New Vision, New Future in Prince George's County

From the Prince George’s Suite Magazine: Fall/Summer 2022 Edition

After working for some of the leading nonprofits in the country, Darcelle Wilson has returned home to work in the community she knows and loves. As a military daughter and wife, Wilson spent much of her childhood and early adult life living abroad. Upon returning to the states, she settled in Prince George’s County and was determined to put down roots. Her children attended Prince George’s County public schools, but her job always had her working outside of her community. Wilson always wanted to eventually use her skills in service to her community. Last fall, Wilson joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation as the new Senior Director for Prince George’s County. It was a lifelong dream, and Wilson has finally come full circle.

A long-time resident of Prince George’s, Wilson brings deep appreciation for the county and considerable expertise. She’s served as Chief Development Officer for organizations large and small, and now her top priority is to increase philanthropic capital for the county.

According to Wilson, “Most nonprofit organizations in Prince George’s County are small. This leaves our community often ill equipped to address the myriad of issues facing county residents. We need strong cross sector partnerships to make Prince George’s what we know it can be.”

To establish these critical partnerships, Wilson has prioritized meeting with county stakeholders, donors, civic and faith leaders, companies, nonprofits, and residents. Wilson sees these meetings as opportunities to listen and learn about the hopes, dreams, aspirations, and concerns of Prince Georgians. She’s driven the depth and breadth of the county to introduce herself and the work of The Community Foundation to others. Her deep listening was not only informative but humbling and the lessons learned invaluable. “Listening to our community partners has been so rewarding,” Wilson says. “It has helped shape the boldest strategic vision The Community Foundation has undertaken.”

Together, We Prosper

Wilson will be leading the effort to pursue The Community Foundation’s new strategic vision for economic justice in Prince George’s County, and she is working with both residents and colleagues to make that vision a reality.

The Community Foundation’s new, 10-year strategic vision endeavors to close the racial wealth gap in Greater Washington so people of all races, places, and identities reach their full potential.

Wilson says, “Closing the racial wealth gap creates a ripple effect – changing the lives of county residents and facilitating change and prosperity throughout the county.” To bring about that change, Wilson wants to build on the county’s many assets, including its commitment to philanthropy. “County residents have a rich history of giving, whether to their churches, fraternal organizations, schools, or social causes,” Wilson says. “The Community Foundation isn’t here to teach people how to give but to be a philanthropic partner and advisor to help amplify their giving.”

Partnering for Change

At its core, The Community Foundation is a community partner working collaboratively to build more equitable, just, and thriving communities. Since its official inception in 1998, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County, a local philanthropic arm of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, has worked in partnership with countless others to invest more than $50 million in organizations helping advance residents’ economic mobility by eliminating social and economic disparities and creating pathways to economic success.

The Sharing Prince George’s Fund is just one way The Community Foundation leverages charitable giving toward that mission. Sharing brings together donors who share the organization’s commitment to social and economic justice. Donors get to visit nonprofits to learn first-hand about challenges facing the county and then invest in visionary nonprofits working on the most pressing issues. The generosity of donors enables The Community Foundation to make larger, more impactful grants. This year, Sharing Prince George’s awarded $475,000 to five Prince George’s County based nonprofits.

“We take our role and the trust placed in us by the community very seriously,” Wilson says.

Fostering a New Generation of Philanthropists

Wilson is quick to mention another key partner in this effort: young, aspiring Prince George’s County philanthropists. Launched in 2020, The Emerging Leaders Impact Fund (ELIF), a new giving circle, facilitates collective giving by bringing together young professionals in the county to engage in strategic philanthropy. ELIF allows members—typically aged 45 and under— to pool their resources and fund programs which positively impact Prince George’s County residents. The first ELIF cohort in 2020 awarded $12,000 in microgrants to five local nonprofits combating truancy and absenteeism in Prince George’s County schools.

Wilson says, “ELIF is basically a behindthe- scenes course on philanthropy in action in Prince George’s County. We guide members through every step of the philanthropic journey.”

Unparalleled Partnership

“I am really excited to be working in Prince George’s County and partnering with so many incredible people and organizations. Without a doubt, I’m Prince George’s Proud.”

With the adoption of The Community Foundation’s new strategic vision and Wilson on board, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County is seeking to build on the county’s assets and form even more partnerships to build thriving communities. “The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County came about because residents recognized the importance of strategic philanthropy and came together to form an unparalleled partnership that is still creating impact for our community today,” Wilson says.

To learn more about The Community Foundation’s initiatives and how to get involved, visit thecommunityfoundation.org

Imagining What’s Possible in Montgomery County

On Wednesday, July 27, the Greater Washington Community Foundation and its local office in Montgomery County brought together a group of donors, friends, and volunteers to reflect lessons learned from the pandemic and ask the question where do we go from here?

This group was keenly aware of how pandemic exposed the depths of societal inequities and system failures that threaten our public health and economy.  They were particularly eager to discuss what it will take to build a more equitable, just, and thriving community. In the words of President & CEO, Tonia Wellons, they especially wanted to know how we can "reconstruct a more just society rather than merely 'recovering' a flawed one."

The group gathered at the KID Museum’s beautiful new headquarters in downtown Bethesda, the perfect setting to spark one’s imagination and dream up a brighter future.  Before dinner, guests had the opportunity to tour the exhibits. They were impressed to see how each station empowers children to adopt the “Mind of a Maker” through activities that develop creativity, innovation, and capacity to build new solutions to complex problems.

After touring the KID Museum (and interacting with the hands-on learning stations), the group dove into dinner and conversation.  Anna Hargrave kicked off the session by showing a map of the Greater Washington region that highlighted Council on Government (COG)’s “Equity Emphasis Areas” – geographic areas that have significant concentrations of low-income and/or minority populations.  She pointed out that these same areas were the first and hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President & CEO Tonia Wellons reported out on The Community Foundation’s new 10-year strategic plan focused on economic justice and closing the racial wealth gap.  Along with Ronnie Galvin, Managing Director of Community Investment, they illuminated several exciting strategies under exploration including Guaranteed Income pilots like Let’s Go DMV!, Child Savings Accounts, and Community Wealth Building opportunities.

“I take a lot of pride in being from this part of the country because of how culturally diverse it is,” one participant shared. “But to me, seeing this map and hearing these examples is evidence to me that multi-culturalism and diversity around us is not enough. We need to put our money where our mouth is and put in the work to make a difference.”

“It’s exciting to hear about these initiatives and how we can get involved in this critically important work,” shared Sumindi Peiris, one of the newest members of the Montgomery County Advisory Board. “I’m looking forward to learning more and doing my part to close the racial wealth gap.”

If you would like to learn more about how The Community Foundation is working to close the racial wealth gap, click here!

New Faces at The Community Foundation

Over the past few months, we’ve been excited to welcome seven incredible members to The Community Foundation family — as well as five new Advisory Board Members! We are thrilled — not only by the vast array experience that they bring to the organization, but also by their dedication and drive to help us close the racial wealth gap. If you haven’t already, please join us in welcoming them to The Community Foundation!

Meet Our New Staff Members

Dr. Marla Dean, Senior Director, Health Equity Fund

Marla M. Dean is a native Detroiter. For over a decade, she has lived East of the River in Washington, D.C. With nearly 30 years of teaching and leadership experience in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Michigan, and Virginia, Marla is a recognized national leader and expert in the two generational and whole child approaches.

Most recently, Marla has served as the executive director and chief executive officer of Bright Beginnings Inc. (BBI), a non-profit, community-based organization that operates two-generation programming for children and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Washington, D.C.

Marla is a proud Ward 7 resident where she lives in the PennBranch community with her husband, Steve. She has one son who graduated from Morehouse College with a degree in Cinema, Television and Emerging Media Sciences.

Yorman De La Rosa, Donor Services Associate, District of Columbia

Yorman joined The Greater Washington Community Foundation in April 2022 as the Donor Services Associate for the DC office of Philanthropy and Donor Services.

Yorman comes to The Community Foundation with more than 5 years of project management experience in the economic and community development sector. He is a passionate advocate of greater education access for low-income, first-generation students. Prior to joining The Community Foundation Yorman spent 4 years working in youth development at a local DC-based nonprofit organization and with the Peace Corps in Morocco.

Olivia Hsu, Donor Services Associate

Olivia Hsu, CFP® joined The Community Foundation in May 2022 as a Donor Services Associate. She is currently working with the Montgomery County team to support donor requests and initiatives.

 Olivia is a Certified Financial Planner™ and previously spent three years working in wealth management at Wealthspire Advisors (previously Bronfman Rothschild) in Potomac, Maryland. In this role, she developed an interest in coordinating philanthropy and planned giving for her clients and also served on the firm’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee.

