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WGC OF HOWARD COUNTY
  • Home
  • About
    • WGC Mission, Vision, Values, Goals
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    • WGC - 20 Years at a Glance
    • WGC Herstory
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    • WGC's 4 Distinct Ways to Give >
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          • In Honor and Memory of WGC Supporter Jackie Melonas
        • WGC Core Support
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      • WGC Sponsor Member >
        • Thank You 2023 Sponsors!
        • Thank You 2022 Sponsors!
      • WGC Legacy Member
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        • WGC Big Give $1,200 Individual Donation
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        • WGC Big Give Process and Grantmaking Guidelines
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  • Grants
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    • WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories >
      • #16 - Our Giving, Our Stories
      • #17 - State of Women and Girls in Howard County
      • #18 - Local Funding Partnerships
      • #19 - First Executive Director
      • #20 - Celebrating 20 Years of Impact!
    • WGC's 20 Years in Photos - A Snapshot
    • WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County
    • WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories Series >
      • 2023-2021 OGOS Monthly Profiles
      • OGOS Nominations
      • 2022 OGOS Black Philanthropy Month
      • 2021-2020 OGOS Black Philanthropy Month
    • WGC's (S)hero Mosaic
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Find all the good we are up to on our blog.

WGC eNewsletter - October 2021

10/30/2021

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3 Questions With ... Philanthropist Rayna DuBose, Honoring National Disability Employment Awareness Month

10/19/2021

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In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to recognize Rayna DuBose as part of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series.

Rayna was a star athlete from Howard County, who earned a full scholarship to play basketball at Virginia Tech. But after contracting bacterial meningitis, she woke up from a 3-week long coma to discover her limbs had been amputated. Now a motivational speaker, Rayna speaks on how she overcame adversity and found her purpose through strength, power and community engagement.

"I have a passion for the youth in our community and the betterment of our community and world" said Rayna. "I believe that the children are our future so let’s give them all the tools and knowledge to prepare them for anything they go through in their lives."

When asked about her giving, she said "I started giving honestly after a tragic accident that occurred in my life ... when I truly learned and felt what it is to be blessed, grateful, appreciative, and  thankful genuinely."

Thank you for joining us in recognizing her by clicking on this image to read her full WGC "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile, and learning more about all of the amazing women who are part of  WGC "Our Giving, Our Stories"!

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WGC 2021 Grant Spotlight: New UWCM Family Center

10/18/2021

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The WGC is is proud to partner with United Way of Central Maryland with a $5,000 multi-year grant to help support the new UWCM Family Center and in turn, support women and their families in need of quality, affordable childcare in Howard County.

Did you know childcare in Howard County for two averages about $2,000 a month? ​On average, across all income levels, Howard County families spend about 20% of their income on childcare − double the national recommendation of 10%.

"We know that child care is necessary for parents—particularly women—to work and earn an income, yet it has become an increasingly crushing expense for families with young children in Howard County" said Kari Staddon, Senior Director of Strategic Impact at United Way of Central Maryland. "We are grateful for the partnership and support of the Women's Giving Circle as we aim to provide quality, affordable child care for women and families in our community."

While Howard County is known for having one of the highest median incomes in the nation, it also has one of the highest costs of living, making it a difficult place for people earning low or moderate incomes to get ahead. Nearly 30% of households in Howard County can't afford the basics, like a safe, affordable place to call home; medical care to keep their families healthy; or a car to get to work or to the grocery store. And a vast majority of these households are families with children. Higher than average childcare costs in the area make it tough for families with children who are already struggling to make ends meet. For many of these families, childcare is their second-highest expense after housing.

The new United Way Family Center will provide parents who qualify with affordable, high-quality childcare at a cost below market rate. And all staff working 20 hours or more will receive full benefits and be paid above-average wages.

​"We are proud to provide this multi-year grant to support the new UWCM Family Center" said Barb Van Winkle. "As we work to shape the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving, we see this as an important resource for women and their families seeking quality, affordable childcare in our county."

Learn more here

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International Day of the Girl

10/11/2021

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"Strong women ... May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them." #IDG2021

Today is International Day of the Girl, which focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realising the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls: empowering women and girls and promoting gender equality is crucial to accelerating sustainable development. Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also has a multiplier effect across all other development areas.

​(Excerpted from the United Nations Day of the Girl Child)

Learn more about the WGC's grantmaking focused on girls.

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Congratulations 2021 Changemaker Challenge Finalists!

