By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director, Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County
For Her Mind Magazine

“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” – Maya Angelou

“It’s 8 am and you’re waking up just in time to get breakfast and the kids in front of their iPads for school. While they learn online, you escape to your makeshift office, which used to be the guest room, to start your workday. What was once two places of home and work has been shortened from 20 miles apart to 20 steps. We hear you superwoman, you need another place away from your space! The 3rd will be a place away from working at home and the needy children and life partner (whom you love dearly.) This will be a place where you can rest your cape and develop your entrepreneurial ideas with like-minded superheroes. You need a 3rd place where you can breathe, create, exist, and thrive!”

Do you like how this sounds? You are not alone.

The 3rd is a new space that is opening in Columbia where community members can “chill, work, eat and shop all while supporting Women of Color entrepreneurs.”

Founded by CEO Laura Bacon, The 3rd’s mission is to build a space that fosters dreams, creates community, and provides mentorship, which enables Women of Color to turn their ideas into economic power and freedom. 

“We want to provide the keys to open doors women of color entrepreneurs have been denied access to – the keys to resources, education, and skill-building are only a few benefits to being a part of The 3rd” said Bacon. “In addition, we will develop a community of sister-friends through collaboration and partnerships in a chill environment.”
As a recent The 3rd Facebook post highlights…“Imagine an open space with beautiful furniture and tons of natural light…walk further into the cute little shop filled with goodies made by WOC entrepreneurs. Then head over to the café to purchase a delicious pastry and coffee right before sitting down and writing your kick-ass grant proposal for your nonprofit! Take it all in sister-friend, this will be you at The 3rd.”

Asked why Laura decided to create The 3rd she said “I create spaces where people can show up as the best version of themselves. My talent is in putting all the right people in a space to make something special.”

Want to support The 3rd this holiday season? You can do so, and purchase a homemade pie for the holidays!

Laura is selling delicious homemade Sweet Potato Pies for $50 this Thanksgiving to raise funds. The pies comes unbaked and frozen. You can also buy a pie and give a pie. Spend $85 and you’ll get a pie and The 3rd will give one away to our nonprofit partners at Columbia Community Care.

Click the link below and order your Thanksgiving pie today! Purchase pies here. Pie pick-up will be in Columbia on November 23, time to be determined.

I am grateful for efforts like The 3rd this holiday season – hope you are too. Happy Thanksgiving!

You can connect with Laura Bacon at laura@the3rd.org and learn more at their website at www.the3rd.org.
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​Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is the Executive Director of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County. She can be reached at: buffybschwartz@wgchowardcounty.org and www.wgchowardcounty.org

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Candace Dodson-Reed is an experienced executive with a 20 plus year successful career in the public, education, and nonprofit sectors. Skilled in media relations, grassroots organizing, government relations, crisis communications, inclusion and equity work, public policy and community/public affairs, Candace currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Executive Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). In 2012, Candace founded the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County and just prior to that launched the twentyfivefortyfive Giving Circle at the Community Foundation of Howard County. Candace also co-hosts a podcast—Elevate Maryland. In 2020, she was named a Maryland Top 100 Woman by The Daily Record. 

Mireille Grangenois, formerly Publisher of the Chronicle of Philanthropy and The Chronicle of Higher Education, serves on the board of Verité, a global advocate for fair labor, and the Community Foundation of Howard County. On the latter, she is chair of a new committee focused on equity, racial justice, diversity and inclusion. A journalist with an undergraduate degree from New York University, Mireille spent much of her career in business-side leadership roles at preeminent news organizations, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Washington Post, and The Baltimore Sun. 

Lynne C. Schaefer has served as Vice President for Administration and Finance at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) since 2005. In her role as chief business officer at UMBC, she is responsible for financial management, budget, reporting and control for annual operations of nearly $500 million. She previously served as Vice President for Finance and Administration at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and as Budget Director and Vice President for Administrative Services at Wayne State University in Detroit.  She has been named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Metropolitan Detroit.