Tiara Isom, Events & Marketing Coordinator

Tiara Joined the Community Foundation in June 2022 as the Events and Marketing Coordinator. In this role, she supports both event planning logistics and promotion. Tiara has over 8 years of experience planning and coordinating events for the DC community. She also spent the last 4 years as a marketing coordinator at a MCO (Managed Care Organization) health plan that services the DC community.

Tiara is extremely passionate about giving back to the community and loves being a difference maker. Tiara found her love for events and marketing after working with the promotions department at CBS Radio for WPGC 95.5 station. Since then, she has volunteered and worked community outreach/marketing jobs. Tiara is a Bowie State University graduate who completed her Certificate of Bachelor Studies with a degree in Communications (Broadcast Journalism).

Mary Robinson, Interim Managing Director, Development

Mary Robinson joined The Community Foundation in 2022 as the Interim Managing Director, Development.  Mary has pursued her passion for building thriving communities as the founder of Capacity Partners, a consulting firm in its 20th year serving nonprofits in Greater Washington.  Mary and her team have worked successfully with The Community Foundation on the Children’s Opportunity Fund and Food for Montgomery. 

Mary is deeply committed to helping people get to the heart of challenges and achieve their goals.  An expert in nonprofit fundraising and management, she brings extensive experience in capital campaigns and major donor programs, comprehensive strategic planning, and board development. Prior to founding Capacity Partners, she was president of the electronic screening division of national consulting firm Marts & Lundy, director of prospect screening at Bentz Whaley Flessner, and product manager at Wealth ID, a Thomson Financial company. Previously she was the co-owner of DataPlus Inc., a software company serving nonprofits nationwide.

Isabel Spake, Program Officer, Health Equity Fund

Isabel joined the Greater Washington Community Foundation in June 2022 as a Program Officer. She has over 10 years of project and grants management experience in the DC area.

Isabel’s interest in community-based work started while she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA for DC government, where she later became the AmeriCorps Program Officer. In addition to her experience in local government, she has also worked for local non-profits focused on teacher quality issues and public land efforts.

---

Meet our New Advisory Board Members - Prince George’s County

Dr. Marcia Robinson, M.S. Robinson Construction

Dr. Marcia Robinson is a visionary leader with over 25 years of successful collaboration with business and community leaders in Prince George’s County. Dr. Robinson is a Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP), author, ordained minister, and entrepreneur. She is the author of several books including “Inside Out Your Body Is Talking” and “Peaceful Existence, Warfare of the Mind”.

Dr. Robinson serves as President and CEO of M.S. Robinson Construction working to improve housing conditions in Prince George’s County. Prior to that she worked as a statistician for the U.S. Census Bureau for more than 20 years.

Dr. Robinson received her Doctorate of Health Sciences from University of Berkeley. She also received a Masters in Project Management from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Health Education from North Carolina Central University.

Marcia is married to Rev. James J. Robinson, Pastor and Founder of The Tree of Life Christian Ministries in Clinton, Maryland. She is the mother of two children, Nicole and Christopher; and three grandchildren, Akkirah, Khylee, Kouture, and Christopher Jr. She is also a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Meet our New Advisory Board Members - Montgomery County

Alisha Griffey, Daintree Capital

Alisha Griffey spent over a decade as COO/CFO of several high-growth companies, helping to position them for successful exits either through private sale or IPO.

During her time as a start-up operator, Alisha saw firsthand the lack of diversity in both the founders and types of companies that receive investment capital. In 2020 she founded Daintree Capital to address these problems head on. Daintree provides working capital loans to female, and other underrepresented, founders. Daintree has more than 40 loans in its portfolio and currently enjoys a 0% default rate.

Daintree is now scaling its lending program and has partnered with innovators at the intersection of for-profit and not-for-profit capital to design an investment instrument that enables the use of philanthropic capital to invest in companies led by under represented founders.

Alisha received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Stanford University. She lives with her husband in Chevy Chase, MD where she spends her evenings and weekends as a professional youth sports spectator following her two sports addicted teenage sons from field to field.

June Linowitz

June Linowitz has been engaged with art her whole life. While pursuing an active studio practice, she has been, at varying times, an art teacher, a gallery director, an exhibition curator and an art consultant with her own business, ArtSeen. Her artwork, which started out as personal narrative paintings, has evolved into her current mixed media political work focusing primarily on climate change. June Linowitz’ work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. In 2015 she was honored by the Maryland Women’s Heritage Center as one of the 50 women included in “Images and Expressions – Maryland Women in the Arts.”

June Linowitz is an active member of the greater Washington art community. She has served on numerous boards and independent projects supporting the community. Most recently she was board president of Arts on the Block and a member of both The Resilience Fund and The Arts Forward Fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. She currently serves on the board of the McLean Project for the Arts where she heads up the Art & Education Committee.

Barbara Mulitz, Sandy Spring Trust

Barbara Mulitz is a Vice President and Senior Trust Officer at Sandy Spring Trust. Her expertise includes: estate and trust planning, special needs planning, aging issues, wealth management, women and retirement, elder financial abuse and financial education.

Serving for six years as a Commissioner on the Montgomery County Commission on Aging, Barbara advocated for legislation to protect older adults, co-produced the internet series "Seniors Today", and chaired the Communications Outreach committee. Her awards and honors include: The MD Bankers’ Assn. Council of Professional Women in Banking and Finance Achievement Award; the Sandy Spring Bank Principle award (twice); the Sandy Spring Bank, Take the Long View Award; and, The Sidwell Friends School, Newmyer Award. 

A native Washingtonian, Barbara is an attorney, with a JD from The American University, a Master in Medical Science from Emory University School of Medicine and a BS from the University of MD. She is an active member of her community and volunteers in various organizations, including: Charles E Smith Life Communities, ELDERSAFE Advisory Council; Montgomery County, MD, Aging in the Community Advisory Committee; Johns Hopkins Medical Center, Women’s Journey, Advisory Board; Sidwell Friends School, Graduated Parents, Alumni Board; Maryland Bar Association, Co-Chair, Law Day Advance Directives Program; and the Montgomery County Voter Hotline.

Sumindi Peiris, Bethesda Magazine

Sumindi Peiris is the President of Bethesda Magazine and Bethesda Beat, published by Z-Pop Media. These award-winning publications’ purpose is to strengthen community and empower individuals through trustworthy journalism that serves, connects, and celebrates the depth and diversity of Montgomery County, one the nation’s most populous and affluent counties.

Peiris spent the past 25 years helping build iconic brands at international organizations spanning media, hospitality and consumer goods sectors. Prior to joining Z-Pop Media, she was the Global Chief Marketing Officer at Time Out Group, a global media publisher that reinvented itself when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and went on to win multiple international awards for its innovative response to supporting community. Her past roles included executive and leadership roles at Hilton Worldwide, Diageo, LVMH, Bacardi and Unilever. Her successful work has been recognized in top media publications across the globe, including Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

Born in Sri Lanka, she grew up in Kensington, traveled the world and now lives in North Bethesda with her husband, Sam, their son Daveeth, who also attends Walter Johnson High School, and their 4-yearold Bichon Frise, BooBoo. Since her return, she has been involved in supporting Kids In Need Distributors (KIND), providing meals for kids in need in Montgomery County, and the Buddha Meditation Center of Greater Washington DC, providing free meditation services to build an inclusive, happy and healthy community.

Spring 2022 Grant Round invests more than $765,000 in Greater Washington Region

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is excited to announce more than $765,000 in grants awarded to nonprofits through two initiatives strengthening community and education in the District and Montgomery County.

This was an exciting grant round for both initiatives — the Martha’s Table Community Impact Fund, a partnership between The Community Foundation and Martha’s Table to support and strengthen Ward 8 nonprofit organizations historically excluded from institutional philanthropy — and the Children’s Opportunity Fund, which recently announced it’s launch as an independent nonprofit organization.

Below is the complete list of grant recipients for each of the funds:

Children’s Opportunity Fund

Action in Montgomery (AIM) is a broad-based community power organization rooted in Montgomery County’s neighborhoods and congregations.  They are a non-partisan, multi-faith, multi-racial organization and dedicated to making Montgomery County and the State of Maryland a better place to live and thrive.  This grant will support organizing teams of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) parents to address structural barriers related to access to early childhood education. 

Advancing Black Lives in Education, Inc. (ABLE) was established by a small group of former educators, administrators, school board members and Montgomery County Public School parents to address the needs of Black children and families during the pandemic.  This grant will build ABLE’s capacity to continue developing and improving the tutoring opportunities and supports. 

Arts on the Block (AOB) empowers youth to be creative and encourages them to contribute to the quality of life in their communities.  AOB implements a Youth Arts Movement (YAM) program that provides quality out of school time experiences that support the social-emotional development of young black, brown and low-income students in Elementary Schools.  This grant will support programming that integrates literacy, dual-language exploration, visual arts and STEM elements. 

