To Serve and Protect

We've all seen them - the bumper stickers, yellow ribbon magnets, t-shirts and caps, license plates and flags urging us to "Support Our Troops." The sentiment may be genuine, but what does "support" actually mean -- especially in a time of multiple conflicts and repeat deployments, exacerbated by, among other things, an uncertain economy here at home?

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are presenting our country – and the Washington, DC region in particular– with a wide range of challenges, some of them unlike any other that we've faced in the past. In 2008, The Community Foundation commissioned a study examining the needs of service members, including National Guard and Reservists, and their families in the National Capital area. Many of the results are startling:

• In Montgomery County, MD, alone, there are an estimated 50,000 veterans, some 4,000 of whom serve or have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Of these more than 50% have been drawn from the National Guard and Reserves.
  
• Some 700 wounded soldiers and 1,000 family members reside in the Washington, DC area at any one time to receive specialized care. The average length of stay at Walter Reed Army Medical Center was more than one year - to be exact, 380 days.
  
• Unlike in other conflicts, 90% of troops now survive their wounds, but must live out their lives with amputations, traumatic brain injuries, severe hearing loss and other difficult complications.
  
• Among both deployed and returning troops the psychological toll is profound, with increasing numbers of untreated patients turning to substance abuse or -- at a rate higher than ever before - suicide.
  
• For military families, hardships abound: the trauma of deployment and re-deployment, financial strain, childcare and household pressures, in some cases resulting in increased rates of domestic violence, divorce, and child neglect and abuse.

Home to a number of military medical facilities including the National Naval Medical Center and, until very recently, Washington's Walter Reed Army Medical Center, our region is struggling firsthand with -- and working to find solutions for -- the challenges that service members and their families face. In this issue of Making Connections, we'll meet some of the Community Foundation donors and nonprofit grantees who are working to support returning troops and their families in a variety of thoughtful ways.  Their stories bring new energy – and hope -- to the phrase, "Support Our Troops."



Just Announced:  Serving Together:  Troops, Veterans and Family Care Project

Mental Health Association of Montgomery County has just announced its new community-wide initiative, Serving Together: Troops, Veterans and Family Care Project (see article below). This innovative model of care will coordinate and strengthen community-based resources for troops, veterans and their families and improve access to a range of health, mental health and other support services in Montgomery County, MD. 

The initiative is supported by a major four-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and matching dollars from local funders.  The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is the local funding sponsor, with additional support from Montgomery County; The HSC Foundation; The Clark Charitable Foundation, Inc.; Consumer Health Foundation; Health care Initiative Foundation; Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation; the Mead Family; and The Community Foundation for Montgomery County.  

The Project's primary goal is to transform the current fragmented system from one that primarily reacts to solider and family inquiries to one that rallies the entire community—government agencies, military institutions and nonprofit organizations—to proactively provide military families with coordinated services.  Serving Together focuses on active-duty soldiers and their families as well as soldiers transitioning out of the military and reintegrating back into civilian life and veterans already separated from the military.  Many of these men and women face significant and complex challenges relating to reintegration into the community, such as the need for housing, health care, counseling and employment services.

Read more about this new initiative -- and how you can get involved -- in this issue's profile of Mental Health Association of Montgomery County.  Download the Serving Together brochure HERE.

CharityWorks:  High-Impact Funding That's Making a Difference

 "Few foundations that I know can raise and deploy the kind of money that CharityWorks can."   -- CharityWorks board member Jack Davies

In 2007, when Washingtonian announced its annual honorees, editors wrote of one "Washingtonian of the Year": "It helps to have friends in high places. Luckily for disadvantaged children around Washington, Leah Gansler does."

Gansler launched CharityWorks in 1999 with a group of 105 women who wanted to make a difference in the lives of children, families and, more recently, wounded warriors. CharityWorks is a fund of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region.

The volunteer-led organization is committed to "impacting organizations creating positive change in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area by uniting corporate leaders, donors and volunteers to enable nonprofits to transform themselves and the people they touch."

