The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to amplify the voices and stories of women givers in our community through our regular series "Our Giving, Our Stories". Inspiring philanthropic leadership and increasing giving by amplifying the voices of women and girls are among the goals of this effort and we are committed to advancing this important work in our community.​

This month we are profiling Dr. Marilyn Berchie-Gialamas, Founder of  Trinity Maternal Wellness Inc.:

We asked Marilyn what moves her to give her time, talent, and financial resources and here's what she said:

"Giving back isn’t just about money—your time, energy, and skills matter just as much. Volunteer, serve on a board, or support a fundraiser. Think about what causes inspire you, then explore local groups like the Autism Society, CCTA, ACS, or Howard EcoWorks. Visit their websites to see how you can help. And if you’re lucky enough to have financial resources, please consider supporting general operating funds—the backbone of every nonprofit’s work and often hardest to fund."

We also asked her when she started giving to issues that are important to her, and she said:

"I started giving back early as a child and as a Girl Scout in Howard County. Service was built into my upbringing through volunteering, and I also completed required community service hours in middle and high school. Those experiences shaped my values and helped me understand the importance of showing up consistently for others and staying connected to the needs of the community."

And, we asked what advice she has for those interested in giving back, and she said:

"Start where you are, with what you have, and choose a mission close to your heart. Don’t wait until it’s “perfect” or you have more time or money small, consistent contributions matter. Learn from the community you want to support, build relationships, and commit to serving in ways that are respectful and sustainable. Find one organization you trust and show up regularly."

Here's several organizations that Marilyn currently supports:

• Trinity Maternal Wellness
• Columbia Community Care
• Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County

Thank you, Marilyn, for all that you do for our community!

Learn more about the ​WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" and nominate a woman today! We are always accepting the names of women throughout the year who may be profiled for their inspiring philanthropic leadership.

The WGC's Young Women’s Giving Circle (YWGC) is one of the most powerful ways the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County invests in the next generation of women leaders. Designed for high school and college-age young women, the YWGC introduces participants to philanthropy, leadership, and civic engagement while giving them real opportunities to learn, lead, and make change in their community. Learn more here

YWGC members and interns participate in hands-on learning throughout the year, including grantmaking, issue education, leadership development, and advocacy. As we begin the new year, the group is already off to a strong start.

At their first meeting of the year, YWGC participants focused on building one of the most important leadership skills of all: the ability to speak up with confidence and clarity. WGC Advisory Board member Cheryl Gray facilitated an engaging session focused on presentation skills - an especially timely topic given the Young Women’s Giving Circle’s growing role in advocacy this year.

As WGC Grants Committee Co-Chair Paula Seabright shared, "Advocacy is a central focus of the YWGC intern program this year ... to help prepare interns to testify in support of menstrual hygiene legislation expected to come before the Maryland General Assembly, participants worked with Cheryl to strengthen their presentation skills, learn how to communicate their message effectively, and build confidence in sharing their voices publicly."

These skills will be critical as the interns prepare to advocate for policies that directly impact women and girls - an issue area that aligns closely with WGC’s longstanding commitment to menstrual health, dignity, and equity. Stay tuned for more details about the bills under consideration this legislative session and how you can support them. We are proud to see these young women stepping into leadership roles and using their voices to create change.

The Young Women’s Giving Circle represents the future of women’s philanthropy and civic leadership in Howard County. If you would like to support these amazing young women you can donate below, thank you!

Dear Friends,

As we close out another powerful year of collective giving, we are reminded of the strength, compassion, and vision that women in our community bring to philanthropy every single day - the Power of WE.

Together, WE continue to build a vibrant, inclusive, and generous giving circle - one that strives to uplift women and girls and strengthen Howard County in meaningful ways.

This year, WE:
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• Engaged many new and current donors, all of whom expanded our collective impact as a fund of The Community Foundation of Howard County.
• Hosted the WGC's Big Give 2025, where women and girls explored philanthropy and made over $35,000 in collective grant decisions. The WGC's Big Give 2026 is already open and we hope you'll join us!
• Gave nearly $75,000 in grants, including through our WGC Emergency Response Network, supporting women and girls in our community. See our 2025 grantmaking here.
• Published “Elevating to Evolve” - a groundbreaking report in partnership with the Horizon Foundation, amplifying the voices and leadership of Black women nonprofit leaders in Howard County. Read the report here.
• Advanced menstrual equity through our WGC Break the Cycle Period Product Drive and the inspiring leadership of the WGC's Young Women’s Giving Circle. Learn more here.