BlackRock Center for the Arts provides opportunities to explore, celebrate and engage in the arts.  This grant will allow BlackRock to provide summer arts programming to low-income children and their families in the northern part of Montgomery County. 

Comunibuild Foundation, Inc. implements I.S.P.O.T. (Instructional Support Providing Online Training) which includes all-inclusive programming of early literacy, STEM and community engagement activities.  This grant will support an out of school time I.S.P.O.T. program offered for students in K-3 in the Spencerville and Burtonsville communities of Montgomery County.

Empowering the Ages transforms lives through facilitating and nurturing relationships across all generations. Senior volunteers are connected with 4-5 year old children for tutoring, mentoring and providing additional supports to families.  This grant will support the expansion of a school readiness and family engagement program for Pre-K and Head Start students into their kindergarten year.

Imagination Library of Montgomery County is an affiliate of a national, evidence-informed program that provides a free book to any child enrolled between the ages of birth to age 5.  This grant will expand the partnership of COF established in 2020 to strategically and intentionally grow enrollment from 800 students to over 1,500 in 2022.   

Interages is an intergenerational program model that supports seniors to tutor and mentor young people in our community.  This grant will support AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparents program, which matches a senior with PreK-Grade 2 students at three high need Elementary Schools in Montgomery County, and the continuation of the tutoring program at Daly Elementary School, in partnership with Thriving Germantown. 

Kid Museum is an equity-focused educational nonprofit serving Montgomery County and the greater Washington DC metropolitan area since 2014. A pioneer in “maker learning,” KID Museum’s programs build sustained engagement in STEM and creative problem solving, empowering youth of diverse backgrounds to become the next generation of innovators and changemakers. In 2021-2022, this grant has supported the expansion of out of school time programs and programming for students from under-resourced communities on non-school days, including development of a K-3 curriculum for out of school time that integrates literacy, STEM and social-emotional learning. 

Montgomery Housing Partnership, Inc. (MHP) preserves and expands affordable housing, empowers families, strengthens neighborhoods and provides support services to families in their housing units.  This grant will support the Play and Learn program which provides kindergarten readiness opportunities for low-income youth and English Language Learners. 

PEP (Parent Education Program) partners with communities to provide parenting classes.  This grant will serve approximately 100 Latino and African immigrant families and over 250 children to provide virtual parenting classes during the 2022-2023 school year. 

Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington implements the Glasses4Scholars program to address the unmet vision needs of student to increase academic grades and attendance.  In partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), this grant will provide screenings, eye exams and eyeglasses to identified students in grades K-2nd. 

Story Tapestries, Inc.: will focus on programs in the early childhood years that build emergent literacy skills for economically impacted youth, educator and caregivers in Montgomery County, MD.  This grant will  provide professional development for educators to create inclusive learning environments, family support through interactive events and literacy kits. 

The Civic Circle is a nonprofit that empowers young students to understand and participate in democracy through music and the arts.  This grant will increase staff capacity to serve more students in Eastern Montgomery County, MD. 

Thriving Germantown is a community school model that works collectively with various stakeholders to improve outcomes for low-income children in the Germantown area of Montgomery County.  This grant will support the educational, health and social inequities addressed through a community hub model which provides care coordination, community empowerment opportunities, and ensures that the right services are available to reach vulnerable families at Daly Elementary School and other surrounding schools. 

Wonders is an organization creating and advancing high-quality, diverse educational communities to teach children the foundations for life-long learning and social responsibility.  This grant will enable Wonders to increase the number of workshops focused on equity in early learning utilizing a professional development model to address workforce training and retention challenges in the Early Care and Education (ECE) community . 

Community Impact Fund

Anacostia AMP Outreach Empowerment Center is committed to bringing Healing, Opportunity, Provision, and Empowerment to communities East of the River.

Bright Beginnings uses a whole-child, two-generation approach to promote the long-term development and success of children and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Washington, DC.  Their early learning centers offer full-day, year-round and developmentally-appropriate early childhood education for children from birth to five years old, at no cost to their families.

 Bright Beginnings offers comprehensive wrap-around services to both children and their parents with the goal of supporting families as they take the brave journey from crisis to self-sufficiency.

Family & Friends of Incarcerated People (FFOIP) is an organization whose primary mission is to foster community support that effectively meets the needs of today’s at-risk children and families of those incarcerated. It operates solely to promote charity, literacy, public safety, and to avoid inter-generational incarceration.

FFOIP serves DC area children of the incarcerated and at-risk youth by engaging them in social, cultural and youth development activities through our various projects, programs, and events.

Healthy Babies Project, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit, community-based support organization that helps the poorest District youth build stable lives.

Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in DC’s most under-resourced communities so that they graduate from high school ready for success in college, career, and life. They serve 500 children in grades K-12 living in Wellington Park & Stanton Oaks – neighborhoods that have been profoundly impacted by decades of disinvestment and barriers to opportunity.

Inner Thoughts, Inc. was founded to 1) develop, consult and exhibit through creative expression the talents of others and those within the realm of the corporation, utilizing the medium of the arts and media; 2) to foster the development of a stable, diversified and local economy and/or economic activities which through career counseling and referral, promotes potential economic well-being and reduces dependency on social services, and 3) to support local access, by our youth, to programs and services which are essential to a self-sufficient community. 

Project Create provides opportunities for creative youth development through accessible, multidisciplinary arts education to empower young people and amplify their voices. They collaborate with children, youth and families in an inclusive and supportive community where art is healing and transformative.

Safe Sisters Circle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free culturally specific, holistic, and trauma-based services to Black women survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault primarily living in Washington, DC's Wards 7 and 8.

Victory Youth Center operates the Mary Virginia Merrick Center, which provides high quality out of school curriculum and recreational programs. It is a safe space in the community where youth and families in Ward 8 can consistently gather to enrich their mind, body and spirit.

William Lockridge Educational and Scholarship Fund - provide financial aid to DC Public School graduating senior interested in pursuing post-high school course of study at either a college/university or other postsecondary institution.

Funding Opportunities through our Summer Grant round are now available! Interested nonprofits should visit our Grant Opportunities page for more information!

Children’s Opportunity Alliance Named Montgomery County Coordinating Entity for Ages 0-5

Children's Opportunity Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation transitions to become independent nonprofit and focus on equitable early care and education

ROCKVILLE, MD (July 15, 2022) – On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Montgomery County leaders announced the launch of the Montgomery County Children’s Opportunity Alliance, a nonprofit entity that will connect partners in support of equitable outcomes for children from birth through age 5. Watch this short video about the press conference where this announcement was made.  

The Children’s Opportunity Alliance will be the Early Care and Education Coordinating Entity for Montgomery County. In this role, the organization will convene county government, community-based organizations, schools, the philanthropic community,  local businesses, and families of kids 0-5 to provide high-quality and accessible early learning opportunities for young children and their families.

The Children’s Opportunity Alliance is a new independent nonprofit organization that transitioned from the Children’s Opportunity Fund, a public-private impact initiative created by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Montgomery County Government and Montgomery County Public Schools. Anna Hargrave, Executive Director for Montgomery County at The Community Foundation, said this organization’s new independent status is a successful milestone for local public-private partnerships.

“The launch of the Children’s Opportunity Alliance is a testament to the vision of many public and private partners who are committed to the success of our community’s children,” Hargrave said. “We are proud of the role we played in incubating and nurturing this initiative during its formative years.  We’re excited for the Alliance’s next phase of growth, and look forward to supporting its vitally important work so all Montgomery County children and their families can thrive.”

While the Children’s Opportunity Alliance will finalize focus areas over time, the organization will initially prioritize three goals:

• Convening early childhood stakeholders: Connect partners to eliminate barriers to accessing quality services for children 0-5

• Providing equitable access: Identify gaps that exist in childcare and Pre-K systems and increase access to high-quality programming for low-income children

• Advocating for evidence-based programs: Develop solutions to obstacles such as language, cultural factors, transportation and time constraints so that all families can engage with quality early childhood programs

Stay tuned for more information on our new website, which will be released soon.  

About the Montgomery County Children’s Opportunity Alliance

The Montgomery County Children’s Opportunity Alliance connects partners to build a high-quality and equitable early childhood system for kids from birth through age 5 in Montgomery County, Maryland. This coalition coordinates county government, schools, philanthropy, community-based organizations and local businesses to forge opportunities and close the opportunity gap for Montgomery County’s historically marginalized children and their families.

About the Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Greater Washington Community Foundation ignites the power of philanthropy, catalyzes community impact, and responds to critical needs. For five decades, The Community Foundation has connected caring donors with nonprofits creating lasting change in DC, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia and Prince George’s County. As the region’s largest local funder, we have invested more than $1.4 billion to build equitable, just and thriving communities where everyone prospers.

