A Day in the Community with The Walton Group of Companies

To offer donors an in-depth opportunity to learn about the local nonprofit community, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County is hosting a series of site visits where donors can take a first-hand look at the important and exciting work the sector plays in meeting needs of some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.  The series will run throughout 2017 and will include an array of organizations including those providing education, safety-net, workforce training, and environmental and housing services.

The first visit was held on April 27th and was organized in conjunction with The Walton Group of Companies, a multinational, privately-owned real estate investment and development company that transitions land into sustainable communities where people live, work, and play.  The goal was to provide an opportunity for company executives to learn firsthand about the services that nonprofits provide in Prince George’s County with an aim of observing the results of the investments made by the company through its Walton Prince George’s Community Fund, which is housed at The Community Foundation. 

The team spent the day visiting First Generation College Bound, Prince George’s County Child Resource Center, and Promise Place – Sasha Bruce Youthwork. These nonprofits are part of a larger network of The Community Foundation’s grantees that work with communities daily, addressing some of the most pressing challenges such as homelessness, education, healthcare, workforce, and family dynamics.  As grantees of The Community Foundation’s Sharing Initiative, these organizations along with many more, can address and alleviate many of the issues that are commonly associated with poverty.  The Community Foundation’s robust grant-making process helps to identify opportunities for investing in social causes and work with competent nonprofits that demonstrate the potential for delivering effective and measurable results. It was apparent during the site visits that these nonprofits were undeniably delivering on their commitments.

For over 20 years, First Generation College Bound (FGCB) has been working with high school students who would be the first in their immediate family to attend college. Working in five schools in Prince George’s County, the organization helps students seek admission to college. Additionally, FGCB works with student’s parents to ensure they are engaged in the process of preparing and transitioning high school students to college. While the staff of First Generation College Bound encounter a wide range of challenges in this effort, the results of their hard work over the years are evident in their successful alumni who graduated from college and are now serving their communities in important roles. For example, Alonzo Washington, currently a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, spoke to participants during the site visit about his personal journey through the program and the significance of First Generation College Bound in transforming his life. He invests in the program by creating scholarship and internship opportunities and mentors students currently enrolled in the program.

Another example is the compassionate services provided by Prince George’s Child Resource Center.  This organization works with vulnerable families in Prince George’s County with children under the age of 4, providing them access to family support services, literacy, career preparedness, and positive nurturing parenting techniques. With a focus on nurturing healthy growth of children and helping parents gain access to community services, this nonprofit plays an important role in family integration efforts – a forward-looking approach to developing a “healthy next generation.”  The organization is facing significant challenges in addressing the needs of recent immigrants particularly with language barriers and insufficient resources needed to ensure that their services are culturally competent.  However, the staff of continuously solicits support from other communities with common languages and donors to help cover as many vulnerable families as possible.  

Similarly, Promise Place – Sasha Bruce Youthwork provides emergency shelter to homeless, abandoned, abused, or neglected youth as well as supports their reintegration with their families after offering intensive counseling services. The staff shared numerous examples of the success of their interventions resulting in successful transitioning of youth into healthy lifestyles. Interestingly, during these processes, this nonprofit identified highly talented youths with the potential to grow significantly when guided appropriately. For instance, one participant of the program, recovering from a nervous breakdown, voluntarily designed and organized a proposal to create a garden for the Promise Place offices.  She incorporated basic statistical analysis to substantiate her proposal which resulted in a convincing piece of work that the organization considered appropriate to include in their budget.

Our partnerships with individuals and organizations like The Walton Group of Companies have proven vital. Over the years, The Community Foundation has served as a unique platform for donors to give back to their communities and achieve their philanthropic goals while also connecting nonprofits to funding opportunities necessary to carry out the much-needed services. We continue to deliver on our commitments to our partners by effectively tailoring funding opportunities to specific social needs. Our primary goal is to help our donors achieve their philanthropic goals and expand the resources to provide shelter for more families, educate more children, offer healthcare for vulnerable families, and address other emergency needs of our communities.   

We invite you to join us on the amazing journey!  For more information, please contact Mustafa Rahin, Donor Services Officer at [email protected].

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE FOURTH ROUND OF CITY FUND GRANTS

 37 Local Nonprofits Awarded $1.3 Million in Grants to Support Community-Driven Work

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce the awarding of $1.3 million in grants to 37 nonprofit organizations serving District residents on behalf of the City Fund’s Safer, Stronger DC Opportunity grant initiative.
 
“The Safer, Stronger DC Opportunity Grant is a targeted approach to assist nonprofits who are actively engaged in empowering our most vulnerable communities every day,” said Bruce McNamer, President and CEO of The Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation supports placed-based grantmaking that serves the immediate and diverse needs of our various neighborhoods and residents.  We applaud the District’s leadership in partnering with the nonprofit sector to improve quality of life outcomes for our most at-need neighbors.”
 
The awardee organizations will receive grants for up to $50,000 for project/program support in the following issue areas:  arts, education, environment, health, public safety, senior and disability services and workforce development.  The grant period is one-year.
 
This grant from the City Fund has provided the Far Southeast Collaborative an opportunity to create a Community Impact Center that is truly be community-driven.  The Center will provide a serene space where those residing and/or working in the community can build upon the concept of “Each One, Teach One,” said Perry Moon, Executive Director of Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative.  “Residents will be provided an opportunity to not only further develop their skills sets, but also teach others in their community those skills. It will be a space for not only learning, teaching, and having fun, but also a space for obtaining resources by being self-guided or with assistance.”
 
