Homeless Women and Children Helped by Grant From Community Foundation's Suburban Kiwanis Club Fund

May 5, 2010: Hope Alive, Inc., a nonprofit, non-denominational Christian ministry serving homeless women and children in Frederick County recently received a $1000 grant from The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund held by The Community Foundation of Frederick County.

Founded in 2002, and located on 13 acres in rural Sabillasville, Maryland, Hope Alive offers a four-phase program and comprehensive support services to address the issues at the root of each family’s homelessness.

Hope Alive can accommodate up to 25 individuals in its three-story home, which includes 12 furnished bedrooms. Resident families can stay for up to two years while learning new skills and working toward self-sufficiency, said Sue Oehmig, Executive Director.

The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick turned to the Community Foundation to establish a donor-advised fund to provide grant funding to area nonprofits compatible with the Kiwanis mission of changing the world one child and one community at a time. The recent grant to Hope Alive was made at the Kiwanis’ recommendation and the Community Foundation’s approval.

“The grant awarded Hope Alive from The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund represents much more than a financial contribution” said Oehmig. “It truly represents our partnership with this incredible organization to serve and meet the needs of the growing number of homeless families in our community. This $1,000 grant will provide two months of transitional shelter for a resident mother or child. We are very grateful for their commitment to make a difference in each precious life we serve.” 

Debbi Matthews, Project Coordinator for The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick, and Betsy Day, President of the Community Foundation, jointly presented the check to Oehmig during a Kiwanis meeting recently. “We are proud that through our fund we are able to support such a worth-while organization as Hope Alive,” said Matthews. 

For those who wish to support The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund, secure online donations may be made by clicking here. Checks may also be made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County and mailed to 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701, with the specific fund’s name inserted in the check’s memo line. All check or online contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.