Each year, CharityWorks selects an organization to benefit from its fundraising efforts which include two signature events: the spring Vintage Wine Dinner and fall Dream Ball. "Our goal is to raise significant sums of money that can be a game-changer for the organization by building awareness and introducing them to new corporate, foundation and individual donors," said volunteer and donor Deanna Belli. Since its founding, CharityWorks has distributed more than $12 million in high-impact funding to its annual partners:  among them, Everybody Wins!, The Fishing School, Habitat for Humanity, Higher Achievement Program, Live it Learn It, and See Forever Foundation. The group has built homes and schools, sent foster youth to college, funded early childhood education and after-school programs and boosted literacy.

In addition to mobilizing volunteers to work on its annual events, CharityWorks brings opportunities for  investing to the attention of donors, undertakes due diligence to ensure contributions are a sound investment, confirms that funds contributed are used effectively; provides management and fundraising expertise to partner organizations; and helps recruit members to join the boards of partner organizations.

"As a board member of See Forever, I became involved with CharityWorks when we were selected eight years ago," said Jack Davies, who now serves on the board of CharityWorks. "I was so impressed with the transformative work done by CharityWorks that I have been a board member ever since. Few foundations that I know can raise and deploy the kind of money that CharityWorks can."

In 2008, with dual conflicts taking place in Iraq and Afghanistan, CharityWorks' leadership decided to support a second group each year, one whose focus was on serving troops and their families. That first year, the organization raised a record-setting $2 million for the new Fisher House being built on the grounds of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, DC. "Fisher House was one of our strongest partnerships," said Belli.  (For more on Fisher House, see the GIVE section of this newsletter.) 

"Fisher House and their support of seriously injured service members and their families touched the hearts of our CharityWorks donor base," said Davies. "Their successful model truly delivers on their motto that 'A family's love is good medicine.'"

Last year, CharityWorks worked with the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, which provides immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the US Armed Forces and their families. In 2011, the group's fundraising efforts will support Live It Learn It, which ignites a love of learning by teaching core content and skills to 1,400 of DC's hardest-to-reach students, and ThanksUSA, a Northern Virginia-based organization founded by eight- and ten-year-old sisters to mobilize Americans of all ages to thank the men and women of the US forces by providing need-based college, technical and vocational school scholarships for their children and spouses. (Note:  tickets to the October 15 CharityWorks Dream Ball are still available.  Learn more HERE.)

While the deadline for 2012 applicants has passed, local nonprofits that help families and children in need in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, or military charities that support service members and their families, are encouraged to visit www.charityworksdc.org to learn more about the application process and future opportunities.

Betsy Mead and Jeff Greenhut:  Supporting Troops and Their Families "From the Head and From the Heart"

Many have lost limbs, lost their jobs and are separated from their families. It’s easy to feel isolated. Given that many of the troops and their families end up settling in this area, we must provide them with long-term support.--Community Foundation donor Betsy Mead

Making a personal donation to the new Serving Together: Troops, Veterans and Family Care Project (see above) came naturally to Betsy Mead and Jeff Greenhut. “My interest in the military is cerebral,” says Greenhut, a professional military historian and a retired Lt. Colonel who spent some 30 years in and out of uniform in the Army and Army Reserve beginning with Vietnam. Mead, on the other hand, is trained as a nurse. At one time she worked at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

I’m the head and she’s the heart, explains Greenhut. In other words, my concerns are with the military. Betsy’s are with the wounded warriors and their families.

Married for a decade, the couple is deeply committed to this community. Raised in Montgomery County, Mead grew up in a family known for its philanthropy. Today, she is President of the Mead Family Foundation -- one of the Washington, DC region’s foremost philanthropic foundations -- leading the next generation in making its philanthropic mark in this changing region.

Earlier this year, Mead and Greenhut visited the rehabilitation wing at Walter Reed where he was struck by the classic upbeat attitude of the soldiers. “This is an attitude we should support in every way we can.”

“As a nurse, I am mindful of the challenges faced by troops who come to Montgomery County for care,” adds Mead. “Many have lost limbs, lost their jobs and are separated from their families. It’s easy to feel isolated. Given that many of the troops and their families end up settling in this area, we must provide them with long-term support,” she adds. “Serving Together is an effective and coordinated way to do that.”

Greenhut adds that a new, coordinated system will help troops and veterans take full advantage of resources by leading them through what would otherwise appear to them to be a “labyrinth of organizations.”