Today’s announcement serves as the fourth round of another very competitive and rigorous grantmaking process.    The Community Foundation received over 80 proposals totaling $3.6 million in funding requests. 
 
To date, the City Fund has committed more than $10 million of its $15 million to nonprofits that are using proven and effective methods to deliver programs that contribute to a prosperous and sustainable city for all.
 
About The Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is an independent, public charity, with an independent board of trustees. The Foundation utilized an independent grant review committee, during the review process, comprised of individuals with no direct D.C. government affiliation.  As the City Fund Administrator, The Community Foundation is charged with implementing the City Fund’s grantmaking strategy which began in October 2013.  For more information, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org.

 About The City Fund Safer, Stronger DC Opportunity Grant
The City Fund Safer, Stronger DC Community Opportunity Grant seeks to provide funding to nonprofits that help improve the lives of individuals and families living in District neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by inequities related to social determinants of health including:

• Access to educational, economic and job opportunities
• Access to health care services
• Quality of education and job training
• Recurring exposure to violent crime.

Nonprofit grant recipients include:

Breast Care for Washington
Building Bridges Across the River
Calvary Women's Services Inc.
City Gate
Collaborative Solutions for Communities
College Success Foundation
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
Community Services Agency of Metropolitan Washington AFL CIO
DC Creative Writing Workshop
DC Urban Greens Inc.
Do The Write Thing Foundation of DC*
FAIR Girls
Family Matters of Greater Washington
Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative
The Fishing School
For Love of Children
Healthy Babies Project Inc.
Higher Achievement Program
Institute for Local Self Reliance
Kid Power
Leading Educators
Living Classrooms
The Muscianship Inc.
Open City Advocates
Reading Partners
Rockson Community Development Corporation
Seabury Resources for Aging
Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment
Teens Run DC
Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts
Thrive DC
Turning the Page
Urban Teachers
Washington DC Police Foundation
Washington Parks and People
Young Playwrights Theater Inc.
* Grantee and fiscal sponsor on behalf of Swagola Productions

Anna Hargrave is Named Montgomery Women’s 2017 Rising Star

Montgomery Women recently presented its 2017 Rising Star Award to Anna Hargrave, Executive Director of the Community Foundation in Montgomery County. Hargrave received the award, given annually to a woman who has shown outstanding leadership, is a role model for others, and has made significant contributions to the community, at its 13th Annual Power Tea.

Also honored was Jacky Schultz, president of Suburban Hospital, who received the annual Shining Star Award.

“Our award winners showcase the mission of Montgomery Women—to advance common interest and support outstanding women in their quest for positions of leadership,” said organization president Rose Krasnow. “Jacky Schultz and Anna Hargrave are outstanding examples of what women can accomplish. I couldn’t be more delighted that we are honoring them.”

Hargrave received the award, which honors the life of visionary activist and founding member Phyllis Campbell Newsome, for her outstanding community leadership. A Montgomery County native, Hargrave is well-versed in program management, community outreach, and project development stemming from her experiences with the Office of the County Executive, Montgomery Youth Works and the Jewish Social Service Agency.  In her role with The Community Foundation, she works one-on-one with hundreds of Montgomery County donors to provide them the tools, resources and support needed to facilitate their personal philanthropy.

In her inspiring acceptance speech, Hargrave acknowledged the many women leaders who have inspired her. “Particularly now in my role at The Community Foundation, I literally spend my days with passionate, generous donors who want to make a difference, and visionary nonprofit leaders working to get the job done, “she said.

In her address to the more than 100 women leaders from all county sectors—public, private, and nonprofit—at the March event, Hargrave spoke about a hard-working single mom raising two young boys, a story she said “I keep circling back to. . .that I’ve been mulling over ever since I heard it.”

“Her boss decided to reward her with a raise.  Which sounds great, right? The trouble is, here in Montgomery County there is a chasm between the poverty line and what it actually takes to survive.  That raise catapulted her right smack in the middle.  She lost her childcare support and food stamps.  Before she knew it, they had lost their home and ended up at the Stepping Stones Shelter, right up the road here in Rockville.

“But this woman—she is the absolute epitome of grit.  She got herself into transitional housing and connected with Habitat for Humanity.  Today, thanks to her hard work, she’s a homeowner. That woman and the thousands like her are the unsung heroes of Montgomery County, working to raise their kids and lift whole families out of poverty. I realize that this award is not recognition of past accomplishments, but rather a call to action.  I understand that it’s my job to lift up and support women throughout our community, the same way you all have supported and inspired me.”

Hargrave ended with a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it as not as dreadful as it appears, discovering that we have the strength to stare it down.”

Bobbi Shulman

Chair, 2017 Awards Selection Committee

Montgomery Women

Improving the lives of our youth

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is committed to addressing challenges faced by our region’s young people. Our goal is to achieve economic security for all residents of the greater Washington region. That's why education is one of our community leadership initiatives. Find out what we’re doing to connect young people to opportunities to grow and thrive.

Achieving economic security by strengthening the safety net

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is committed to leading on critical community issues, including strengthening the safety net.

Why is this important? The quality of life in our region depends on increasing individuals' and families' access to high quality food, shelter, and services.