Bringing Faith & Philanthropy Together in Prince George’s County

There’s a well-known verse among the faith-based community, that “Faith can move mountains”. Earlier this month, the Greater Washington Community Foundation hosted a Faith and Philanthropy Breakfast with Prince George’s County leaders to discuss how to move the Mt. Everest of our region – closing the racial wealth gap.

“Historically, the faith community has long been at the forefront in the fight for social and economic justice,” President & CEO Tonia Wellons explained before the event. “Black churches served as key stops on the underground railroad and helped to abolish slavery. They raised critically needed funds in support of the civil rights movement and advocated for the passage of key civil rights legislation. Long before the pandemic, faith-based organizations have been active in community development including the creation of schools, businesses, and social programs to assist those most in need. They are among our most vital and proactive partners in our strategic vision to close the racial wealth gap.”

The breakfast brought together faith, nonprofit, philanthropic leaders for an intimate conversation about their work and the importance of closing the region’s racial wealth gap. Participants heard and discussed presentations from Tonia, as well as Rev. Ronnie Galvin, The Community Foundation’s Managing Director of Community Investment.

Managing Director of Community Investment Ronnie Galvin addresses participants about our region’s racial wealth gap.

President & CEO Tonia Wellons discusses The Community Foundation’s 10-year strategic vision with community, nonprofit, and faith leaders.

“I think the focus around economic inequity will get to the root of a lot of the major issues we face, in the faith community,” one pastor shared. “I’m excited to be partnering and working alongside [The Community Foundation] in this process.”

“I thought the event was very inspiring,” Karene Brodie, Executive Director of Hillside Work Scholarship Connection shared. “I think oftentimes we want to partner with the faith community, but we lack the vision or structure to have lasting impact. Events like this that convene us together around a common cause really inspire us to work together to resolve an issue that’s been plaguing our communities for far too long.”

“It is impossible to put a dollar-amount on the work that our faith-based partners have done – both in responding to the COVID pandemic, and in advocating for the needs of Black and Brown people in our region,” Darcelle Wilson, Senior Director of the Prince George’s County Office shared. “We hope that this event is the first of many, as together we work to close the racial wealth gap.”

Click here to see more photos from the event!

Flex Funding Reshapes Fight Against Homelessness

By Jennifer Olney, Senior Program Officer, Partnership to End Homelessness

In late 2019, the Partnership announced its first round of grants for “flex funding” programs to support four local nonprofits that provide Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) for people experiencing chronic homelessness: Miriam’s Kitchen, Open Arms Housing, Pathways to Housing, and Friendship Place.

These two-year grants were intended to help expedite housing placement and increase stabilization for single adults experiencing homelessness by providing funds that could cover small but critical expenses, such as fees to obtain IDs, that are essential to obtaining housing.

Flex Fund Impact Story: John was living in one of the city’s Pandemic Emergency Program shelters before being assigned to the Pathways to Housing Permanent Supportive Housing program in early 2021. The Pathways team quickly jumped into action to help him find housing before his rental voucher was set to expire. The team used Partnership flex funding support to provide transportation so John could view available apartments. He found a unit he liked and was approved to move in several days after he submitted his application. John moved into his new apartment in July 2021, starting his new chapter in safe and stable housing.

Soon after these flex funding grants were awarded, the world changed. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, The Community Foundation quickly pivoted to provide emergency response support to the region, and the Partnership in turn moved to allow its grantees to use their flex funding grants even more flexibly to respond to new challenges.

This flexible approach , spurred in part by the pandemic, aligns with The Community Foundation’s shift toward implementing a trust-based philanthropy approach to our work. We believe it is important to support our grantees in allocating their resources to where they are most needed, making room for greater innovation, responsiveness, and impact.

Now, more than two years later, we are happy to see that this approach paid off. The grants not only demonstrated that flex funding could accomplish its original goals, but also served to respond to new needs that PSH clients faced due to the pandemic.

Our four top lessons learned:

• Flex funding can help reduce the time it takes to move people into housing. Flex funding was used by all the grantees to pay for critical expenses such as identification documents, apartment application fees, transportation to see available apartments, and movers. Open Arms Housing used some of the funding to help support a staff person dedicated to working directly with landlords to locate available units and lease up clients quickly. Three out of four grantees reported significant reductions in the time it took them to move clients into Permanent Supportive Housing.

• Flex funding can help increase equitable access to housing: Miriam’s Kitchen reported that some apartment buildings, generally in safer and more desirable neighborhoods, now charge additional “holding” or “amenities” fees (generally about $300). These additional fees create a significant barrier for people who have little or no income. The organization used some of the flex funding to pay these fees to secure more attractive apartments for clients – supporting clients’ mental and physical health by providing them with more choice in their selection of housing, and the ability to feel comfortable and secure in the housing and neighborhoods that they choose.

• Flex funding helped meet people’s COVID-related needs during the pandemic. The pandemic and resulting social distancing brought many new challenges for everyone – especially for PSH clients. Flex Funds allowed grantees the flexibility to meet some of those needs. For example, flex funds were used by grantees to cover the purchase of cell phones and cell phone plans for clients so they could stay in touch with their case managers when face to face meetings were not possible. These phones could also be used by clients to keep in touch with family, friends, and other members of their support networks and reduce their feelings of social isolation. Flex funding was also used to help provide clients with groceries, medicine, and PPE and COVID testing costs so they could stay safe and healthy.

• Flex funding can help make a house a home. All the grantees used flex funding to purchase home furnishings, groceries, cleaning supplies, holiday gift cards, and other household items for their clients. Open Arms Housing reported that although the donation of household items to their organization decreased during the pandemic, flex funding allowed them the ability to purchase items to ensure that their clients had what they needed for their new homes.

We are grateful for the commitment of our donors, who made these grants possible. The Partnership is committed to continuing our work to expedite housing placement and helping people remain stably housed. We hope you will join us.

Greater Washington Community Foundation Seeks Proposals For $10 Million Health Equity Fund Grants

Transformative Health Equity Fund is Largest in Foundation’s History

The Greater Washington Community Foundation today issued its first competitive Request for Proposals for grants funded by the historic Health Equity Fund. Mindful that health and wealth are inextricably connected, this first round of grants will boldly invest in economic mobility and wealth building in DC’s historically underinvested communities. Future funding will be devoted to policy advocacy, community and multi-sector anchor partnerships with hospitals and health systems, and behavioral health and trauma-informed systems of care. Over the next five years, the fund will support innovative systems-changing strategies as well as existing approaches that improve prospects for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, people of color, and other marginalized populations.

The $95 million fund was created to improve the health outcomes and health equity of DC residents. One of the largest funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents, the Health Equity Fund is also the largest in The Community Foundation’s nearly 50-year history.

“The past two years have reminded us that DC’s economic, social, and health systems favor people who already have access to wealth and good healthcare,” said Greater Washington Community Foundation President and CEO Tonia Wellons. “Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic and other factors, and only 20 percent by clinical care, we plan to deploy the full resources of the Health Equity Fund to projects that disrupt more traditional approaches to social change with the goal of addressing our city’s persistent health inequities and helping to close the glaring and intolerable racial health and wealth gap.”

“Improving health outcomes and health equity in our communities is critical,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Health Equity Fund grants represent significant investments in the well-being of our residents, and continues to promote DC HOPE—health, opportunity, prosperity, and equity. This is an important next step in providing necessary resources and addressing residents’ whole health.”

The Health Equity Fund was established last year as a result of the resolution of litigation among the District of Columbia Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB); Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. (GHMSI) – a CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) affiliate – and DC Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. In establishing the fund, the parties created an innovative and impactful way of addressing DC’s racial health gap.

“The Health Equity Fund builds upon CareFirst’s longstanding mission to improve health outcomes through affordable, accessible, and equitable care,” said Stacia Cohen, CareFirst’s Executive Vice President of Health Services. “Under the leadership of the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the jointly appointed Health Equity Committee, the funds will be distributed to organizations that share our commitment to transforming healthcare and impacting DC community health.”

Request for Proposals

Two-year general operating grants totaling $10 million will be awarded to 40 organizations implementing economic mobility models that increase income and build wealth or that are implementing innovative enterprise development and ownership models. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on July 25. Awardees will be notified in September. A webinar for potential applicants will be held on June 21. Organizations with operating budgets of $750,000 and below are eligible for grants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 per year and organizations with operating budgets above $750,000 are eligible for grants ranging from $150,000 to $200,000 per year. Click here to view the RFP or see here for additional information or to read Frequently Asked Questions

Fund Oversight

The Community Foundation was independently selected to manage the Health Equity Fund because of its track record of working with individual donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region. Health Equity Fund goals align with The Community Foundation’s ongoing work and 10-year strategic vision to close the racial wealth gap by eliminating the historic, racialized disparities in our region. The Community Foundation believes that changing the prospects for how Black and Brown people generate, share, and sustain wealth will ultimately improve the quality of life for all of our neighbors.