Mead hopes to get the Mead Family Foundation involved in supporting Serving Together as well. The foundation’s central focus is on empowering youth to have crisis-free lives, strong families and excellent education. “Serving Together is a natural fit,” Mead says. She is delighted to be partnering with The Community Foundation and points out that her family’s funding interests frequently overlap with those of The Community Foundation and its affiliate, The Community Foundation for Montgomery County. In recent years the Mead Family Foundation has provided support for a number of Community Foundation for Montgomery County initiatives including the Neighbors in Need Montgomery Fund, Nonprofit Advancement Fund for Montgomery County, Excel Beyond the Bell Innovations Fund, and the Community Foundation Operating Fund.

In addition to Serving Together, Mead and Greenhut also personally support Team River Runner, which creates an environment of healthy adventure for healing active-duty and veteran service members through paddle sports, and the Aleethia Foundation, which supports newly injured service members with short-term therapeutic recreation, small financial grants, family emergency aid, home improvements to assist with an injured service member's mobility and other unmet needs.

Referring to the men and women who have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, Greenhut says, “these kids have a big hill to climb.” With support from generous donors such as Mead, Greenhut and many others, they will reach the top.

Mental Health Association of Montgomery County

 I can't think of a better organization to lead this effort than the Mental Health Association, with its long history and track record in the community and its current focus on the needs of military families in Montgomery County."   — Community Foundation President Terri Lee Freeman

Serving Together: Troops, Veterans and Family Care Project represents the latest example in Mental Health Association (MHA) of Montgomery County’s five decades-long history of identifying the county’s most pressing challenges and bringing the community together to create solutions. Serving Together will improve the health and well-being of US troops, veterans and their families by promoting interagency collaboration between military, veteran and community-based programs.

“I can’t think of a better organization to lead this effort than Mental Health Association, with its long history and track record in the community and its current focus on the needs of military families in Montgomery County,” said Community Foundation President Terri Lee Freeman.

“By optimizing the use of resources, streamlining the way we deliver services and ultimately improving health outcomes for troops, veterans and their family members, Montgomery County will serve as a model for this region and communities across the country,” said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, who is a Vietnam War veteran.

For 54 years, MHA has promoted mental wellness and supported people with mental illness through advocacy, education and direct services. Over the years, MHA has tackled a wide range of community issues: for instance, its Red Flags Program grew out of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and growing concerns about teen depression and suicide in Montgomery County schools. Red Flags raises awareness among middle and high school students, administrators and teachers about “red flags,” or warning signs, of adolescent depression and suicide. “Today, the Red Flags Program is promoted in every middle and high school in the county, thanks to a partnership with the Montgomery County Public Schools,” said MHA Executive Director Sharon Friedman.

In 2005, the organization launched N*COMMON (New Capacity and Outreach for Multicultural Mental Health Opportunities Now), in response to changing demographics in the county. Montgomery County’s population has grown more diverse over the last decade, becoming a majority-minority county for the first time, according to the 2010 US Census. MHA provides clinical services, including individual, group and family therapy, to diverse clients who are unable to afford treatment. Prevention and intervention services are offered in Spanish and French.

Most recently, with funding from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, MHA established an information and resource helpline (301-738-7176) and published a pamphlet to connect military families with existing resources. These resources will prove valuable as the county-wide network of services is improved through Serving Together.

“Mental Health Association really models working beyond its own walls in order to do what is best for the larger community," said Hope Gleicher, Director of Nonprofit Montgomery. “We are so fortunate MHA is bringing this approach and commitment as well as their leadership to Serving Together. Nonprofit Montgomery is eager to support MHA in bringing all of the necessary players and resources to bear on behalf of military families.”

To support MHA, visit their website at www.mhamc.org. Learn about other effective nonprofit organizations serving troops and military families by contacting Kensei Phillips, The Community Foundation’s Director of Philanthropic Services, at (202) 263-4769 or kphillips@cfncr.org.

At Fisher House, Love Heals Loss

 We believe a family's love is good medicine.   --David Coker, President, Fisher House

Matthew Zajac lost both legs while serving in the Iraq war. Back in the US, he faced numerous surgeries and months of physical therapy. Many of us can only imagine the loneliness and isolation of going through those experiences on our own; but, fortunately, Matthew didn't have to. His father Michael was by his side every step of the way thanks to the Fisher House Foundation, a nonprofit organization that builds "comfort homes" on the grounds of major military and Veterans Administration medical centers, enabling family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful of times—during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease or injury. Fisher House is supported by a number of Community Foundation donors, including CharityWorks, also profiled in this issue.