The greater Washington region has one of the strongest economies in the nation. Unfortunately, poverty continues to grow. In addition, the demand for safety net services continues to increase as available resources drastically decrease.

According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s 2012 Count of Homeless Persons, there are 11,830 homeless people in our region with children and youth representing 29% of the homeless population. Homelessness among the region’s families has increased nearly 23 percent since 2008 in our region, compared to 1.2 percent for the nation since 2009.

The region’s overall increase in family homelessness is attributed to the impact of the economic crisis and the lack of affordable housing. Service providers are unable to meet the increased and steady demand for shelter, housing, emergency financial assistance.

Bridging Differences: Youth/Police Dialogue in Montgomery County

We were ushered into a small classroom near the side entrance to Gaithersburg High School where a group of 10 students were already gathered in a circle. About half of them were African American; the others were Latina. Included in the circle was a burly African American Montgomery County police officer, and two young African American women police officers.

On the floor was a colorful rectangular cloth surrounded by handwritten papers. Vanessa, the group’s facilitator, told me that these were depictions of the students’ values – “honesty, love, hope, faith…” — the people for whom they want to make the world a better place – “my little brother, my grandma, my friends, myself…” — and their safe places – a church sanctuary, a bedroom, a beach.

Not content simply to have us observe this program, Vanessa invited me, my colleague Anna, and our Grant Committee member to take the remaining open seats and to participate fully in the intense, raw, honest conversation that followed.

For the next hour and a half, we talked about our frustrations with those who had authority over us as adolescents – for some of us, a distant memory, for others, very much of the moment. “There are too many rules.” “They don’t trust me.” “They assume I’m screwing up before I even have a chance.” The students shared their questions and concerns about interactions they and their friends have had with police. “Why do police always stop my friend’s dad – a Muslim with a license plate that says ‘EGYPT’ when he’s driving around the County — and never my white friend’s dad?” “Why do you always assume the worst?” “Why did that SWAT team barge into my house, break all of our stuff, handcuff me to my bed, and terrify my grandma, when the guy you were looking for wasn’t even there?!”

The police officers told why they are called to this work, how it feels when they have to confront their neighbors, and how they perceive their duty to protect and serve. “I’m putting my life on the line for you and your family.” “Your parents work hard to pay for your car and your insurance. Do you want other people to get away with not paying for their registration and insurance? Your parents are gonna be stuck with the bill if an uninsured motorist causes an accident.” “I feel terrible when I have to bust into someone’s home, but I have to put on my emotional armor to protect myself and everyone there from the danger that might be lurking just around the corner.”  “I’m sorry that you had that experience; it must have been scary.”

This conversation, the fifth in a series of six sessions with this particular group of female students, is part of a Youth/Police Dialogue program funded by an anonymous donor through her fund at The Community Foundation. 

About two years ago, this donor and her family felt heartsick every time they saw another police-related shooting in the news. They were especially troubled by the pattern: shooting, protests, community meetings, lip-service responses, and then…nothing. No meaningful change. They wanted to make an investment in the deep relationship-building necessary to heal the distrust between police and communities, particularly communities of color in their own county. They turned to us.

Our Philanthropic Engagement staff in Montgomery County did some research, and found that one of our long-time trusted grantees, Identity, already had a program in partnership with Montgomery County Police and Public Schools, offering one-time youth/police summits.  The donor was impressed, but wanted to invest in a longer series that would enable the students and police to make real connections with each other. She wanted to remain anonymous, so our staff served as the intermediary to solicit a proposal and get all of the donor’s questions answered.

Together, we agreed on a program design involving six facilitated sessions (three with youth only, three with police joining the young people), focusing on youth who have interacted with law enforcement after participating in or witnessing violence or being involved with a gang, are crime victims, have served in-school suspensions, and/or have low conflict-resolution skills. Our staff invited other donors to join in supporting the project, raising sufficient funds to launch the program last fall in three public high schools, two community-based centers, and a Germantown library.

The school staff, Identity’s facilitators, and the police officers told us that the group of Latina and African American girls we met at Gaithersburg High School that day were chosen because they are leaders within their peer groups, but their voices are often drowned out by boys who join them for larger summits. With skilled help from Identity’s staff, these young women and the police who join them are opening up, bravely sharing their values, stories, and fears with each other, cultivating respect and empathy. They are engaging “power with” – the power of people and communities to connect and nurture trusting, healthy relationships.

At the end of the session, Vanessa asked everyone in the circle to answer one question: “Is there hope?” Coming from our very different perspectives – across race, ethnicity, gender, class, professional status – each of us answered, simply, “yes.” This is what philanthropy can make possible!  

If you are troubled by discord among our neighbors in Greater Washington and aren’t sure how your philanthropy can make a difference, please reach out and we would be honored to facilitate a connection between you and community organizations that are healing the divides among us. Together, we can bridge differences, cultivate empathy, and make our region stronger and more resilient.

2017 Celebration of Philanthropy

Dear Friends,

Last week, over 700 nonprofit, philanthropic, business, and government leaders joined our Celebration of Philanthropy at Arena Stage. Because of the generosity of so many of you, the event raised a record-breaking $560,000 – proceeds that will help us expand charitable resources and ensure that equity, access, and opportunity are available to all who live in the region.

As our President and CEO, Bruce McNamer, said at the event: “Many across our region struggle to meet basic needs and achieve economic prosperity. The Community Foundation works to correct this imbalance – bringing together donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to address the most critical issues facing our community and create healthier neighborhoods today and for generations to come.”