10/11/2021

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Get your ticket to see who will win up to $35,000 at the virtual live event Nov. 9
The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, and the Community Foundation of Howard County are thrilled to announce the finalists for the 2021 Changemaker Challenge! These 10 finalists will compete for the chance win up to $35,000 to bring their big ideas to life! Get your FREE ticket today to watch them Nov. 9 at the Changemaker Challenge live virtual event.
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Meet the finalists and their big ideas for social change in Howard County:
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  • The 3rd – Create a space in downtown Columbia that brings the community together. The space melds live/work elements all in one space and is run by, supplied by, and incubates women of color entrepreneurs.
  • 4Girls2STEM – Launch a STEM program for girls of color in Howard County.
  • Alston for Athletes – Provide Youth Mental Health First Aid Training to athletic directors, coaches and trainers in Howard County.
  • The Community Ecology Institute – Create a Nourishing Gardens initiative that will transform lawns throughout Howard County into ecologically beneficial food growing spaces. The program will offer job skills training and work opportunities, increase the local supply of fresh, healthy produce and seek to get it to those in greatest need, improve the ecosystem, and provide community engagement and education opportunities.
  • Howard County Lynching Truth & Reconciliation, Inc. – Create an interactive, web based platform to assist with educating the community about our history, which impacts us all today.
  • HoCo Pirate Adventures, Inc – Eliminate economic and transportation barriers by creating a free app that will guide residents on pirate-themed scavenger hunts in parks throughout Howard County. Hunts are targeted to kids/families and are intended to have a positive impact on the mental and physical health of families.
  • Oakland Mills Online – Launch an in-school speaker series at Oakland Mills High School that exposes students to real-world work and life experiences.
  • Kits to Heart – Improve the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by cancer through an innovative art therapy program by partnering with the Howard County Arts Council to offer free art classes and workshops for the cancer community.
  • Upcycled, Inc. – Upgrade the recycling center to simplify the “Upcycling” process and facilitate an interactive educational area.
  • Howard County Autism Society – Support the Autism Hiring Program, an innovation that advances workplace neurodiversity and acceptance, connecting businesses to an untapped workforce and targeting jobseekers not supported by existing systems.

A panel of judges will select three winners to receive grants totaling $60,000. All finalists will be eligible for a grant of either $25,000, $15,000, a $10,000 grant for an initiative that supports women and girls in Howard County and event attendees will select the winner of the audience choice award of an additional $10,000.

Join us for the live virtual event on November 9 to get inspired and learn more about these innovative ideas to make our community a better place!

Hosted by the Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County and the Community Foundation of Howard County, the Changemaker Challenge is an event focused on sparking innovation and fresh thinking to address some of Howard County’s most pressing issues.

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WGC at Books in Bloom!

10/10/2021

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 The WGC had a wonderful time participating in Books in Bloom today!

An event rooted in the spirit of Columbia's diverse and forward-thinking community, Books in Bloom is an annual celebration of the joy of books and reading that brings community members, local businesses, and the country's brightest authors together to celebrate the joy of books and reading.

WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle was honored to represent the WGC and introduce Amy Argetsinger, feminist author of “There She Was: The Secret History of Miss America” and moderator Anika Baty-Mills of Columbia Inspired Magazine - it was a fantastic talk!

​Learn more about this year's author line-up here.
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September 2021 WGC eNewsletter

10/4/2021

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WGC Porch at Athol Manor!

10/4/2021

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We were excited to be at the official ribbon cutting ceremony for Community Foundation of Howard County's new home at Athol Manor!

WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle loved getting a full tour of our beautiful new home.

Did you know that the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is a fund of the Community Foundation? We have been for the last 20 years, and we are proud to be a sponsor for the “WGC Porch” at Athol Manor.

Stay tuned for events on the porch in the future!
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"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving​." - Barb Van Winkle, Immediate Past Chair
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WGC is proud to be a fund of the
​Community Foundation of Howard County - cfhoco.org

EIN Number: 52-0937644
Find us on Guidestar Here
​​​WGC is a proud member of several local, regional and national philanthropic organizations 
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  • Home
  • About
    • WGC Mission, Vision, Values, Goals
    • WGC Advisory Board
    • WGC Committees
    • WGC 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
    • WGC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • WGC is a Fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County
    • WGC - 20 Years at a Glance
    • WGC Herstory
  • Give
    • WGC's 4 Distinct Ways to Give >
      • WGC Community Member >
        • WGC's 20th Anniversary
        • WGC In Her Honor >
          • In Honor and Memory of WGC Supporter Jackie Melonas
        • WGC Core Support
        • WGC Impact 2024
      • WGC Sponsor Member >
        • Thank You 2023 Sponsors!
        • Thank You 2022 Sponsors!
      • WGC Legacy Member
      • WGC Big Give Member >
        • WGC Big Give $1,200 Individual Donation
        • WGC Big Give $1,200 Team Donation
        • WGC Big Give Process and Grantmaking Guidelines
    • WGC Emergency Response Network
    • WGC Barb Van Winkle Leadership Fund
  • Grants
  • Events
  • News
    • WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories >
      • #16 - Our Giving, Our Stories
      • #17 - State of Women and Girls in Howard County
      • #18 - Local Funding Partnerships
      • #19 - First Executive Director
      • #20 - Celebrating 20 Years of Impact!
    • WGC's 20 Years in Photos - A Snapshot
    • WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County
    • WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories Series >
      • 2023-2021 OGOS Monthly Profiles
      • OGOS Nominations
      • 2022 OGOS Black Philanthropy Month
      • 2021-2020 OGOS Black Philanthropy Month
    • WGC's (S)hero Mosaic
  • Blog
  • Contact