"Having my father nearby was critical to my emotional recovery," says Matthew, 24, who is now studying mechanical engineering at New Mexico State University. Remarkably, in their free time, father and son enjoy the same athletic hobbies as they shared before the injuries: sky diving, rock climbing and scuba diving.

Twenty years ago, the doors of the first two Fisher Houses, named for founders Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, opened to the families of patients receiving treatment at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda and Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC. Those first houses were models for the network of more than 50 Fisher Houses currently in operation across the United States and overseas. Originally built during peacetime to serve the loved ones of service members and veterans facing medical crises, these sanctuaries now provide a safe haven for families of men and women wounded or injured while serving in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The average stay is 14-15 days, although some, such as Matthew Zajac's father, stay as long as one year.

"The Washington, DC area is one of our strongest donation bases," says Fisher House President David Coker, "allowing us to meet the growing needs of this region." There are currently 10 Fisher Houses in the Greater Washington area, including one opening this summer at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in the District of Columbia. In addition, there are plans to break ground on another house at Fort Belvoir Army Base in Virginia in fall 2011. "This region has the best return on investment of any area in the country," Coker adds.

At Fisher House facilities, families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, dining room and living room with a library, and toys for children. The home creates a domestic community for its residents united by their common mission of supporting a sick or injured loved one, and also provides each individual with a secure and private refuge after a long day at the hospital to rest and recharge.

There is no cost to stay at a Fisher House; the Fisher House Foundation pays all fees charged by the military. Since its inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $150 million in out-of-pocket costs for lodging and transportation, and it's estimated that each 20-suite home added to the Fisher House network provides the capacity to serve another 600 families per year.

"The houses are a tangible symbol of the community's support for those who have offered up their service for our country," Coker says. "At the same time, they are a way to address a need that would otherwise go unmet.  We believe a family's love is good medicine." 

To support Fisher House, visit their website at www.fisherhouse.org. Learn about other effective nonprofit organizations serving troops and military families by contacting Kensei Phillips, The Community Foundation's Director of Philanthropic Services, at (202) 263-4769 or kphillips@cfncr.org.

Want to learn more about the challenges that today's military families face, particularly in this time of deployment?

From local and national nonprofit organizations to even film, there's much to choose from.

Resources Especially for Donors

Report: "Supporting Our Troops, Veterans and Their Families:  Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities for Philanthropy"

 

This report, published by the California Community Foundation, chronicles the impact of its Iraq Afghanistan Deployment Impact Fund.  Download the publication at https://www.calfund.org/document.doc?id=347.

Report:  "Troops and Family Care Fund Feasibility Study"

Spearheaded by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, this eye-opening report sheds light on the needs -- met and unmet -- of troops and their families in the Washington, DC region, and ways in which philanthropy can respond.  Read the report HERE.

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia

The foundation maintains a Military Personnel and Their Families Fund. http://www.novacf.org

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Washington, DC-Area Resources

American Red Cross of the National Capital Regio

American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces is available to all members of the armed services and to their families. Both active duty and community-based military can look to the Red Cross to provide emergency communications, access to emergency financial assistance, information and referral, veterans assistance and aid in the field where Red Cross workers are deployed to serve with America's military. The organization serves the communities of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County in Virginia; Montgomery County and Prince George's Counties in Maryland; and Washington, D.C, and may be contacted seven days a week, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-877-272-7337. www.redcrossnca.org

Armed Services YMCA of the USA

Based in Alexandria, VA, the organization provides activities for children and families affected by deployment, re-deployment, and relocation due to military service demands.  www.asymca.org.

Military to Medicine

Originally created as a recruiting initiative of the Inova Health Care System, Military to Medicine offers state-of-the-art career preparation and assessment for military spouses, veterans, wounded warriors and others connected to the military seeking careers in the healthcare industry. www.militarytomedicine.org

Yellow Ribbon Fund

Founded in 2005 to assist injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center, the Bethesda, MD-based organization provides for injured service members and their families free rental cars, taxi rides and hotel stays; temporary apartments; free tickets to sporting games, concerts and plays; and outdoor activities. www.yellowribbonfund.org