Dr. Johnnetta Cole, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, presented the 2017 Civic Spirit Award to Patty Stonesifer and Martha’s Table, on behalf of all of us at The Community Foundation. When accepting the award, Stonesifer shared her journey from growing up in a working class family to working at Microsoft, running the world’s largest charity, and serving as President and CEO of Martha’s Table. Referencing the African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together,” Stonesifer invited guests to join together to pledge “a new level of advancing racial equity, a new level of learning, a new awareness of race and privilege, and then, together indeed, we will go far!” Watch our tribute video featuring Patty and her amazing team, and visit our Events page to see pictures of the event:

Bruce concluded the program saying, “The Community Foundation stands with you and all of our nonprofit partners in the room – and affirms our commitment to equity, racial justice, and an inclusive community that is vibrant, resilient, and prosperous for everyone.”  

It is because of you that we are able to make this commitment to our community. We are so grateful to all of the incredibly generous friends who contributed to the evening’s success and have joined us in the fight to make our region stronger. Thank you for all you do.

— The Community Foundation Team

The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region was proud to honor Patty Stonesifer and Martha's Table at the 2017 Celebration of Philanthropy on March 20, 2017.

Lynnhill Condos Fundraising Effort: Thank You

In response to the emergency housing situation at the Lynnhill Condominiums in Temple Hills, Maryland in November 2016, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County responded to an outpouring of support from the community to support the immediate needs of those impacted. Approximately 77 families were affected by a power shut-off due to a long-standing conflict between owners, the condominium association, and utility companies.

Because of the community’s deep generosity, we have collected close to $50,000 in donations to date. From these funds, The Community Foundation made a grant to the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, which has been providing case management for the affected families since the events occurred, and will continue to provide services in the months ahead. County agencies have assisted 127 households with 47 receiving financial assistance totaling close to $83,000.  Assistance included help with security deposits, rent, moving costs, renters insurance and utility deposits. 

We would like to extend a special thank you to two long-time Community Foundation partners for their donations to this effort – The Meyer Foundation for their $10,000 contribution, and Pepco for their $25,000 contribution. A number of families and individuals have been supported by these generous contributions, and on behalf of them and Prince George’s County, thank you for your commitment to your neighbors.

And a big thanks also to the many community members who contributed and to our family of donors for stepping up to help – not just in an emergency like this one, but every day. You’re making our region stronger.

Workforce development is critical to achieving economic security

Helping workers acquire the skills and credentials they need to launce successful, family-sustaining careers, and helping businesses attract, retain, and advance the skilled workforce they need to remain globally competitive.

Along with education and strengthening the safety net, workforce development is one of the Community Foundation’s three strategic investment priorities. Our investments in these three areas work together towards one overarching goal – achieving economic security for all residents of the greater Washington region. 

Our region’s economy increasingly demands high levels of skills and knowledge from its workers.  Thousands in our region are unemployed, under-employed, or stuck in low-wage employment, lacking the necessary tools to find and keep a job that can lead to economic security. Employers value credentials, so we are working to link adult education and training to the on-the-ground needs of employers.

Our workforce development investments have helped thousands of workers across the greater Washington region earn credentials and launch family-sustaining careers. 

Three strategies for improving education

The Greater Washington Community Foundation is improving the quality of life in our region through community leadership initiatives.

Our education initiatives are geared to preventing youth from falling off track (which means 2 or more years behind graduation requirements), intervening with at-risk students before they fall off track, reengaging students and accelerating completion of graduation requirements, and targeting drop out populations for re-enrollment toward an educational and career trajectory. 

Our team pursues this work in in three key ways: Defining needs, best practices approaches, and collective impact.

Defining Needs

Our commitment to defining needs helps to inform the creation of multiple education options matched to students’ needs by investing in research and other products that define the needs of “disconnected youth.” 

Best Practice Approaches

Define and invest in best practice approaches to re-connecting disconnected youth to education and training opportunities that lead to a post-secondary credential and ultimately a career. 

Collective Impact

Support communities to work together on a common agenda that will improve the lives of young people by investing in collective impact. 

Amplifying Philanthropy with Time and Talent

On top of the $75 million our donors gave through The Community Foundation last year, we are proud of the invaluable time, creativity, and viral enthusiasm they invest into their favorite causes.  As we continue our thank-a-thon, we’d like to highlight one inspiring example.

Kevin Beverly

Six years ago, Kevin Beverly (President, Social & Scientific Systems) joined our Sharing Montgomery Grants Committee to learn more about great organizations serving the county.  He signed up for the CollegeTracks site visit to learn more about how it supports hundreds of students trying to navigate the daunting college application process.  Instantly, the visit transported him back to his own college application experience, reminding him how overwhelming it had been and how lucky he was to get help at just the right time. 

Before he knew it, Kevin found himself stepping up to become the Board Chair of CollegeTracks, using his business acumen, skill for strategy, and extensive networks to help expand the program’s reach. Remarkably, when asked how his leadership factored into CollegeTracks’ growth over the last few years, Kevin humbly says that he got much more than he gave. 

To the hundreds of people like Kevin who give time, talent, and treasure, we thank you!  Your generosity is making a profound difference throughout our community.