The Community Foundation is working in partnership with a Health Equity Committee mandated by the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the District of Columbia and GHMSI. The seven-member committee includes Shirley Marcus Allen; Nnemdi Kamanu Elias, MD, MPH; Dr. Tollie Elliott; Jeffrey Franco; Lori Kaplan; Dr. Djinge Lindsay, MD, MPH; and Courtney R. Snowden. Together, The Community Foundation and Health Equity Committee are ensuring the Health Equity Fund is managed according to guidelines outlined in the Memorandum.  

Scholarships for DC Students Now Available!

UPDATE 11/2/2022 — The OST Youth Scholarship Program is not accepting new applications at this time.

Looking for fun activities for your child to do this summer? Activity Scholarships for DC Students are now available through Learn24’s OST Youth Scholarship Program.

Learn24 is the name for the network that supports equitable access to high-quality, Out-of-School-Time (“OST”) programs for the District’s students. The OST Youth Scholarship Program is a new program, managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, with the goal of increasing access to OST programs for students with specific needs. Specifically, the program will support students who may be identified as at-risk.

Examples of programs that the scholarship may support include, but are not limited to, programs designed specifically for students with disabilities, advanced learners, and English Language Learners. Individuals not considered at-risk may also be eligible to receive a scholarship based on need and availability of funding.

Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available for individual students for use in approved OST activities in calendar year 2022, including both current summer activities and those expected to begin with the start of the new school year. The minimum scholarship award is $1,000. Scholarship funds can be used for any OST activities that have a cost association up to the total scholarship amount.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and must be submitted online, using the link provided. No hard copy, email or faxed proposals will be accepted. Applications are reviewed monthly by The Community Foundation and approved by Learn24. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions within 4 weeks of application submission.

For those seeking additional information, click here to read the full RFP.

If you have questions, please contact Benton Murphy at [email protected]

Coming Out Strong: DC’s LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition Builds Community That Goes Beyond Pride Month

By Jesse Steinberg, SMYAL Communications and Development Youth Fellow

At its inception three years ago, the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition was a way for local LGBTQ+ organizations to collectively petition the DC Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and City Council for funding where it mattered most.

Organizations like SMYAL, the DC Center for the LGBT Community, Whitman-Walker Health, the Wanda Alston Foundation, HIPS, Planned Parenthood of Metro Washington, DC, and many more have joined forces in this coalition to ensure that our local government is investing in the future of the LGBTQ+ community, especially our low-income residents and trans people of color–not just during Pride month, but year-round.

In practice, though, the Budget Coalition has become much more than that- it’s a space to build community, coordinate efforts, and strategize how to move our local LGBTQ+ movement forward.

“Thanks to the support of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s LGBTQ+ Fund and Partnership to End Homelessness, 25 LGBTQ+ community-focused organizations have been empowered to advocate for the people they serve as well as one another, and ensure the District allocates specific funding to meet needs identified by organizations on the ground,” adds SMYAL Deputy Executive Director Jorge Membreño, MSW, LICSW. “SMYAL is proud to be a leader in this effort in partnership with many other community organizations.”

In its weekly meetings, the LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition brings together leadership from across the city to identify our community’s most pressing needs, develop programmatic solutions, and advocate for funding of these programs to local government officials. The Budget Coalition has secured over $4.7 million in funding for 2022, and continues to engage members of the Mayor’s office and DC Council to identify areas for improvement.

The Community Foundation is unique in its commitment to local advocacy, as one of the very few grants that allows community organizations to directly advocate for what they need. The LGBTQ+ Fund and Partnership to End Homelessness has allowed SMYAL, a DC based nonprofit that serves LGBTQ youth ages 6-24, to deepen meaningful engagement with other LGBTQ+ organizations in the District, offer a broad range of additional resources to SMYAL youth, and expand its network of referral sources through implementation of new programs.

SMYAL has referred youth to multiple programs funded by the coalition’s advocacy, including the city’s trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) low-barrier shelter and TGNC youth workforce program. Other new programs, such as the LGBTQ+ Domestic Survival Housing, meet specific needs of young people in crisis and provide another avenue for SMYAL youth to access critical resources. By growing the network of support that exists for LGBTQ+ people in DC, SMYAL can continue to expand its offerings through a city budget that prioritizes the needs of our community.

The LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition’s number one priority is addressing housing insecurity for queer and trans people in DC. We’re immensely proud of the LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition’s work in securing almost $1.5 million in recurring funding for designated LGBTQ+ housing programs in 2021, including vouchers for LGBTQ+ seniors, extended transitional funding for LGBTQ youth, and more.

Our work won’t stop here. DC can do more to protect vulnerable populations of LGBTQ+ residents, and the LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition will continue to use The Community Foundation’s support to petition the local government for additional funding. In the three short years since the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition began its work, we’ve successfully secured almost $5 million in additional funding for the coming year.

It’s clear that our voices have been heard, and with the support of The Community Foundation and the other organizations involved in the Budget Coalition, SMYAL intends to continue speaking truth to power.

Writer Bio: Jesse (they/them/theirs pronouns) is a writer, photographer, embroidery artist, and SMYAL Youth Fellow from Manassas, Virginia. As a recent graduate of Northeastern University’s MA Media Advocacy program and alumni of American University’s Justice and Law program, Jesse is passionate about supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ youth nationwide. They can usually be found at the Old Town Alexandria waterfront with an iced chai. Jesse’s current Spotify top artist is Orville Peck.

The Community Foundation Reacts to Rising National Gun Violence

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is heartbroken and grieves along with the community of Uvalde, Texas after the mass shooting that claimed the lives of 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary school last week. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the close-knit community of Uvalde.

This heinous shooting – coming not two weeks after an equally disturbing and deadly attack in Buffalo and one month after a sniper opened fire on the Edmund Burke School in DC, reminds us of the urgent need to be vigilant and proactive in our stand against gun violence and its underlying causes including access to firearms, racism, classism, and the nation’s broken healthcare and political systems.

No one should have to grow up in the shadow of gun violence – in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in their places of worship, or in their schools. Freedom from gun violence is a basic human right.  We must recognize there can be no racial or economic justice until we take the proper steps to end this history and culture of violence in our community and in our nation.

To that end, The Community Foundation made a contribution to the Buffalo Together Community Response Fund and will be making a contribution to the San Antonio Area Foundation, which has set up two separate funds to support the victims of this tragedy, their families and the broader Uvalde community. We encourage all those who are interested to read how you can help and consider contributing.

We also encourage you to learn more about local work to prevent gun violence in our community, including two donor funds housed at The Community Foundation that share our vision for safe and vibrant communities. Peace for DC -- dedicated to preventing and reducing gun violence in DC -- and the 2LT Richard W. Collins III Foundation, dedicated to investing in the education and empowerment of youth while working toward a hate-free, more just society for all.

For additional information about local or national advocacy efforts and how you can contribute or get involved, please contact us. 

Building a Coalition of the Willing - Our Path to Closing the Racial Wealth Gap

Based on remarks from Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, at the 2022 Celebration of Philanthropy on May 4.

As a community foundation, our organization sits at the intersection of racialized wealth and racialized poverty.

From this vantage point, we recognize that our region’s seemingly intractable challenges stem from generations of racial and economic apartheid — a phrase that I don’t use lightly, having worked and lived in South Africa during the immediate post-apartheid era.  

This divide — known as the racial wealth gap — manifests itself as segregated housing and neighborhoods, disparities in life expectancy, low wages, unemployment, and high incarceration rates. It presents as over-policing, under-resourced schools, and disinvested neighborhoods.

To be very clear, the systems that should help create opportunities for Black, Latinx, and people of color, instead are fundamentally designed to produce racial and economic disparities. In other words, the problem is not with the people; rather, it is with systems and structures that operate with both implicit and explicit biases — ones that are often reinforced by legislation, policy, and practices. 

All of this points to this overarching fact — one that persists in our society: Race Matters.

By almost every measure — education, income, housing, health, and wealth — our community’s Black and Latinx neighbors are lagging behind their White neighbors. Again, this is not the result of individual failure, but rather systemic design.

Our region isn’t unique in facing this challenge. Yet, what sets us apart are the stark inequities, which have led to some of the nation’s wealthiest zip codes being just a short drive from some of its poorest. 

As home to the nation’s capital — and all the prestige, influence, wealth, and power it provides — we can and must do better.

We believe that by changing the prospects for how our Black and Brown neighbors generate, sustain, and share wealth, we will ultimately improve the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and raises a family in this region.  

So, when people ask us: What will it take to close the racial wealth gap in our region? Well, our response is this…

Our community needs a vision, strong leadership, and a coalition of the willing who will invest the time in understanding what got us here in the first place; and what it will take to get us out.

