and the Central Florida diaspora

Antillean Adventist University recently received a $5 million grant awarded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life 2025. This grant will support Enduring Faith in the Face of Life’s Storms, a five-year project designed to reach new and emerging believers through powerful stories of faith, produced and shared across multiple digital formats.

Since 2024, Antillean has been part of a group of 60 organizations across the United States that have received grants through this initiative. These organizations include media outlets, denominational structures, church networks, publishers, educational institutions, congregations, and other nonprofit entities.

The project was designed to highlight the experiences and stories of individuals born between 1990 and 2009 in Puerto Rico. Shaped by the Island’s rich cultural heritage and the Central Florida diaspora, the lasting effects of Hurricanes Irma and María, and the profound influence of Adventist, Catholic, and Evangelical traditions, these stories aim to invite discovery and encourage exploration of faith. Grounded in population-level research on faith practices and beliefs in Puerto Rico, a team of believers and storytellers will share authentic stories of courage, strengthened by a personal relationship with God.

“The people of Puerto Rico have endured multiple catastrophic storms, even within my own lifetime,” said President Dr. Edwin I. Hernández. “Their extraordinary faith has anchored them in God’s everlasting love, guided them by His infinite light, and protected them through His boundless grace. We look forward to sharing their stories of resilience, vitality, and faith with the world.”

The goal of Lilly Endowment’s initiative is to help organizations identify, produce, and share with a wide range of audiences stories that reflect the vitality and hope of Christian faith and life.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private philanthropic foundation based in Indianapolis, established in 1937 by J.K. Lilly, Sr. and his sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., through contributions of stock from their pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and Company. While these shares continue to be a financial foundation of the Endowment, Lilly Endowment operates as a separate entity, with its own governing board, staff, and location. In keeping with the wishes of its founders, it supports initiatives in community development, education, and religion, with a special commitment to Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. One of its primary goals in the area of religion is to deepen the religious life of Christians, particularly by supporting efforts that strengthen congregational vitality and leadership within Christian communities. The Endowment values the diversity of Christian traditions and seeks to support them in multiple contexts. It also aims to foster public understanding of religion by promoting fair, accurate, and balanced representations of its positive and negative effects, while highlighting the contributions people of all faiths make to civic well-being.

We invite you to stay connected through our official platforms for upcoming announcements, updates, and opportunities related to this initiative.

Team of professionals who will be leading the proposal.