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‘Down in the trenches’ giving circle announces grantees
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“There are lots of women in dire circumstances,” says Linda Odum, right, with daughter Teddey Jones, of why she helped start the Women’s Giving Circle in Columbia. – Arianne Starnes/ Baltimore Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle, a group of 318 local women who practice collective giving and pride themselves in program evaluation and exploring the nuts and bolts of community needs, will award more than $300,000 to 19 area nonprofits this year.
“It’s women helping disadvantaged women and children in Baltimore gain self-sufficiency,” said BWGC
co-chair Beth Lebow, who added that the group, which started with 52 women in 2001, has now meted out more than $1.2 million in grants.
“The other part is that we educate ourselves about the needs of women and children in our community,” said Lebow, a retired social worker. The group meets four times a year for lectures by experts on community needs. Lebow’s co-chair is Pat Joseph.
A local manifestation of a country-wide trend in philanthropy, BWGC is actually a fund within the Baltimore Community Foundation, though it mostly operates on its own. Its members — a mix of retired and working women — must each pledge $1,100 yearly to the cause. They collectively then decide which applicants will receive grants of up to $20,000 apiece. There were 77 applicants this year.
“We are just thrilled [with the $20,000 grant],” said Heather Harvison, executive director of My Sister’s Circle, a nonprofit that provides long-term mentoring to low-income, East Baltimore fifth- through 12th-graders. “Now we have a staff person to devote his or her time to making college attendance a reality [for the kids].”
My Sister’s Circle, which became a nonprofit in 2001 and draws 12 incoming fifth-graders each year from Dallas F. Nicholas and Abbotson Elementary Schools, now has 75 students across 40 area schools under tutelage. Fifteen of them are poised for college.
“I respect those women so much,” Harvison said of BWGC. “Their concept is brilliant — to put people’s money together and increase the amount of funding that you have available, so your dollars can go so much further.”
“I think it’s a great initiative. … That money will certainly help out,” added Tom Nealis, director of advancement for Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy.
The academy, which is run by the Catholic Sisters of the Oblates of Providence, educates low-income city children. Its $20,000 grant will go toward tuition assistance, Nealis said.
BWGC grantees for 2008 include the Community Mediation Program, Episcopal Community Services of Maryland, Hampden Family Center, Jewish Family Services, Kids on the Hill and others.
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Examiner Reader said:
We need to see an updated story on the center they celebrate 40 years this year.
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Examiner Reader said:
Funny that the point has been lost in this article.Better take a good look at what you get into.
10 agree | 10 disagree
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James Hall said:
I'm honored and blessed to be working in the Youth Service arena, however I'm having difficulties locating events and activities for our youngmen who range from 12 through 18. The Summer for AT-RISK youth can offten be extremely dissapointing. If your agency has any resources that we can access please forward them to: James Hall; diamona4sure@yahoo.com. Our kids would really be greatful and appreciative!!! Mr. James Hall, Counselor Our Fortress Homes, Inc. 410-485-4958
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Examiner Reader said:
I guess the answer to my previous question is, "No, Mr. Corrigan is incapable of writing about anything other than Nonprofits." I guess the Examiner realizes that if he writes about anything else, Mr. Corrigan only spouts he own political views instead of reporting.
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Examiner Reader said:
While I realize that Mr. Corrigan has limited writing skills and he enjoys wearing out his Thesaurus in an attempt to impress people with his vocabulary, can't he write about anything other than Nonprofits?
19 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
At least this time Mr. Corrigan wrote a variation on his theme of the past 10 weeks, instead of just the same story with different words.
19 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.
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Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.
223 agree | 165 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.
185 agree | 187 disagree
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Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.
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Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!
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Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!
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Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.
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Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?
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