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

Columbia, Md. - Key Howard County funders are sustaining their strong partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic, announcing a new effort to  raise and deploy an additional $200,000 to support nonprofits working on the frontlines in Howard County through HoCoRespond.

New, coordinated grant funding is urgently needed to help Howard County residents as unemployment insurance supplements and eviction protections are at risk of ending.   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. 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." 

On August 17 the Maryland Department of Health reported 4,089 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Howard County and 100,715 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 summer and into the fall.”

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  and will announce another round of grantmaking soon. 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.

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