$70,000 Awarded in Grants at 2nd Women's Giving Circle Tea

(Bottom L-R)  Women's Giving Circle Grants Chair Marlene Young and Founder Karlys Kline are joined by grant recipients Elizabeth Galaida of Advocates for Homeless Families, Marlene England of Hope Alive, and (Back L-R) Jeanne Vasold of Interfaith Housing, Karen McClain of Mission of Mercy, Community Foundation Trustee Bob Kallstrom, Barbara Brittain of Families Plus!, Rev. Brian Scott of Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, Barbara Martin of Heartly House, and Dave Ozag of Habitat for Humanity.

May 14, 2007:  Seventy thousand dollars in grants were awarded to area nonprofits serving women in need during a triumphant 2^nd Annual Women’s Giving Circle Tea at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center on May 10.

The celebratory mood was palpable as Karlys Kline, Founder and Chair of The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County and Marlene Young, Grants Chair, presented nine nonprofit organizations with grants to aid women in need.

Just one year ago, The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County was formed by Ms. Kline during a kick-off event with 45 members from Frederick County who wanted to improve the lives of women in need by giving of their resources and time.  Only a year later, membership has grown to 84.

Women’s Giving Circle Members pledge a minimum of $1,000 a year for at least three consecutive years and women under 22 years of age can join at $500 a year, says Ms. Kline, who turned to the Community Foundation of Frederick County to establish The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund.  Membership contributions and other donations are placed in the Fund, which in turn provides grants to area nonprofits that aid women.  To date, the Fund has raised $200,000.

“The response to The Women’s Giving Circle has been incredible,” says Ms. Kline.  “We are pleased to say that we are awarding a remarkable $70,000 in grants during our first year.  To know that we can have such a major impact on women’s lives is an inspiration to every member.”

The Women’s Giving Circle Fund grants are awarded to the following nonprofit organizations:

Advocates for Homeless Families received $10,000 for its Transitional Housing/Families Forward project.  Advocates for Homeless Families empowers motivated families to overcome homelessness through a structured two-year program of education, housing, and support services.

Families Plus! received $5,000 for its eight-week support program, “Stepping Up & Out-Finding a Career” to motivate women to think of work as a career, not just a job.

FCC Foundation Women’s Center received $5,000 for course development and instructor salaries for its Allied Health Academy which assists women in public housing to become self-sufficient by helping them to prepare for and obtain access to training in allied health fields.

Habitat for Humanity Frederick County received $5,000 to provide suitable housing for a divorced, handicapped mother and her 11-year-old son at its 22 W. 7^th Street project.

Heartly House, Inc. received $10,000 for an HVAC Unit, and maintenance and operations for crisis shelter services in its commitment to achieving a society free of violence by providing services to survivors and non-offending family members of family violence, rape, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Hope Alive, Inc. received $5,000 for a security system at its Child Development Center on the grounds of its family-centered transitional housing program, which provides shelter and program services to homeless women and their children.

Interfaith Housing Alliance received $5,000 to establish a full-time Homebuyer and Financial Education Program providing training on homeownership and financial planning to the 50 percent of families in Frederick County headed by single mothers.

Mission of Mercy received $5,000 to support the continuation of its existing Mobile Medical and Dental Program serving 275 women and children.

Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs received $20,000 for four programs in its Self Sufficiency for Women-Providing the Tools project:  Eviction Prevention, Energy Assistance, Exodus Project, and Emergency Prescription Medications and Dental Care.  More than 70 percent of the Religious Coalition’s clients are single female heads of households who may be working but cannot make ends meet when faced with emergencies.

Those interested in joining The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County may contact Karlys Kline at karlys@struturalsystems.com or at 301.271.5271.

Contributions to The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund are accepted at any time in any amount.  Checks may be made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701, with the Fund’s name inserted in the check’s memo line.  To donate online, click here.  All check or online contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.