This coalition recognizes that quick fixes or simple solutions will only get us but so far; and are willing to do the essential work to mobilize resources and build critical partnerships with community and across public and private sectors to shore up basic needs; and invest in strategies that increase economic mobility — like good jobs, homeownership, and entrepreneurship to name a few.

What are some ways that you can get involved right now? Well, I’m glad that you asked:

Invest in The Community Foundation

Start by becoming an investor in The Community Foundation and our vision for this region. We invite you to make a gift and connect to our work so that we can lean in together on a shared vision for a more just local economy. Align your philanthropy with our vision of closing our community’s racial wealth gap, so that our collective impact is experienced, exponentially.

Embark on a Learning Journey with Us

Become a member of the coalition of the willing by deepening your understanding of the racial wealth gap and what it will take to close it.

Embark on a learning journey with us through a new series we are developing on the racial wealth gap in our region. Join our quarterly book group, as together we discuss and grow together, as a community. We’ll also be launching an exciting new podcast series later this year.

Commit to Racial Equity

Finally, we invite you to take a look at your personal and professional approach to racial equity. What are your company’s requirements for entry-level roles, your vendors, and partners? Who are your contractors, your co-workers, and your talent pipeline? Consider if these things reflect the diversity of this region. If they don’t, these are immediate steps you can take to help achieve a more just economy in our region.

By widening the pool of economic development opportunities to a more diverse set of participants, you can begin to take steps towards closing the racial wealth gap.

Next year, we will come together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Community Foundation. For 50 years, we have blazed a trail for philanthropy, partnership, and community impact. I am excited for what the next 50 years might mean for The Community Foundation and the community that we serve.

As we embark on this exciting journey, I invite all of you to see yourselves in our framework for the future of our region. Together, we will continue to build more equitable, just, and thriving communities where everyone prospers.

Basic-Income Pilot Helps Hospitality Workers Affected by COVID

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is excited to share the launch of Let’s GO DMV! – a guaranteed income pilot in the Washington, DC region that intends to give $1,000 a month–no strings attached– to 75 hospitality workers who lost their jobs during COVID. All but one of the workers are individuals of colors. The pilot, which recently began its first cash distributions, is planned to last five years.

“This initiative addresses a glaring reality as it relates to the racial wealth gap: that Black people and other people of color in our region were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 dual health and economic crises, further widening pre-existing disparities,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation.

“Let’s GO DMV! is designed to get cash in people’s hands now – giving them increased flexibility and financial freedom to overcome the systemic barriers they face. Our hope is that this initiative can be used as a case for future government-supported programs and policies that are needed to advance economic justice.”

The launch was funded by a number of regional partners including Greater Washington Community Foundation, Amalgamated Foundation, Meyer Foundation, if, and several others. The Greater Washington Community Foundation is proud to serve as the designated fiscal agent for philanthropic grants and other financial contributions to Let’s Go DMV!.

For more information, visit www.letsgodmv.org

What a Wonderful World! A Celebration of Cultural Relevancy in Education Through Reading in Montgomery County

By Grace Kim, AmeriCorps member at The Community Foundation

On March 2, 2022, the Children’s Opportunity Fund of the Greater Washington Community Foundation hosted a social media event ‘What a Wonderful World! A Celebration of Cultural Relevancy in Education through Reading in Montgomery County’.

The event was part of Read Across America Day -- the nation’s largest celebration of reading which inspires individuals, both young and old, to pick up a book and read.

This event was completely virtual, with videos being released on our social media platforms (@communityfndn) at the top of each hour from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Some inspiring takeaways from our spotlights were:

• Helen Winder, program coordinator for Wheaton Woods Imagination Library program, explained how "culturally relevant books help children shape their identities." The Wheaton Woods Imagination Library program coordinator, provides free books for young students ages 0-5.

• Cultural relevancy is "not a zero-sum game" where "some groups will lose and others will gain. No one loses, we all gain," from Diego Uruburu, who co-founded the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Excellence and Equity and is the Executive Director of Identity Youth.​

• Shebra Evans, member of the MCPS Board of Education, shed light on the school district's "asset-approach to expanding culturally relevant literacy into the instruction and that means that we are viewing the skills, knowledge, background that each of our students bring to their educational experience and that we value it."

• Myrna Peralta of CentroNía explained the influence of linguistic diversity on which educational resources are brought to classrooms with different language-speaking instructors. She also shared that it's a "natural developmental requirement that we acknowledge and promote the diversity with our children from a very early age." CentroNía incorporates bilingual and multicultural supports to provide quality early childhood education to students.

• For the last segment of the event, Montgomery County Council President Gabe Albornoz and MCPS Principal Shawaan Robinson read aloud Juana Martinez-Neal’s book, Alma and Her Name, in Spanish and English respectively.

Parents, students, and educators were encouraged to participate by using the hashtag ‘#ReadAcrossMoCo’ on social media. See below for the complete list of videos!

---

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - Story Tapestries

In this video, we spotlight nonprofit partner, Story Tapestries, and the creative ways that they promote cultural relevancy in learning.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - Imagination Library

In this video, Helen Winder, Montgomery County Public School Parent Community Coordinator shares the impact that Wheaton Woods Imagination Library is having in the lives of children at Wheaton Woods Elementary.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity & Excellence

In this video, Diego Uruburu, co-founder of Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence shares what it means to be culturally relevant.

Community Partner Spotlight - Shebra Evans

In this video, Shebra Evans, Montgomery County (MD) Board of Education Member shares why cultural relevancy and literacy are so important to Montgomery County Public Schools.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - ISPOT

In this video, one family shares the impact that ISPOT, a Children's Opportunity Fund nonprofit partner, has had on their learning experience.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - CentroNia

In this video, Myrna Peralta, President and CEO of CentroNía shares the importance of incorporating cultural relevancy into everyday classroom learning.

Nonprofit Partner Spotlight - Arts on the Block

In this video, Chris Barclay, Interim Executive Director at Arts on the Block explains how their program is supporting culturally relevant learning through the arts.

Read-Aloud in Spanish & English

In this video, Gabe Albornoz, Montgomery County (MD) Council President and Shawaan Robinson, Montgomery County (MD) Public School Principal read "Alma and How She Got Her Name" by Juana Martinez-Neal.

Children's Opportunity Fund and Partners Reactivate Equity Hubs

Recent school closures across Montgomery County, due to the Omnicron variant of COVID-19, led Montgomery County Public Schools to turn to the Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF) at the Greater Washington Community Foundation and its partners to reactivate a proven program to support virtual learning for children and their families.

Initially launched in the Fall of 2020, the Educational Enrichment and Equity Hubs program provides a safe, structured learning environment for children from low-income families who lack internet access or technical support at home.

Each equity hub follows strict safety protocols and has adult staff on-site to support virtual learning and after-school programming. Last year, the program served more than 1,500 students at 70 different locations throughout Montgomery County. For more information about the Equity Hubs Program, click here!

Although the pandemic and necessity of virtual learning may be temporary, the Greater Washington Community Foundation recognizes that many of the challenges that students and families face are not. The Children’s Opportunity Fund will continue working with the community and its partners to understand the evolving needs of the most marginalized youth and families in order to close the opportunity gap in Montgomery County.  

The Children’s Opportunity Fund can only do this work with the help of cross-sector partners across Montgomery County. You can play an active role in ensuring that young people continue to have access to safe, quality learning opportunities and enrichments that support their academic and personal development, regardless of socio-economic status, race, or housing situation. Join us to ensure that all children have access to the essential services and growth opportunities they need to thrive.

The Community Foundation Invests $6.2+ Million in 70 Nonprofits Nurturing Equitable Recovery

Grants aim to increase food security, close the opportunity gap, support survivors of domestic violence, and build stability for more families.

The region’s largest local funder has announced more than $6.2 million in grants to 70 nonprofits addressing issues facing families and communities in the Greater Washington region as they adapt to a post-pandemic life. 

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is investing in equitable recovery targeting a wide range of challenges, from helping families facing food insecurity, to advancing educational equity, supporting survivors of domestic violence, and building stability for more families. 

These grants represent initial investments that lay the groundwork for The Community Foundation’s new 10-year strategic vision to close the region’s racial wealth gap. The Community Foundation’s new strategy focuses on increasing economic mobility by prioritizing historically underinvested BIPOC neighborhoods that have been systematically denied access to wealth building opportunities. The Community Foundation is specifically interested in neighborhoods and census tracts that are experiencing the highest incidences of system-induced inequities in the areas of health, homeownership, education, employment, income, and life expectancy. 

“The pandemic not only increased demand for housing, food, and educational supports, it also exacerbated and brought longstanding inequities into focus,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “These grants will help our nonprofit partners sustain and continue to adapt their services to support equitable recovery by providing individuals and families with what they need to survive and thrive today and for the long-term.”

