The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. presented its 2019 responsive grants to 22 local nonprofits at The Arc on March 21. Total dollars for this year’s grants equaled $125,175.The grants committee selected Washington County nonprofits and programs focused on the development of a stronger community through programs addressing the following areas: family stability including financial literacy, employment, housing and basic needs; youth development with a focus on mentoring, advocacy and mental health; and arts, recreation and educational opportunities with some emphasis on the under-served.
Resources for the responsive grants come from the growth and earnings of established Community Funds at the Foundation as well as a partnership with the Pauline Anderson Foundation. The Community Foundation presented grants to the following 24 programs:
- American Red Cross of Western MD: $7,500 to support the Home Fire Campaign project that provides smoke alarms and financial assistance to Washington County disaster victims.
- Barbara Ingram School for the Arts Foundation: $2,500 to expand the Photography Academy at the Summer Arts Academy.
- BEACON House: $5,000 to support STEAM Works for children ages 3-18 and their families.
- Boys & Girls Club of Washington County: $10,000 for Smart MOVES (Skills Mastery and Resistance Training), a nationally acclaimed prevention and advocacy program to help participants with their decision making and critical thinking skills.
- Community Foundation Imagination Library program: $5,000 for books to children birth to five.
- Community Free Clinic: $10,000 to expand their community mental health care program.
- Community Free Clinic: $5,000 for an on-site, acute health care clinic at E. Russell Hicks Middle School.
- Ft. Ritchie Community Center: $5,000 to expand the Kid’s Club program to add a second weekly session, field trips for families and host a Christmas dinner for senior citizens.
- Hagerstown YMCA: $9,800 for infant and toddler childcare expansion.
- Horizon Goodwill Industries: $5,000 for Get Onboard, a two-week course focused on introducing participants to the concepts of self-motivation, self-management, self-assessment, conflict negotiation and financial literacy.
- Interfaith Service Coalition: $4,000 towards Martha’s House, a new youth center and feeding site located on Main Street in Hancock.
- Lasting Change/Recovery Solutions for Women: $3,250 for a fitness and wellness center.
- Maryland Wind Music, Inc.: $1,250 for the Maryland Wind Festival, a week-long performance series held by the Maryland Chamber Winds each summer.
- Mason-Dixon Council, Boy Scouts of America: $10,000 for Scouting for All, which provides monetary assistance for all aspects of Scouting such as registration fees, uniforms, handbooks, events/activities, summer camps, etc.
- Office of Consumer Advocates: $3,000 for Soul Haven Wellness & Recovery Center to provide nutritious meals.
- Open Minds, Inc.: $6,500 to the Mindful Living Program at Head Start of Washington County.
- The Arc of Washington County: $9,675 towards staff training and program improvement for autism.
- Together with Families: $2,700 for Food for All, a program that addresses the nutritional needs of participants and provides basic culinary education, encourages cooking at home, exposure to fresh and healthy foods and the value of eating meals as a family.
- Town of Williamsport: $2,000 towards Red Cross swim lessons for low income families.
- University of Maryland Extension 4-H Youth Development: $1,000 to support the downtown Hagerstown 4-H Club with supplies, transportation to other 4-H events and scholarships for the Washington County 4-H Day Camp for.
- OnTrack: $5,000 for the OnTrack Washington County Technology Enabled Youth Council, an innovative research and youth engagement program.
- Washington County Commission on Aging: $3,000 to begin a food pantry program at its congregate sites to support participants when meals are unavailable during inclement weather, weekends and holidays.
- Women of Valor Ministries: $5,000 to THRIVE Connect which provides quick, secure and consistent access to effective treatment options for people with mental illness in conjunction with Potomac Case Management Services.
- Western MD Fellowship of Christian Athletes: $4,000 to fund the Wheaton Park Co-ed Day Camp.