Dropping the drop out rate in Prince George's County

It is estimated that every nine seconds in the United States, a student drops out of school.1 Defined as an individual between the ages of 16-24 who is not in school and not working, a “disconnected” youth often drops out of school after prolonged periods of disengagement due to multiple factors. Check out the report to learn more.

Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need.

Dear Friends,

As we continue our thank-a-thon, we would like to recognize our “community of givers” for stepping up in times of great need. Today, I’d like to highlight one inspiring example.

Eight years ago, Cliff White was a new Community Foundation donor who joined our Sharing Montgomery Grants Committee for a “crash course” in the nonprofits addressing our county’s most pressing needs. At the time, the economic downturn had just started. Over and over, Cliff visited safety-net nonprofits that were experiencing skyrocketing demand while contributions were plummeting. The visit that really shocked him was to Manna Food, the county’s leading food bank, which saw a 40% increase in demand over just a few months.

Wondering how he could make a difference, Cliff turned to his Community Foundation team, challenging us to galvanize our whole network to make a difference. After a morning of brainstorming, we launched the Neighbors in Need Montgomery Fund to boost our investments in the safety-net nonprofits providing critical hunger-relief, shelter, clothing, and emergency support to people affected by the economic downturn. Inspired by the vision of this campaign, two anonymous Community Foundation families stepped up to provide $1 for $1 challenge matches, doubling the value of each gift received.

To date, the Neighbors in Need Montgomery Fund has given over $1.3 million, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, families, and businesses. Your gifts continue to help our most vulnerable neighbors stay in their homes, keep the lights on, and put food on the table. We are especially proud that these grant investments respond to immediate needs while fostering innovation so nonprofits can serve more people and help families lift themselves out of poverty.

Sincerely,
Anna Hargrave
Executive Director, The Community Foundation in Montgomery County

Greater Washington Works Request for Proposal

On December 12, 2016, the Community Foundation shared Greater Washington Works: IT and Health Careers with Promise with over 125 nonprofit, funder, business and government stakeholders.  The report examines the state of our regional middle-skill IT and Healthcare talent pipeline including information on hiring challenges and factors keeping local worker from launching new careers in these high growth sectors. 

In addition to the launch of the report, a request for proposals, Greater Washington Works, was released to provide two-year grants of up to $250,000 to train and place local workers in high growth occupations in IT and/or Health.  Proposals, due on March 6, will seek to address the skills gap in those two sectors implementing the national best practice of sector partnerships. 

In her welcome remarks on December 12, Courtney Strauss, Executive Director and Senior Banker with JPMorgan Chase Private Bank, provided interested applicants the key ingredients of addressing the nation’s middle skills gap and effectively serving job seekers as well as employers.

Given the state of today’s labor market, here are three effective strategies we’ve seen for addressing the middle skills gap:
 
The first thing we have seen is that communities must have an effective strategy to engage employers.  We have to remember that the skills gap is as much, if not more, a demand side problem as it is a supply-side problem.  Many of these demand side problems are the result of what we call “weak signaling” – in other words, employers don’t do a very good job of communicating exactly what skills they need. Other problems are the result of a collection action challenge—employers don’t want to invest in training or collaborate with other firms in their sector because they are afraid a competitor will poach a worker they have just invested in.
 
Second, on the supply side, the challenge is most aptly captured by Labor Secretary Perez’s quip that the problem with the U.S. Workforce System is that is based on the principle of “train and pray”—invest in education and pray that there’s a job on the other side.  But around the country, we are seeing smart new programs that offer an antidote to training for training’s sake by aligning with employer demand, organizing around career pathways, and providing contextualized learning. 
 
One final category of activity to put on the list of strategies to build a talent pipeline is what I like to think of as the glue that holds it all together.  This is the information and infrastructure that enables ongoing alignment between labor market supply and demand.

Through its investments in local workforce development partnerships, Greater Washington Works seeks to support hundreds of local workers to launch new careers in IT and Healthcare. Funding applications are due no later than March 6, 2017 and are only accepted electronically at the link above. Interested applicants are encouraged to email [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions.

The Spirit of Giving

Friends,

This is the time of the year when so many of us join with family to give thanks, take stock, and look for ways to give, big and small, to our neighbors and communities. In philanthropy, we call this “the giving season.” We also know that you – our donors, nonprofits, funding partners, and friends across the greater Washington region – embody this spirit of giving not just during this season, but all year long.

Today we want to celebrate Thanksgiving and the spirit of giving that so many of you forward and foster every day. We would like to introduce you to Neal Simon, the new Chairman of our Board of Trustees, and his wife Jennifer, and their family.

Like many of our donors, Neal and Jennifer Simon came to The Community Foundation because they wanted a smart, tax-efficient vehicle to consolidate their giving. And they were also looking for a way for their whole family to give time, talent, and treasure to their community. Our team connected them to Interfaith Works, a Montgomery County-based nonprofit battling poverty and homelessness. The Simons started by becoming a friend and mentor to a single father raising young children. Before they knew it, they were involved in countless programs: serving meals, building the new clothing center, coaching people to look for jobs, and joining the visionary team behind the new strategic plan. Partners like the Simons have proven how rewarding and essential it is to invest in high-impact organizations helping our neighbors in need, and how the work of “giving back” doesn’t have to be daunting – in the words of Neal himself? “Just start.”