Nette’ Stokes founded and currently works at JustLiving Advocacy, Inc. as the Executive & Community Engagement Director. She has a heart for all people, especially for women heading up their households alone as single parents. She believes in giving and creating opportunities for those who have a strong personal desire to lift themselves out of impoverished circumstances. Nette has strategic and executive management experience combined with a solid vision for operations and providing a creative approach to organization operations, marketing and development and community outreach. She worked for 15 years at IBM and 10 years in the government at the US Department of State and the Department of Justice as a Senior Program and Project Manager. She was named as a 2020 HerMind Community Hero in Howard County, MD for her advocacy work in child care and heart disease in women.

The full 2021 slate of WGC Executive Committee and Advisory Board members are:

Executive Committee

​Officers:

• Barb Van Winkle, Chair - Nancy Adams Personnel
• ​Jennifer Bodensiek. Vice Chair - Junior Achievement of Central Maryland
• Kim Agnor, Treasurer & Chair, Governance Committee - Kimberly A. Agnor, CPA, LLC
• ​Lee Draminski, Secretary - Vectorworks, Inc.
• Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director *Ex Officio

 

• Melissa Curtin, Chair, Membership & Events Committee – Melissa Curtin Coaching + Consulting
• Alice Giles, Chair, Grants Committee – Graduate Student
• Hina Naseem, Co-Chair, DEI Committee - Howard County Public School System
• Judy Smith, Co-Chair, DEI Committee – On Point Consulting
• Alison Canning, Immediate Past Chair - Financial Planning Specialist

Advisory Board Members
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• Maxine Clark – Maryland Orthodontic Specialists
• Jillianne Crescenzi – Law School Student
• Candace Dodson-Reed – Chief of Staff, UMBC
• Mireille Grangenois - Senior Strategy Consultant, Opinion Writer - Community Foundation of Howard County Liaison 
• Christine Meket - Republic Services
• April Force Pardoe - Tobi Fairley Interior Design
• Barbara Peart – Community Volunteer
• Lynne Schaefer - Vice President for Administration and Finance, UMBC
• Nette’ Stokes – JustLiving Advocacy
• Mary Thompson – ReFrame Financial Planning

Columbia, Md. - The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, and United Way of Central Maryland are sustaining their strong partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic and announcing another $200,000 in available funds to support nonprofits working on the frontlines in Howard County through HoCoRespond. 

Howard County nonprofits can apply for this round of funding beginning Monday, November 2. Organizations must apply by midnight on Monday, November 23, 2020. Grant applications can be submitted here. 

HoCoRespond will host two virtual Q&A information sessions for those interested in applying for funding on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 9:30 - 11:00 am and Thursday, Nov. 12, 1:00 - 2:30 pm. RSVP to receive zoom details to grants@cfhoco.org.

New, coordinated grant funding is urgently needed to help Howard County residents as unemployment insurance supplements have ended and eviction protections are at risk. Many vulnerable families in Howard County are increasingly unable to pay for food, rent, childcare and healthcare, and nonprofits in the county are helping address those challenges.

Under the umbrella of HoCoRespond, the Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland and Women's Giving Circle of Howard County have been working together since March to assess community needs, accept donations and provide funding to Howard County nonprofits providing frontline support, with a focus on food security, housing, childcare and healthcare. With the goal to maximize impact and equity through HoCoRespond, Howard County funders have awarded a total of $407,500 since March to 31 nonprofits.

"This public health crisis has caused a wave of challenges for our residents - people are facing unimaginable circumstances deciding whether to keep a roof over their head or food on their table," said County Executive Calvin Ball. "We're incredibly grateful to have such dedicated organizations to help look out for our most vulnerable, and HoCoRespond has already demonstrated effectiveness in collaboration. In a time when it's imperative to help those among us most in need, this is a perfect way to support your neighbors and community. I encourage those who are able to make a charitable contribution to support this emergency fund." 