National Resources

American Widow Project

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to serving those who have lost spouses in conflict, with an emphasis on healing through sharing stories, experiences, feelings and emotions. The organization's website offers numerous resources including blogs, publications, peer-to-peer tips, instructional/supportive DVDs, and more. www.americanwidowproject.org

 

Military One Source

A program of the US Department of Defense that connects active and reserve component service members and their families to free official services.  www.militaryonesource.com

National Coalition for Homeless Veterans

Offers extensive educational resources on the difficult issue of homeless veterans and how organizations and communities can respond.
www.nchv.org

National Military Family Association

Created by and for military families, the organization advocates on behalf of military families and empowers husbands, wives, and children to understand and access their benefits. In addition, it also provides extensive programs and publications on the full range of issues facing military families, including deployment and homecoming, mental health, workplace re-entry, and support for children, teens and seniors. www.militaryfamily.org

National Resource Directory

Provides access to the full range of medical and nonmedical services and resources specifically for wounded, ill and injured service members and their families.  www.nationalresourcedirectory.org

National Veterans Foundation

Operates a veterans' hotline staffed by counselors at 1-800-777-4443. 

Operation One Family

A project of the organization Soldiers' Angels, Operation One Family helps families of the fallen cope with their loss, stabilize their present situation and secure their future by providing life skills, education and continuing support. www.soldiersangels.org

Sesame Workshop

PBS's "Sesame Street" offers special support for children of military families, covering topics such as deployment, homecoming, change and grief. www.sesameworkshop.org

 

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

Provides emotional support and therapeutic activities for troops, family members and friends of soldiers who have died in combat, committed suicide or otherwise suffered death due to combat. www.taps.org

USO

Provides troops and their families with free phone cards, care packages and entertainment. www.uso.org

U.S. VETS
Provides comprehensive services to returning veterans and their families, including case management, employment assistance, job placement, and counseling as well as drug- and alcohol-free housing. The organization's website lists numerous resources for returning veterans, their families, and those interested in learning more about re-entry issues. www.usvetsinc.org

Veterans of Foreign Wars
Offers an extensive range of veteran services and advocacy programs. www.vfw.org

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Publication

"Children of Citizen Soldiers"
This new survey, compiled and published by the nonprofit organization Our Military Kids, provides revealing data on the negative psychological symptoms stemming from deployment -- such as emotional reactivity, stress, anxiety, and clinginess - as well as the many psychological benefits of activities for children of active-duty military families. Read the report at www.ourmilitarykids.org

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Film

"

In Their Boots"
This documentary film series examines the impact that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are having on people here at home, and how America's servicemen and women, their families, and our communities have been profoundly changed by these conflicts. Episodes of particular relevance to military families include "Departure," "Homecoming," and "We Regret to Inform You." These and others can be viewed at www.intheirboots.com

 

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Want to find a way to get involved apart from making a financial gift?

Try these suggestions.

Helpful Publication
Veterans of Foreign Wars has published the booklet 100 Great Ideas! for anyone interested in assisting troops and their families. There are tips on establishing relationships with – and even "adopting" – troops and their families, providing meeting space in your home or office, and organizing fundraising events that draw on a wide variety of skills, abilities, and interests, from organized marathons to crafting bees to carnivals and more.

Volunteer Opportunities
Scores of nonprofit organizations serving troops and their families rely on volunteers to carry out their services. In fact, many of the organizations listed in the LEARN section of this issue of Making Connections also run volunteer programs. In addition to those, you might consider the following:

Give an Hour

Recruits mental health professionals nationwide to donate one hour of their time each week to provide free mental health services to military personnel and their families. http://www.giveanhour.org/skins/gah/home.aspx

Healingworks

Provides integrative medical care to military families touched by the trauma of war. While volunteers are needed for traditional work such as fundraising and administration, the organization offers special volunteer opportunities for licensed acupuncturists, bodyworkers, and psychotherapists interested in providing clinical services. Healingworkswell.org 



Operation Homefront/DC Metro Chapter
Provides emergency financial and other assistance to families of service members and wounded warriors. Contact the local Washington, DC-area chapter by calling (703) 421-9033 or by email at dc@operationhomefront.net.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs: VA Voluntary Service
VA Voluntary Service is part of President Obama's "United We Serve" initiative, and is committed to engaging American citizens in service (especially during the summer months) and providing lasting benefits to the veterans and communities in which they live. www.volunteer.va.gov