As we look ahead to 2026, your year-end gift of any size will strengthen our ability to meet the moment, respond to community needs, and continue building our giving circle, grounded in generosity, equity, and the Power of WE.

Thank you for your ongoing support of women and girls - click here to give today!

With appreciation,

Jennifer Woods, WGC Chair
Candace Dodson Reed, Incoming WGC Chair
Kashonna Marrow, Incoming WGC Vice Chair
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director
WGC's 2025-2026 Board of Directors
 

• P.S. Your gift today helps fuel our work year-round - please consider making a one-time or recurring donation before December 31 to support our collective impact.

• P.P.S. You can also support the WGC by becoming a 2026 Sponsor! Sponsorship includes tickets to our March 4, 2026 Annual Celebration & Pink Party, "The Power of WE: Courageous Philanthropy for Complex Times,” featuring keynote speaker Hali Lee, author of The Big WE. Join us as a sponsor and be part of an unforgettable evening celebrating women’s philanthropy.

Thank you to everyone who showed up this frosty morning to support the Women's Giving Circle/Young Women's Giving Circle's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive Up & Drop Off!

Our amazing YWGC interns were out in full force collecting and organizing products from the many donors and volunteers who joined us to support women and girls in Howard County. As Incoming Chair Candace Dodson-Reed said, "it may be cold, but you could feel the warmth!"

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC) hosts our Young Women’s Giving Circle (YWGC) for high school aged young women to learn about philanthropy, leadership, community, and specific issues like women’s health and period poverty. 

"Since its launch, the Women’s Giving Circle’s Break the Cycle Period Product Drive has addressed a critical and often overlooked need - access to menstrual products for women and girls experiencing poverty" said WGC's YWGC and Break the Cycle Chair Paula Seabright. "This initiative not only provides essential supplies but also breaks down stigma, builds awareness, and strengthens collective action around menstrual equity in our community."

Through this effort, WGC has raised over $10,000 to provide directly to nonprofit partners that support women and girls with period products - ensuring they can purchase what is most needed through their suppliers at lower costs. In addition, we have collected hundreds of pounds of donated products that are distributed to schools, shelters, and community agencies across Howard County.

Today's WGC/YWGC "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive Up & Drop Off brought in 100+ pounds of products and several hundred dollars to purchase products to provide to our nonprofit partners in the county who serve women and girls. Special thank you to Daria J. Willis and Howard Community College for giving us space to collect products for our drive. 

Thank you to everyone who supported today's drive - including our YWGC interns, WGC leaders, donors, volunteers, and our many elected officials, candidates, and a cute puppy or two who stopped by to show their support, and even to dance a little in the cold - we appreciate you all!

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC) hosts our Young Women’s Giving Circle (YWGC) for high school aged young women to learn about philanthropy, leadership, community, and specific issues like women’s health and period poverty. 

Last night, YWGC intern Ellie Vernick, on behalf of the WGC's YWGC, testified to the Howard County Board of Education regarding the availability of period products in Howard County schools.

“The best philanthropists work for change" said WGC YWGC and "Break the Cycle" Chair. "That's just what our YWGC interns did last night as they testified at the Howard County Board of Education meeting, urging the school system to fulfill the requirements of state legislation and stock period products in school restrooms.”

Here's what YWGC's Ellie Vernick said, on behalf of the WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle:

"My name is Ellie Vernick, and I am here representing the WGC's Young Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, a high school student intern group dedicated to addressing women’s health and combating period poverty in our community.