We are thrilled to welcome Neal as our new Board Chair, and give many thanks to our outgoing Chair, Martin Weinstein, for his leadership over these last three years. Over the coming weeks, we will share the stories of the amazing new folks who have joined our Board as well – click here to see the full board list. We can’t wait share their stories, and for all of us – staff and board – to work with you to make this community stronger and more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone who lives here.

In this time of giving thanks – and throughout this entire this giving season – we offer our thanks to you, our partners and friends, for all you do for our community.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and joyful holiday.

Bruce McNamer

Celebrating philanthropy in Montgomery County

On November 3, 2016, nearly 300 friends came out to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Community Foundation in Montgomery County (CFMC). We were thrilled that the audience included the past and present CFMC Board members, business leaders, local foundation representatives, wealth advisors, elected officials, leaders from the region’s premier nonprofits, and many of the people who house their giving funds at The Community Foundation.

To mark this special evening, the CFMC Board made three special salutes.

Cliff and Camille Kendall were both honored for having the vision to open the first CFMC family fund and for Cliff’s leadership as the founding Board Chair. Cliff and Camille devote their “retirement” energy to causes dear to their hearts, with a special focus on scholarships for low-income students. Everyone was moved to hear from their scholarship recipients about how these life-changing scholarship investments propelled them to achieve both in and out of school. We are especially grateful for their ongoing leadership which launched the Sharing Montgomery Fund and its endowment, which supports low-income Montgomery County residents.

Sally Rudney, founding Executive Director, was honored for her 17 years of thoughtful leadership during which she helped hundreds of people and businesses establish their own funds and gain a deep sense of satisfaction by giving to the causes close to their hearts. Most importantly, Sally is a connector. In addition to listening to donors, she also engages in the community, strategizing about how philanthropy can have the greatest impact.

The final salute of the evening was to our entire network of donors. Today, over 300 of the 775 funds at The Community Foundation were created by people and businesses in Montgomery County. We are honored to serve as the facilitator of their giving to causes all around the world. This year, we are especially proud of the $88 million they have given to organizations working to make Montgomery County a healthy and vibrant place to live.

Thank you to our Celebration sponsors!

Lead Celebration Sponsor – Community Champion

Connectors
Mary Pat and Darren Alcus
Bethesda Magazine
Clark Charitable Foundation
Clifford M. and Camille E. Kendall Fund
Leder Family Philanthropic Fund
Rick and Anne Rudman Family Fund
Cliff and Deborah White Family Fund

Collaborators
Brown Advisory
Patricia and Craig Ruppert Family Fund

Circle of Friends
Bainum Family Foundation
Scott and Patrice Brickman
Nancy G. Fax and Pasternak & Fidis, P.C.
Carl M. Freeman Foundation
AIM Charitable Foundation
John G. and Beverly A. Puente Advised Fund
Robert and Anna Trone and Total Wine and More

Society
Mildred Beverly Memorial Family Fund
Charles and Lisa Claudy Fleischman
Stephen Z. Kaufman
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
The Meltzer Group
Max and Tai Meltzer
Tom and Denise Murphy Fund
Social & Scientific Systems, Inc.
Arne and Ruth Sorenson
Bob and Linda Youngentob Family Foundation

Patrons
Bailey Wealth Advisors
Virginia Cheung and Jeff Neeley
Okianer Christian Dark
EagleBank
Carole and Barry Forman
Susan, Chuck and Maddie Freed
Montgomery College
Tom Natelli
Pettit Family Charitable Foundation
Neal and Jennifer Simon
Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation
Leslie K. Smith
Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC
Carol Trawick
Washington Gas
Wells Fargo Private Bank

Partners
Mozella Perry Ademiluyi, Love Is A Mountain LLC and Rising Sun Programs
Lena S. Barnett, Esq.
Hope Gleicher and Andy Burness
The Floyd E. Davis Family Foundation
Sol and Dorothy Graham
Anna Hargrave and Jimmy Hernandez
Intentional Philanthropy LLC
Rosalyn Levy Jonas
Jackie Judd
Intervise
Jackie and Clay Ogg
Shulman Family Fund
Morgan Sullivan & and JLL
Miriam and Jason Tai
United Solutions
Peter and Linda Welber

2016 Civic Leadership Awards: Thank You, Prince George's County

Dear Friends,

Our 2016 Civic Leadership Award celebration was a huge success! To our honorees, supporters, partners, community leaders, and distinguished guests – we can’t thank you enough for making it possible. This year, we were so very proud to pay tribute to a group of civic stalwarts who fulfill the promise of a vibrant and prosperous Prince George’s County: Betty Buck, the Peterson Family Foundation, Gregory K. Wells, The Honorable Derrick Leon Davis, and The Honorable M.H. Jim Estepp.

Prince George’s County is the second largest county in the State of Maryland and has a diverse population of nearly 900,000 residents. In some areas of the county, families are prospering – but in others, families struggle to meet basic needs and achieve economic security. The Community Foundation works to correct this imbalance – bringing together donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to address the most critical issues facing our county and create healthier neighborhoods today and for generations to come. The Community Foundation is proud to be your partner – helping to make your giving, and our community, even greater.

Our deepest thanks to our incredible event co-chairs, Artis Hampshire-Cowan and Howard Stone, Jr., and our corporate chairs, James Coleman, CEO, Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation and Lorenzo Creighton, President, MGM National Harbor, for all they did to make this event possible. Our gratitude also goes out to everyone who joined the celebration! From all of us at The Community Foundation, thank you for making our county so great.