Food Security

With 1 in 10 Montgomery County residents facing food insecurity due to COVID-19, The Community Foundation’s Food for Montgomery initiative is marshaling the resources of nonprofits, faith communities, local businesses, farmers, and county agencies to increase food access and help families recover from crisis. Grants totaling $959,590 will build the resiliency of 14 nonprofit and faith-based partners to more effectively and efficiently meet the needs throughout Montgomery County.

Afrithrive to support its two-acre farm and community gardening program to engage African immigrants in growing culturally specific produce which is hard to obtain through most food distribution providers. 

American Muslim Senior Society to support staffing, equipment, and cold storage necessary to strengthen its food security work and maximize the power of its volunteer network.

BlackRock Center for the Arts / Up-County Consolidation Hub to hire a bilingual social worker to connect vulnerable families to sustainable food resources and supports that are vital to their recovery.

Celestial Manna for staffing needed to advance food recovery efforts that prevent food waste and save thousands of dollars.

Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming to support the development of an urban farm and community gardening program in Wheaton, MD that will enable residents to grow their own culturally appropriate food.

Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER) to support community-garden work that will engage Long Branch area residents to grow their own food for their community.

Guru Gobind Singh Foundation to support expanded storage that will enable this volunteer-driven effort to sustain its food security work.

Kingdom Fellowship CDC / East County Consolidation Hub to support the development of an innovative cold storage resource to help hub partners prevent waste and distribute food more efficiently. Hub partners include Kingdom Fellowship, Rainbow Community Development Center, Kings & Priests Court Int'l Ministries, and People's Community Baptist Church. 

Manna Food Center, A Place of Hope, Co-Health, Ethiopian Community Center Maryland, Identity, Kings and Priests’ Court International Ministries, and Southern African Community USA to enable outreach partners to connect residents with Manna Food Center’s resources and provide vouchers to purchase culturally specific foods to meet their needs.

The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and its partners, the Crossroads Community Food Network and FRESHFARM, to build the capacity of local farmers markets so they can more effectively reach and serve customers that rely on federal nutrition benefits, thereby increasing access to healthy food from local farmers.

Rainbow Community Development Center for staffing necessary to foster resiliency in the East County region through collaborative work with key partners and to sustain the organization’s expansion spurred by the pandemic.

Red Wiggler Community Farm to employ adults with developmental disabilities to grow healthy food for group homes and food distribution partners throughout the county.

Shepherd’s Table to support the necessary equipment and kitchen improvements to sustain and deepen collaborations bringing prepared meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity.

WUMCO for expanded cold storage that will enable the collection of more donations from local farmers and hunters to distribute in the rural, Up-County area. 

Education and Literacy

The Community Foundation’s Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF) is a public-private partnership that invests in innovative, evidence-informed efforts targeted at reducing educational disparities to close the opportunity gap in Montgomery County. Reading mastery is a key predictor of a student’s career attainment, and the most critical time to gain these skills is between birth and third grade. Recent grants of $200,000 will further COF’s strategy to improve third grade literacy rates by supporting early literacy programs, tutoring programs, and out of school time activities. 

Kid Museum to create an intentional curriculum for students in Grades K-3 that integrates STEM, literacy, and social emotional learning at Rolling Terrace and Strathmore, two Title 1 Elementary Schools -- in the spring the program will be piloted at additional elementary schools. 

Imagination Library to expand its program developed for children from birth to age 5 in seven zip codes to receive free, high-quality, age-appropriate books delivered to their home every month. 

Survivors of Domestic Violence

In partnership with the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services, The Community Foundation administers the Domestic Violence Community Grants Fund to support nonprofits assisting families and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking to achieve a greater level of independence and self-sufficiency, cope with healing, and rebuild the family unit. Grants of $120,00 to four organizations will support counseling services, housing and transportation, and legal services.

Community Advocates for Family and Youth to support the recently launched Begin Again and Thrive program to address housing needs by providing emergency accommodation, permanent relocation, and financial assistance. 

Community Crisis Services to provide shelter transportation, limited rental support, and to meet individual needs such as school lunches or school supplies for a family or student. 

Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County to continue funding a staff attorney position and program offering legal assistance.

House of Ruth Maryland to support the provision of counseling/therapy services including IPV education, safety planning, and trauma reduction. 

Children, Youth, and Families

The Community Foundation administers the Fund for Children, Youth, and Families, a five-year initiative, to invest in effective organizations working to make the community more vibrant, healthy, and stable. The 2021 cycle includes nearly $4.8 million in multiyear grants to 50 nonprofits offering housing services, permanency support, academic support, and early career development programs.

826DC to help students improve writing skill development and increase fluency with writing based on the National Writing Project standards.

Adoptions Together to provide training for families interested in fostering and to place foster children in permanent homes.

The Arc of Prince George’s County to support participants of the Ready@21 Program, which helps young adults through career coaching and resume development to increase job readiness, improve college awareness, and develop self-advocacy skills.

Aspire! Afterschool Learning to improve reading instructional level by one grade or more for students in its afterschool care program.

The Barker Adoption Foundation to provide older foster child adoption training and facilitate the placement of older foster children and/or sibling groups.

Bread for the City to support advocacy efforts for families at risk of housing displacement and to provide direct services to families through the Food Program, Clothing Program, Medical Clinic, Social Services Program, and Legal Clinic.

Bright Beginnings to support early childhood development for children ages 0-5.

Carpenter's Shelter to help families who enter shelter to gain stability and transition to permanent housing and sustain independent living.

CASA for Children of DC to provide advocacy support for reunification, adoption, or guardianship for foster youth and workforce development activities for older foster youth.

Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) to provide trainings and support for pre-adoption and post-adoption guardians.

Central American Resource Center to provide financial training and planning to support stable housing for Latino immigrants.

Children's Law Center to provide legal representation for child welfare cases to ensure children are growing up in permanent, stable families.

Community Crisis Services, Inc. to assist households experiencing homelessness and/or domestic violence to access safe, permanent housing.

Community Family Life Services to provide intensive financial coaching, financial case management, and wrap around supports for women seeking housing stability.

Cornerstones, Inc. to provide rental assistance services for at-risk tenants.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/ Prince George's County, Inc. Support the Job Readiness and Transitioning Youth program, which ensures that at youth participants who emancipate will do so with stable housing

Voices for Children Montgomery to provide placement in safe homes for clients at case closure.

DC SAFE to help clients move to safe transitional or permanent housing after their stay in SAFE Space.

DC Volunteer Lawyers Project to offer advocacy and referrals, including enforcing victim rights in housing, employment, and public benefits, as well as provide legal assistance and advocacy with victim legal rights.

DC127 to help teen parents who are aging out of foster care be prepared for a life of independence with stable housing, jobs, and increased access to supportive services.

District Alliance for Safe Housing to help families transition from emergency shelter to more permanent housing with increased economic and housing stability.

District Of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment to help secure long-term housing for residents displaced and impacted by public housing redevelopment.

Doorways for Women and Families to provide re-housing supportive services to help participants achieve stability and transition to permanent housing.

The Dwelling Place, Inc. to help program residents remain stably housed and maintain compliance with program requirements through case management, increasing financial stability, and home visits.

Family & Youth Initiative to assist participant teens in foster care with finding an adoptive family and provide continuing support to participant youth who age out of foster care.

Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso to provide afterschool and summer programs for children in the child welfare system to allow them to develop positive relationships with adults and peers.

Crittenton Services of Greater Washington to increase school attendance, academic engagement, and grade point average for Goal Setting Girls participants.

Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center (FAPAC) to provide training, peer support, financial stability, and individual advocacy to foster families in DC.

Homeless Children's Playtime Project to provide ongoing play programs and supportive services for homeless children in DC.

Hope And A Home, Inc. to help resident families increase financial stability and make progress towards transitioning into and/or maintain permanent, stable housing.

Horizons Greater Washington to provide literacy and math academic enrichment support for students.

Housing Up to provide employment support, rental assistance, and financial support services for affordable rental housing buildings.

Interfaith Works Inc. to help families experiencing homelessness achieve stability and transition to permanent housing with the assistance of case management and supportive services.

Martha’s Table to support academic enrichment for the six developmental domains — early literacy, early math, language, cognition, physical development, and socioemotional development.

Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. to support the Home Visiting Program, which encourages early childhood development through reading, storytelling, and singing with young children daily.

Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless, Inc. to help residents maintain on time rent payments and permanent, stable housing.

My Sister's Place to help residents increase income, provide case management, and transition to transitional or permanent housing.

National Housing Trust Enterprise to help NHT households participate in financial programs and maintain stable housing.

Neighborhood Legal Services Program to host “Know Your Rights” presentations and represent clients in cases involving housing discrimination, illegal eviction, rent increases, housing conditions, voucher termination, and loss of subsidies.