Other Ways to Get Involved

Cell Phones for Soldiers
Using a network of some 3,000 collection sites across the United States, Cell Phones for Soldiers turns old cell phones into minutes of pre-paid calling cards for US troops stationed overseas. The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide one hour of talk time to soldiers abroad. Learn how to donate your cell phone at   www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com 


Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
For those interested in advocacy, IAVA addresses critical issues facing new veterans and their families, including mental health injuries, a stretched VA system, inadequate health care for female veterans, and GI Bill educational benefits. IAVA also provides valuable resources and empowers veterans to connect with one another, with the goal of fostering a strong and lasting community. http://iava.org/

Military Pets Foster Project
For animal lovers….recognized by the US Department of Defense as its official pet assistance provider, the Military Pets Foster Project is a global network of individual foster homes that house, nurture and care for the dogs, cats, birds, horses and all other pets for all military personnel.   www.netpets.org



Purple Heart
Don't know what to do with that old car sitting in the garage? Purple Heart's popular car donation program - which accepts not just automobiles, but also trucks, RV's and boats - supports the organization's programs benefiting wounded and disabled veterans.  www.purpleheartcars.org

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	2011/2012 Putting Race on the Table Community Tours Join us in 2011/12 for our Putting Race on the Table Community Tours to see firsthand the race-influenced inequities in our region that profoundly affect important issues such as health, education, housing, employment and more. Meet community leaders and hear their stories as we visit schools, neighborhoods and nonprofit organizations, all working together to bring about greater racial equity through positive change.
	Download our Community Tours brochure and map HERE. REGISTER TODAY by contacting rsvp@cfncr.org - all tours are free and open to the public. Please indicate which tour(s) you would like to attend. You will receive a confirmation and a reminder prior to the tour.
	Wednesday, September 14, 2011, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Race and Neighborhood Revitalization H Street Corridor, NE Washington, DC In its heyday, the H Street NE corridor in the District of Columbia was a bustling neighborhood as well as a destination for food, entertainment, shopping and other services for African Americans. But in recent years, the demographics of the neighborhood have changed, as new businesses and new residents are taking advantage of the area's revitalization. Join us on our exploration of H Street and speak with residents and business owners, old and new, to learn whether the revitalization of H Street is creating equitable opportunities for all residents. Planning Committee members include: Atlas Performing Arts Center Cultural Tourism DC  DC Office on Human Rights  H Street Main Street
	Wednesday, October 12, 2011, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Race and Community Wellness Port Towns Communities:  Edmonston, Bladensburg, Colmar Manor and Cottage City Prince George's County, MD A community's wellness goes beyond physical health to include factors such as social, emotional, and financial well-being. But when communities have limited access to healthy food, good-paying jobs and educational opportunities, more often than not the result is an "unhealthy" community in all aspects of the word. The Port Towns Communities (which include Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City and Edmonston) of Prince George's County, MD, have recognized that transforming the overall environment is key to improving the health of its predominately working class communities. Join us on our exploration of the Port Towns Communities to learn how partnerships between philanthropy, local nonprofits and government institutions are creating equal access to health services, supports and amenities. Planning Committee members include:  ECO City Farms   End Time Harvest Ministries   Kaiser Permanente   Port Towns Community Development Corporation
	Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Race and Community Wellness Mount Vernon District of Fairfax County Alexandria, VA In 1954, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision that sought to ensure access to equal educational opportunity for all public school children. Yet, over 50 years after the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling, inequities in public education still exist. The gap in achievement among public school students based on race, ethnicity and family income continues to rise throughout many areas of the metropolitan Washington region. Join us on our exploration of the Mount Vernon District community in Fairfax County, VA to look through the lens of education and learn more about the efforts of Fairfax County Public Schools to address the achievement gap and improve educational outcomes for K-12 students. Planning Committee members include: Fairfax County Public Schools Fairfax County Department of Community and Recreation Services
	February/March, 2012 (Details to be announced) Montgomery Moving Forward Montgomery County, MD Two decades ago, Montgomery County, MD was a predominantly white, affluent, well-educated suburb of Washington, DC. But new data from the 2010 Census tells a dramatically different story: it reveals that this county of one million people now has a "majority minority" population with an astounding diversity of race, ethnicity and income. Unfortunately, many of the community's institutions, systems and networks do not yet reflect this shift. Join us as we explore how we--as philanthropic, government, nonprofit, business, and community leaders--can build an ever-better county that values its racial, ethnic and income diversity both as an asset and as a competitive strength.