William (Bill) Shipp
Chairman, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County

Desiree Griffin-Moore
Executive Director, The Community Foundation in Prince George’s County

Pictured: Tracey Wilkins, Artis Hampshire Cowan, Lauren Peterson Fellows, Danielle White, The Honorable James (Jim) Estepp, Bruce McNamer, Betty Buck, The Honorable Derrick Leon Davis, Bill Shipp, Desiree Griffin-Moore, Gregory Wells, Terese Taylor, Howard Stone, Maria Tildon and James Coleman.
 

Pictured: Bruce McNamer, Terese Taylor, Desiree Griffin-Moore, Bill Shipp
 

An Open Thank You Letter

Dear Friends,

This year, we are marking the 20th anniversary of The Community Foundation in Montgomery County by extending a special and heartfelt thanks to the generous people who make up our Community Foundation family.

It is an honor to be a partner and facilitator with our many donors, helping them give to the causes they care about most deeply. Today, there are over 700 giving funds at The Community Foundation in the National Capital Region, 300 of which are under the care of the Montgomery County affiliate. Collectively, The Community Foundation’s funds have given a remarkable one billion dollars to organizations throughout the region and around the world.  This year in particular, we are proud of the $88 million our donors have given to nonprofits right here at home in Montgomery County.

Behind those numbers are stories of people who bring tremendous passion to their giving, leveraging their creativity and strategic thinking to help organizations deepen their impact.  Most importantly, their viral enthusiasm inspires friends and family members to learn more, get involved, and give.

As part of our anniversary, we are launching a year-long “thank-a-thon” series to share the stories of our donors and the collective impact we have made together.  To kick it off, we want to introduce you to you to Susan Freed. Susan is a wealth advisor by day who wanted to find a fun way to teach her young daughter, Maddie, about the importance of giving time, talent, and treasure to our hometown community. As a member of the Sharing Montgomery Grants Committee, Susan got a close-up look at the many needs in the county and then asked the Foundation to replicate that experience for her daughter and friends.  Through a giving circle, the girls learned the value of helping others and explored strategies to make a difference. As you will see in this video, Susan and Maddie demonstrate how philanthropy can be fun and profoundly rewarding for the whole family.

As you hear about other stories of our donors throughout the year, we hope you too feel proud of how our philanthropic investments play a unique and vital role in making Montgomery County a stronger community where all of our neighbors can thrive.  Looking forward, we are confident that your example will inspire many others to “give where we live.”

Sincerely,

Anna Hargrave, Executive Director
The Community Foundation in Montgomery County

Montgomery’s Children’s Opportunity Fund initiated by Councilmember Navarro selects leadership team and creates new partnership

New executive director, Community Foundation representatives and steering committee establish strategic framework to help children and families

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 29, 2016—Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro today applauded the progress made by community partners and public policy leaders to create the professional structure needed to fully implement the mission of the Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF) in the County. Mala B. Thakur began work as executive director on June 27; a key partnership has been established with the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region; and new members have been appointed to the COF Steering Committee.

The overarching goal of the COF is to champion, plan and fund strategic investments that improve the lives of children and families in the County with a focus on innovative, evidence-based efforts targeted at closing the opportunity gap.

In 2014, Councilmember Navarro created the Children’s Opportunity Fund as a mechanism to ensure a long-term, strategic approach and a dedicated funding stream for early childhood education and interventions aimed at closing the achievement gap. In Fiscal Year 2016, at Councilmember Navarro’s request, County Executive Ike Leggett earmarked $250,000 in the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget and the Council approved it as part of the budget process. Montgomery County Public Schools also provided $125,000. Funding for the COF was increased to $375,000 in FY17.

In addition to support from the County, private funds are necessary to meet the long-term goals of the COF and the growing need for services. The COF leadership team will seek private funding to support the fund and leverage County resources.

“I am delighted with the progress that has been made so far and excited about the new leadership that will guide the operations of the COF because there is much work we need to do on behalf of our County’s children,” said Councilmember Navarro, who chairs the Council’s Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee and is a member of its Education Committee. “Partnering with the Community Foundation, having Ms. Thakur as executive director of the COF and convening a talented steering committee will enable us to grow this initiative so that all of our children will have the opportunity to thrive.”

“This is an important initiative and I fully support it,” said County Executive Leggett.  “I look forward to the progress we make as a community in closing the achievement gap.”

Ms. Thakur said she plans to focus on the COF’s three goals: identifying priority areas for investment based on unmet need; aligning resources toward effective inter-agency collaborations serving the County’s most vulnerable youth and their families; and seeking new funding sources for innovative evidence-based efforts targeting interventions that help to close the achievement gap.

Ms. Thakur has spent her career building coalitions, developing policies and identifying practices that support comprehensive approaches to closing the achievement gap and expanding opportunities for underserved populations. Before joining the COF, Ms. Thakur served in a number of leadership roles including as executive director of the National Youth Employment Coalition, as director of workforce development at the New York Citywide School to Work Alliance and as director of public policy at the National Puerto Rican Forum. She also serves on the board of directors for the National Human Services Assembly and the Latin American Youth Center Career Academy.