Neighbors Consejo to assist low-income families in transitioning from shelter to rental housing, while helping them improve their personal and financial stability.

Northern Virginia Family Service to provide foster care pre-service training and Resource Parent certification.

One Common Unity to improve course grades, increase class attendance, and reduce punitive disciplinary actions for students in the Fly by Light program.

One World Education to increase research and writing skills as well as social and emotional learning for students.

The Platform of Hope to provide housing, education, employment, family stability, finances, and health support services for low-income families at risk for homelessness.

Prince George's Child Resource Center, Inc. to improve language and cognitive abilities through participation in child development and parent/child learning activities.

Reading Partners to help students meet or exceed their primary, individualized end-of-year literacy growth goal.

Right Beginnings Inc. to provide career development, mentoring, and career counseling to homeless women seeking to increase financial stability to find housing.

Rising for Justice to provide tenant rights educational trainings and legal services for tenants in need of improved housing conditions or facing eviction.

Sasha Bruce Youthwork to help at-risk youth achieve safe and stable living environments.

Stepping Stones Shelter to help resident families increase their income during stay and move on to stable housing utilizing a subsidy program.

Meet our 2021 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year, Kevin Beverly

Kevin Beverly grew up in a segregated community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Finding inspiration in his mother’s support and older brother’s example, and he left to pursue his higher education goals at the University of Maryland where he met his wife, Diane. After graduation, they moved to Bethesda, Maryland where they raised their two boys. Kevin’s career took him to the World Health Organization, National Library of Medicine, PSI International, Computer Sciences Corporation, BAE Systems, and Abt Associates. He ultimately then came to Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. where he served as Vice President and Executive Vice President from 2003 to 2014 and President & CEO from 2014 to 2020.

Kevin’s thoughtful approach to philanthropy is grounded in a practice of listening and learning from the community. As a corporate leader, Kevin empowered the Social & Scientific Systems employees to shape the company’s giving priorities. Leading by example, he encouraged them to develop relationships with high-impact nonprofits addressing the most pressing needs throughout the community where they lived and worked. From literacy to hunger and much more, Kevin rolled up his sleeves alongside his employees, demonstrating the profound satisfaction and deep impact one can make from investing time, talent, and treasure.

Knowing education was key to his success, Kevin has devoted much of his personal time and resources to advance organizations helping children and youth achieve their full potential. He has chaired the boards of CollegeTracks and Bethesda-Chevy Chase YMCA and the steering committee for the Children’s Opportunity Fund at The Community Foundation. He also served on many other key youth-focused boards: Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County, Montgomery Moving Forward, Passion for Learning, and Universities at Shady Grove.  He also chairs the Mission and Oversight Committee on the Board of CareFirst of Maryland.

The Community Foundation also had the great fortune of having Kevin serve two terms and chair our Montgomery County Advisory Board plus serve on our regional Board of Trustees. His leadership has been pivotal in helping more people and businesses learn about the needs in our community and how to make a powerful impact by teaming up with others who care.

We have seen firsthand how his knowledge, keen insights, and strategic thinking enable organizations to tackle problems, reimagine what’s possible, and pursue bold goals for our community. We are especially grateful for how Kevin’s passionate leadership inspires others to join in supporting worthy causes throughout our community.

On behalf of the thousands of lives touched by his leadership and generosity, we congratulate Kevin on being named the 2021 Montgomery County Philanthropist of the Year. We know his story will continue to inspire many more by showing the powerful difference we all can make when we give where we live.

Emerging Leaders Impact Fund Awards Inaugural Grants to Combat Chronic Absenteeism

The Emerging Leaders Impact Fund (ELIF), a new giving circle for young philanthropists in Prince George’s County, recently completed its inaugural cohort and culminating grant round. ELIF members – 40 young professionals from area colleges, businesses, and civic organizations – selected 5 Prince George’s County nonprofits to receive $11,500 in micro-grants to provide a broad range of services that are designed to address chronic absenteeism and high truancy rates in Prince George’s County schools.

School absenteeism, a problem that leads to learning loss and other negative outcomes, has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis and the need for a transition to remote learning. Children who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to be proficient readers by third grade. By sixth grade, those who miss more than 10 percent of school are more likely to drop out altogether. Frequent school absenteeism has long-term negative effects on academic performance, income, and health. The ELIF has partnered with five nonprofit organizations to address this pressing issue:

• Jacob’s Ladder to support the Academic Enrichment Program that provides tutoring, basic literacy skills, one on one instructions, small group sessions, confidence building and mentoring to students that have low grades, high rates of truancy, absenteeism, suspensions, and behavioral issues.

• L.E.E.P. to College Foundation to support pilot learning pods to enrich student learning, increase student engagement, and provide mentoring and emotional well-being support.

• Mentoring Through Athletics to support tutoring services in mathematics, reading comprehension, and writing as well mentoring and physical activities.

• S.E.A.C., Inc. (Seaton Empowering Action in the Community) to support the Math Achievers Program that provides individualized and/or small group instruction, consistent relationships between instructors and students, parental involvement, and reinforcing that learning math can be fun. 

• Sisters4Sisters, Inc. to support the Daughters of Destiny mentoring program for girls which provides workshops focusing on leadership skills, career mentoring, developing self-esteem and avoiding peer pressure.

Jacob’s Ladder Founder and Executive Director Jarriel Jordan, Sr. talks about the organization’s mission and its Academic Enrichment Program.

L.E.E.P to College Foundation Founder and Executive Director Lisa Rowe talks about how ELIF funding will help create an academic enrichment program.

Mentoring Through Athletics supports kids and families on and off the field with mentoring, tutoring, food support, and athletic programming.

“School absenteeism and truancy threatens to undermine our children’s success. We’re pleased to be partnering with so many great organizations to address the issue. These grants will help ensure that every Prince Georgian has the opportunities necessary to reach their full potential,” said Davion Percy, Co-Chair, ELIF.

The strength of ELIF lies not just in how many grants it awards, but more importantly in its ability to bring a diverse group of people together to learn about issues affecting Prince George’s County residents and make investments in programs that can help transform our communities.

The ELIF enrollment period is now open to all emerging leaders (45 years of age and under) and others that support the County’s future leaders. If you’re interested in joining a diverse group of passionate people who use the power of philanthropy to make a positive difference in Prince George’s County, click here to learn more about ELIF and become a member today!

Senior Nonprofit Leader Joins Our Prince George's County Team

We are thrilled to welcome Darcelle Wilson as our new Senior Director for Prince George’s County.

Darcelle brings deep expertise in fundraising and community engagement. Darcelle has worked with some of the leading nonprofit organizations in our region including Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and University of Maryland. She’s helped raise millions of dollars to address community needs, and we couldn’t be more excited that she has joined our team.

As the new Senior Director in Prince George’s County, Darcelle will work with donors to explore opportunities for achieving their philanthropic goals and facilitating their commitment on critical community issues affecting county residents. She will also prioritize developing and deepening relationships with community leaders and organizations throughout the county.

This leadership change in Prince George’s County is occurring because our beloved colleague Amina Anderson is leaving The Community Foundation after 14 years to spend more time with family and friends and work on special projects.

Our President and CEO Tonia Wellons shared, “Amina’s contributions to the Greater Washington Community Foundation have been numerous. She started as a program lead in Prince George’s County, then shifted to working with and understanding the priorities of our DC-based fundholders, before returning to Prince George’s County two years ago and elevating our presence there. Amina moves seamlessly with a keen thoughtfulness and quiet power that is incredibly valued and will be sorely missed.”

Please join us in welcoming Darcelle Wilson and wishing Amina Anderson all the best on her new adventures!

AN ENDURING LEGACY: THE TRANSFORMATIONAL GENEROSITY of JANE BAINUM AND THE BAINUM FAMILY

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of Jane Bainum, a beloved wife, mother, and philanthropist.

Jane and her husband, Stewart Bainum, were deeply passionate about supporting the well-being of children and families.  In 1968, they established a charitable foundation which is known today as the Bainum Family Foundation. Guided by their values and vision, the Bainum Family Foundation strategically works to build an equitable society that supports all children and families, particularly those who have been systematically excluded from power, resources and opportunity because of poverty and racism.

“We are grateful to Jane and the entire Bainum family for working toward our shared vision of communities where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Her extraordinary commitment and generosity deeply impacted the lives of children across our region,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, Greater Washington Community Foundation.  

We send our heartfelt condolences to the Bainum family and all those touched by Jane’s extraordinary life.  She will be sorely missed, but her enduring legacy will continue to inspire all of us. 

---

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer that memorial donations may be made to the Jane Bainum Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation, which supports a range of nonprofits serving children and families as well as faith-based organizations. Gifts can be made online at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/donate (specify the "Jane Bainum Fund") or by check to Greater Washington Community Foundation, PO Box 49010, Baltimore, MD 21297-4910. For online condolences, please click here.