Front row: Community Foundation Board Chair Kate Costlow; Laura Oehser, The Jefferson School; Linda Ryan, Mission of Mercy; Elin Ross, Cakes for Cause; Sara Ryan, The Religious Coalition; Women’s Giving Circle Vice Chair Yvonne Reinsch; and Karen Murphy McClain, Boys & Girls Club Back row: Women's Giving Circle Grants Chair Shabri Moore; Shirley Brooks, Center for Talented Youth; Doree Lynn Miles, Hope Alive; Barbara Brittain, Families Plus!; Theresa Michele, Thorpewood; Beth Santa Maria, Mental Health Association; Barbara Martin, Heartly House; and Lisa Coblentz, Boys & Girls Club

$90,000 In Grants Awarded at 4th Annual 
Women's Giving Circle Tea

June 24, 2009: Ninety thousand dollars in grants were awarded to area nonprofits serving women and children in need during the 4th Annual Women’s Giving Circle Tea on June 12 at Dutch’s Daughter Restaurant. Women’s Giving Circle members, nonprofit organizations and community leaders were on hand as Grants Chair Shabri Moore made the awards to nonprofits that daily work to provide programs and services promoting self-sufficiency for women and their children.

“Giving circles are one of the smartest ways to give,” said keynote speaker Kathy Jankowski, Director of Partnerships, Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, who noted that the momentum and power of giving is amplified by each new member. Jankowski said that The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County should be lauded for its commitment to providing even more grant funding than last year, especially when national trends indicate that charitable giving has declined the greatest amount in over half a century. “Women’s Giving Circle members are asking ‘how do we give more’ when others are giving less.”

Membership in The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County has more than tripled since its inception in 2005 when founder Karlys Kline’s vision of helping women in need became a reality with the Women’s Giving Circle. Starting with just 45 members, it now has 138 members committed to empowering women and the children who depend on them. Kline welcomed four new members at the event.

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. Kline said that more than $600,000 in membership contributions and other donations have been placed in The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund at The Community Foundation of Frederick County. Yearly grants are then awarded to area nonprofits that aid women and children in need. Two hundred thirty thousand dollars has been awarded from the Fund to date.

“I’m so very proud of the positive impact that a group of compassionate and generous people can make in our community,” said Kline. “During the Tea, we were able to hear how our funding empowered women to improve their lives. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

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

Boys & Girls Club of Frederick County received grants totaling $9,900 for two programs that help young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. The SMART Girls program received $5,000 to help more than 50 girls ages 10 to 14 to develop self-sufficiency skills critical to their health and safety. A grant of $4,900 was provided for membership support directed to single parent, female head of households for children’s membership for 10 summer and 14 school year sessions.

Cakes for Cause received $4,200 to cover needed supplies for 12 youth apprentices to learn the restaurant business in an intensive six-month curriculum that teaches basic bakery and restaurant service skills in a fast-paced café that serves the community at large. The role of Cakes for Cause is to help vulnerable youth internalize change in their surroundings, through employment opportunities and within themselves.

Families Plus! received $2,500 for educational assistance for single mothers and their children. Since 1982, Families Plus! has provided programs and activities for the Frederick community to enrich family life and strengthen relationships.

Heartly House received two grants totaling $10,000 in its work with those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse for its 29 bed emergency shelter, crisis services, and computer equipment and training for its Hotline services.

Hope Alive received three grants of $5,000 each for its transitional shelter, children’s programs, and transportation for its Women’s Development program. Founded in 2002, and located in Sabillasville, Maryland, Hope Alive offers a three-story home housing 25 individuals, along with a four-phase program, and comprehensive support services to address the issues at the root of each family’s homelessness.

The Jefferson School received a $5,000 grant for its Mother/Daughter Relationship Strengthening program and Playback Theater. The Jefferson School provides special education, residential treatment, and support services to children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disabilities.

Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth received a $5,000 grant for partial summer scholarships for its Center for Talented Youth to help shrink the achievement and opportunity gap for low-income bright Frederick County students.

Mental Health Association of Frederick County received $3,400 for interpreting services to aid 25 Latino mothers as they attend parenting skills training for child development, discipline strategies, and development of natural supports. For over 40 years, The Mental Health Association has promoted mental wellness and supports those with mental illness by providing advocacy, education, and direct service programs.

Mission of Mercy received $5,000 to support its Mobile Medical and Dental Clinics for the women and children it serves. Mission of Mercy provides free medical care and dental health services to the uninsured working poor, homeless and economically disadvantaged.

Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs received three grants of $5,000 each for the Alan P. Linton Emergency Shelter, the Eviction Prevention program, and the Energy Assistance program to help women and their dependent children with emergency housing and utility needs. The Religious Coalition is the largest non-government provider of emergency financial assistance in Frederick County, operates the Alan P. Linton, Jr. Emergency Shelter, and feeds 1,300 families each month through its eight affiliated food banks.

Thorpewood received three grants totaling $15,000 for its “outside the box” programs providing educational and personal development programs for at-risk youth. The grants benefit the Season for Growth program which supports the journey toward self-sufficiency for 40 Frederick County adolescent girls in intensively mentored eight week sessions; for its Heather Ridge School Partnership to aid 12-14 year old boys by matching them with mentors for two years on projects that build trust, teamwork and communication; and West Frederick Middle School Partnership which provides academic and social intervention for vulnerable boys and girls by working on large scale projects with community mentors.

Those who wish to support the empowerment and self-sufficiency of women in need and the children they support may make a secure, online donation to The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund. To do so, click here. Checks made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County with the Fund’s name in the check’s memo line may be mailed to 312 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701.

Membership information for The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County is available by calling Karlys Kline at 240-357-6400, or by emailing her at kline901@comcast.net.