“I salute Councilmember Nancy Navarro for her vision in creating the Children’s Opportunity Fund,” said Montgomery County Board of Education President Michael Durso. “As we work with our communities and partners to address the persistent achievement gap in our classrooms, institutions like the Children’s Opportunity Fund will be crucial in reaching across traditional walls that separate partners and resources to provide the appropriate supports to meet our children’s needs. The Board of Education looks forward to working with the Children’s opportunity Fund’s Executive Director Mala B. Thakur and other key stakeholders to design and implement strategic initiatives that provide a nurturing and equitable space for all children in our classrooms.”

“Narrowing the opportunity gap is critical work, and we look forward to working with Ms. Thakur to ensure that our children receive necessary supports and resources so that they can flourish in their academic pursuits,” said Jack R. Smith, superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools. “The Children’s Opportunity Fund will provide valuable interventions for the children who need it most. We very much look forward to this new partnership.”

In May, the COF established a strategic partnership with the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, which “works to ensure access and opportunity for all residents in the Washington metropolitan area.” Known as the “hub of philanthropy,” the mission of the organization is to strengthen the region by supporting charitable giving and by providing effective leadership on critical community issues.

“We know that low-income youth do not have the same access to supports and opportunities to succeed as their more affluent peers do. The Children’s Opportunity Fund is critical to addressing this problem in Montgomery County,” said Bruce McNamer, president and chief executive officer of The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. “The Community Foundation brings together different sectors and community entities to solve problems, and this fund is a shining example of that. All of us must be engaged in the effort to close the achievement gap. Our young people are depending on us.”

The COF also has expanded its steering committee, which oversees operations. The committee includes key community leaders in philanthropy, business, health and children and youth experts. These steering committee includes:

• Uma Ahluwalia, director, Department of Health and Human Services

• Maria Navarro, chief academic officer, Montgomery County Public Schools

• Anna Hargrave, executive director, Community Foundation for the National Capital Region in Montgomery County

• April Kaplan, executive director, Montgomery County Collaboration Council for Children, Youth and Families

• Gabriel Albornoz, director, Department of Recreation

• Kevin Beverly, president and CEO, Social and Scientific Systems

• Agnes Leshner, board member, Montgomery’s Kids

• David Asai, senior director of science education, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Through the COF, Councilmember Navarro was able to create a partnership with the Norman R. and Ruth Rales Foundation to help the County fund the Building Educated Leaders for Life (BELL) summer program, which focuses on closing the achievement gap. The Rales Foundation pledged $3 million over four years, which is matched by public funding, to bring the BELL program to the County. This summer marked the first class of BELL scholars in Montgomery County Public Schools.

BELL is a data-driven summer program that serves rising third and fourth graders to help prevent the knowledge drop, or “summer slide,” that occurs among students during the summer months. It is expected that the BELL program will serve 4,200 students in the County during a four-year period.

“In July, I had the opportunity to visit with students in the BELL program at Weller Road Elementary School in Silver Spring,” said Councilmember Navarro. “I experienced how the program fosters a child’s love of learning. I know that this innovative program along with other early interventions and wrap-around services are necessary for all of our children to have the opportunity to succeed. I appreciate the work of our community partners who pulled together through the COF to make a difference.”

Help to the Victims of the Long Branch Fire

On Thursday morning, our community was shocked to discover a gas explosion leveled an apartment complex in the Long Branch neighborhood of Silver Spring, MD.  At this stage, 2 people have died, 34 were injured, and others are still missing.   On top of that, over 100 people were left homeless, having fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

We’re grateful that our nonprofits sprang into action immediately, coordinating with County agencies to help those affected by the tragedy.  If you would like to get involved, please check out the nonprofit partners below who are providing support.  Or, if you can’t pick just one, make a gift (or grant from your fund) to the Neighbors in Need Disaster Relief Fund.  The Community Foundation will coordinate with the County to steward those dollars once the greatest needs are identified.
➣Montgomery Housing Partnership is accepting cash donations to help families rebounding from this tragedy.  To contribute, give online or mail a check to:

Montgomery Housing Partnership
12200 Tech Road, Suite 250
Silver Spring, MD 20904

http://mhpartners.org

Be sure to put “Attn: Long Branch Fire” in the memo line of the check or the comment box of the online donation form.

➣IMPACT Silver Spring is coordinating a multilingual outreach effort to ensure that families can connect to the support they need.  They are especially seeking Spanish, Amharic, and French volunteers to help out.  Contact them at (301) 298-5117 to sign up or learn more at https://impactsilverspring.org.

➣The CASA Welcome Center is accepting toiletries and clothing.  Please note that CASA received a huge influx of donations from local neighbors in the first 24 hours.  Visit the website to find out what items are needed at this time or sign up to help organize the contributions.  http://wearecasa.org/fire/

➣Manna Food is collecting non-perishable food.  Learn more at http://www.mannafood.org/

➣Adventist Community Services of Greater Washington is accepting clothing, houseware items, toiletries, blankets, sheets, etc. (No furniture.)  Learn more at http://www.acsgw.org/.

➣A Wider Circle is collecting furniture to help the families rebuild their homes.  Visit http://awidercircle.org to learn more or call 301-608-3504 to donate furniture.

➣YMCA’s Youth & Family Services division is coordinating the back-to-school effort for the children who have been displaced by the fire.   Find out more at http://yfs.ymcadc.org/

➣Local clinics are offering free health care to those affected.  Learn more about Mary’s Center at www.maryscenter.org and Community Clinic, Inc. at http://www.cciweb.org