 

Philanthropist-to-Philanthropist Luncheon with Vicki Sant of The Summit Fund of Washington September 14, 2011 Event is by invitation only.  Hosted by the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers. Sponsored by The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. "PUTTING RACE ON THE TABLE" COMMUNITY TOUR: Race and Revitalization on H Street NE September 14, 2011 8:30 am - 1:00 pm Washington, DC In its heyday, the H Street NE corridor in the District of Columbia was a bustling neighborhood as well as a destination for food, entertainment, shopping and other services for African Americans. But in recent years, the demographics of the neighborhood have changed, as new businesses and new residents are taking advantage of the area's revitalization. Join us on our exploration of H Street and speak with residents and business owners, old and new, to learn whether the revitalization of H Street is creating equitable opportunities for all residents. Free and open to the public. Register at rsvp@cfncr.org. You will receive a confirmation and a reminder prior to the tour. Learn about our other upcoming Community Tours at  www.thecommunityfoundation.org or see the "Join" section, above. FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORS:  A CONVERSATION WITH MARIO MORINO September 14, 2011 A unique opportunity for wealth advisors to learn more about high-impact philanthropy from one of the sector's leading figures. Event is by invitation only.     HERE AND NOW: THE POWER TO SERVE AND ACT The Community Foundation for Prince George's County's 2011 Civic Leadership Awards September 15, 2011 5:30pm - 8:30pm The Sunset Room at National Harbor National Harbor, MD Join us for this spirited and inspirational evening as we salute the leaders from the business, public, and nonprofit sectors who are making Prince George's County such a vibrant place to live, work, learn and play! Event proceeds benefit The Community Foundation for Prince George's County, an affiliate of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. 2011 Civic Leadership Awards Recipients Lewis A Robinson, Executive Director, Prince George's County Education Association Michele Singletary, Columnist, The Washington Post NAI Michael Companies 2011 Bridge Builders Awardees Samuel J. Parker, Envision Prince George's E. Kim Rhim, The Training Source Marti Worshtil, The Prince George's Child Resource Center Sponsorship opportunities available! Contact Gabrielle Malman at gabrielle@gdmeventproductions.com. SAVE THE DATE: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S 15th ANNUAL "CELEBRATION OF GIVING" November 15, 2011 Round House Theatre and Chevy Chase Trust Bethesda, MD More details to come!   SAVE THE DATE: THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION'S "CELEBRATION OF CIVIC SPIRIT" December 8, 2011 More details to come!

Join Our Online Community   In our blog, "Giving It Some Thought," Community Foundation President Terri Lee Freeman and guest bloggers share their perspectives on regional issues and philanthropy. Read it and sign-up for RSS feeds HERE. Become a fan of our Facebook page and stay up-to-date on the latest Community Foundation news!  Find us HERE. Follow us @CommunityFndn and our President, Terri Lee Freeman, @TerriLeeFreeman  Community Foundation Donors:  Go Green! Sign Up for E-Statements and Donor Central If you're a Community Foundation donor, you now can receive your quarterly statements electronically.  It's the fast, easy, efficient, and earth-friendly way to keep track of your fund profile.  Registering only takes a minute. Sign up HERE. Sign up for Donor Central!  This free, secure online service lets you recommend grants and check your fund activity 24/7.  Contact Starlet Hunter, Director of Development, at (202) 263-4763 or shunter@cfncr.org.

About The Community Foundation

Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region promotes charitable giving and plays a leading role in finding innovative solutions to the Greater Washington region's most challenging problems. The Foundation is a community of givers – individuals, families and corporations have joined with the Foundation; as a result, the Foundation provides sound management of more than 800 funds and some $360 million in assets. In FY2010, The Community Foundation and its donors awarded some $50 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC region and beyond. The Foundation has two affiliates – The Community Foundation for Montgomery County and The Community Foundation for The Prince George’s County. For more information, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org.

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Regional Affiliate – The Community Foundation for Montgomery County
8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 202 | Silver Spring, MD 20910 | Phone: (301) 588-2544

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Regional Affiliate – The Community Foundation for Prince George's County
8181 Professional Place | Landover, MD 20785 | Phone: (301) 464-6706