​As of November 1, the Maryland Department of Health reported 6,015 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Howard County and 146,995 cases across the state. 

“Howard County Funders are coordinating to raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in Howard County” said Beverly White-Seals, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “We continue to be here to support our community as we navigate ongoing community needs this fall and into the winter.”

A key focus of the collective grantmaking is to ensure communities of color are receiving equitable treatment. 

​“We are proud that our collective grantmaking is working to advance equity by focusing on cultural, racial, ethnic, geographic and ability diversity in the organizations we are funding” said Franklyn Baker, president and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland. “We are working closely with our partners to continue to identify urgent needs on the ground.”

HoCoRespond.org is continuing to accept donations. Those looking to help can donate to the following emergency funds supporting nonprofits that are assisting community members affected by COVID-19:

• The Community Foundation of Howard County has its established Howard County Community Relief Fund to address ongoing emergencies in Howard County. 

 

• The United Way of Central Maryland has established the COVID-19 Community Fund for Central Maryland to support the community, and in particular, support those who operate on the frontlines of providing help and resources to those in need. 

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• The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County has established the COVID-19 Fund to address unprecedented COVID-19 community needs and is also responding to emergency needs through its long-established Emergency Response Network (ERN). 

“The reality is that COVID-19 is continuing to harm our community,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “We will continue to work closely with our funding partners to address critical housing, food, childcare and healthcare challenges in Howard County and provide emergency and ongoing support to those in need.”

The Howard County funding partners are urging county residents, donors and the community at large to take action and support the nonprofits who are on the frontlines during the COVID-19 crisis.  

“We will continue exploring the path forward in providing relief to our community by leveraging our strengths and working with others to make a bigger difference together than we might otherwise make alone,” said Barb Van Winkle, chair of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County. 

WGC Donors and Friends,

This fall has been busy for us as we prepare for the upcoming holiday season and plan for 2021.

READ THE FULL eNEWSLETTER HERE

One of the things we are planning for is our 2021 Virtual Annual Celebration - "Celebrating (S)heroes Among Us" on Monday, March 8, 2021 - International Women's Day. Please Save-the-Date! We are excited to offer a number of terrific sponsorship opportunities for individual women and businesses of all sizes - take a look at our online Sponsorship Center. I would love to talk to you about the chance to sponsor the WGC - please don't hesitate to contact me! Many thanks to the numerous sponsors who have already chosen to invest in our 2021 Annual Celebration!

We have a lot of great things going on - would you like to learn more about the WGC and what we're doing? Join us for a brief, but interactive Membership Monday Chat on Monday, November 16 at 4:30 pm. Once each month we are now hosting a Membership Monday 30-minute Zoom chat, where you can meet members of the WGC’s Advisory Board, hear about the WGC, how you might get involved, and have a chance to ask questions. We look forward to meeting you – register today and join us!

I look forward to "seeing" you soon!

Warm regards,

Barb Van Winkle
WGC Chair

October 12, 2020
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By Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director
Her Mind Magazine

Ten years ago, this month, a book that I had the honor to co-author with Sondra Shaw-Hardy and Martha Taylor hit the bookshelves, entitled Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World.

Sondra and Martha are considered visionaries in the modern-day women’s philanthropy movement, are the co-founders of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, and have written numerous books and thought pieces on women’s philanthropy and giving circles.

In my role as Executive Director of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, I decided to re-read it recently and was excited – but not surprised – that our book about the power of women’s philanthropy to change our world is still relevant today, and has something to offer pretty much anyone who works in or around philanthropy.

Here’s the highlights:
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• We make a compelling case that despite the traditional male dominance of the field, it’s high time to pay more attention to the philanthropic contributions of women.
• We focus on how women’s philanthropy has led the way in virtually reinventing the world of fundraising.-
• We offer information on how and why women give, what it takes to develop a gender-sensitive fundraising program, how to develop a strategic plan to involve women as leaders and donors, and suggestions for working with women of wealth.
• We discuss that women are increasingly engaged in a variety of ways to give, including giving circles, global giving, transformative gifts, entrepreneurial giving, faith-based giving, family and couple giving, and social change gifts.
• We present new ways to better engage women in giving, insights into developing women leaders in the nonprofit arena, and advice on developing women as philanthropic leaders.
• And, we highlight that when women make a gift, are in a leadership position, or volunteer their time to a nonprofit or charitable organization, we tend to base our efforts on solid principles such as compassion, values, vision, and responsibility.

We believed then – and I contend now – that that not only are women perfectly suited to the challenges and opportunities of philanthropy, but because of our distinct approach to giving, we are uniquely, boldly positioned to continue to drive real and lasting change in the world.

And, that’s exactly what I see each and every day among our broad base of donors to the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, and our many nonprofit and business partners.

So, if you are looking for a good read about the strength and empowerment of women’s philanthropy, I am excited to offer Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World as a resource.

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz is the Executive Director of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County. She can be reached at:  buffybschwartz@wgchowardcounty.org and www.wgchowardcounty.org

We are honored to support "Dear Mama" a virtual event on pregnancy and motherhood through the eyes of emerging female artists of color. Join us!

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director
Melissa Curtin, WGC Advisory Board Member and Commissioner, Maryland Commission for Women
 
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on August 18, 1920, granting women the right to vote in political elections (“suffrage”). Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day in 1973 to commemorate the 19th Amendment.
 
The first women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. The 19th Amendment was introduced in 1878 and 45 years later, in 1920, white women were granted the right to vote. Women of color were denied this right over 45 years and barriers are still faced today.
 
Many courageous and tenacious women (“suffragettes”) have fought for 150 years to seek full equality. Today, we celebrate every woman who has fought, and those who are still fighting, to advance ALL women as we carry on the battle for equality. We must stay the course.
 
The Women’s Giving Circle (WGC) of Howard County has been supporting women and girls in Howard County for the past 18 years. Together, we are building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to continue to help meet needs of women and girls in a variety of ways in Howard County.
 
Our goals are to:

• Increase philanthropic giving by local women.
• Build a permanent endowment to ensure giving for many years to come.
• Raise awareness about gender disparities and the resulting consequences to women, families, and society.
• Implement a diversity, equity, and inclusions lens to all of our work.
• Empower strong and prepared women and girls by increasing and ensuring appropriate life skills.
• Encourage healthy physical growth and personal authority of young women and girls.
• Sustain the WGC for future generations.

 
Regardless of party affiliation, we believe that resources, including time, energy, expertise, and money, should be directed to critical systemic change in the political, social, and economic arenas. These systems significantly impact the present and future of every girl and woman, as well as their sons, husbands, brothers, and fathers. As women gain greater equality, the world will be a better place for boys and men, too.
 
It will continue to take women of concern, compassion, and generosity to hold tight to and carry forth the torch of equality and keep the fire burning.
 
Collective giving is one way that we can positively impact the women and girls in our community. Another way is by making our voices heard at the kitchen table, the boardroom table, in state legislatures, Congress, and everywhere in between.
 
And, of course, we must VOTE! If you haven’t registered to vote, please register today. If you want to request a Mail-In Ballot, please request it today. If you are unsure of your polling place, look it up today. Make a plan to vote and ensure that your vote is counted. And while you’re at it, please make sure to complete the 2020 Census as soon as you can.
 
We value all women who have given to WGC over the past 18 years. As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, we hope you will consider a gift to the WGC's In Her Honor Fund to honor a woman who has made a difference for all of us, including yourself.
 
Every woman stands on the shoulders of the women who came before us.
 
Here’s to strong women! May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.
– Former First Lady, Michelle Obama
 
Learn more about the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and our efforts at: www.womensgivingcircle.org
 
#WomensEqualityDay #19thAt100 #19thAmendment #Vote #WomensVote100