• Under Maryland House Bill 205, each county board of education is required to ensure that each public school provides, at no charge to students, menstrual hygiene products via dispensers in the women’s restrooms at the school. However, throughout the past few months, many HCPSS students have noticed that the menstrual hygiene dispensers available in schools have failed time and time again to be restocked. More often than not, the dispensers are left empty, or broken. Starting in June of 2025, my fellow interns from the Young Women’s Giving Circle have been tracking the status of menstrual product dispensers. Our audit - which covers majority of HCPSS high schools (including Hammond, Long Reach, Marriott Ridge, Howard, River Hill, Atholton, Glenelg, Guilford Park) and several middle schools - found that, on average, none of the 1–4 dispensers installed per school were stocked. At best, only 1 or 2 of the dispensers were filled per school. Since the beginning of this school year in September, our reevaluation of the dispensers shows a very similar trend, with the dispensers continuing to go unstocked. 
• Additionally, there are no ways to let the relevant staff know that the dispensers need restocking, causing this problem to continue to stay unresolved. Even more concerning, we have found that 50% of schools often lock the bathrooms that contain dispensers, so that even if the dispensers were stocked, the students are still prevented from reaching them. 
• As long as students are unable to access these facilities and the corresponding products that are supposed to be found within these dispensers, these girls remain at a significant disadvantage, directly contradicting the intent of the law. Menstrual products are not a luxury- they are a necessity. This isn’t a problem that girls need to be thinking about during the school day; they are here to learn, and it is the county’s responsibility to ensure that these students can do just that, comfortably and with dignity. 

Thank you for your time, and we urge you to take immediate action to restore consistent access to menstrual hygiene products in all HCPSS schools."

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC) celebrated its commitment to collective leadership and community impact during its Leadership & Legacy Happy Hour on Wednesday evening at the Kahlert Foundation Complex at Howard Community College. The event brought together donors, partners, Advisory Board members, elected officials, and candidates to honor WGC’s leadership history and to look ahead to the next chapter - it was wonderful to see so many long-time and new donors!

Honoring Leadership and a Year of Strengthening the Circle

Outgoing WGC Chair Jennifer Woods was recognized for her years of dedicated service and steady leadership.

“This year has been about deepening our alignment, strengthening our Advisory Board, and preparing the WGC for the future,” Woods said. “I’m proud of the clarity, stability, and shared commitment we’ve built together.”

Jennifer has led the WGC with focus and a deep commitment to building strong relationships across the Advisory Board and committees, ensuring the organization is poised for long-term success.

Incoming Chair Candace Dodson-Reed was introduced as the next leader to guide the WGC. Dodson-Reed brings more than 25 years of cross-sector leadership experience across government, corporate, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. She is a strategic thinker known for driving effective outcomes, fostering inclusive leadership, shaping organizational strategy, and building strong community partnerships.

“I am honored to step into this role,” Dodson-Reed said. “The Women’s Giving Circle is powered by collaborative leadership and a shared commitment to community. Together, we are well positioned for this next chapter.”

The WGC also announced that Kashonna Marrow will assume the role of Vice Chair. Marrow is an inspiring speaker, leadership coach, author, and corporate trainer whose work centers on personal and professional transformation. She brings a dynamic perspective to organizational leadership and a strong commitment to elevating women and girls in the community.

A Strong Partnership with the Community Foundation

New Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHC) President & CEO Melissa Curtin highlighted the deep and ongoing partnership between the WGC and the Foundation. As a fund of the Community Foundation, the WGC is a central part of CFHC’s philanthropic work.

“The Women’s Giving Circle is our most active fund, and we are so proud of all that has been accomplished and the impact it has made over the years,” Curtin said. “Our partnership is rooted in shared values and a shared commitment to strengthening philanthropy in Howard County. We look forward to continuing this collaboration as the WGC enters its next phase of leadership.”

Leadership Transition Strengthens Both Organizations

The WGC announced that Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz will retire at the end of 2025 from her role as Executive Director. She will transition into a newly created shared role as Senior Advisor for Philanthropy & Communications for both CFHC and the WGC, supporting strategic communications, philanthropic storytelling, and coordinated initiatives across the county’s philanthropic ecosystem.

“I am deeply proud of this circle and the women who lead it,” Beaudoin-Schwartz said. “This new role allows me to continue supporting both organizations with a shared approach to communication, collective giving, and community impact.”

Ensuring a Strong Foundation for the Future

Governance Committee Co-Chairs Jessica Moreno and Lynne Schaefer, who led the transition work throughout the year, emphasized the importance of thoughtful planning and collaborative leadership.

“Our focus this year was ensuring a smooth, transparent, and well-supported transition,” Moreno and Schaefer shared. “We worked closely with the Advisory Board to strengthen roles, align responsibilities, and position the WGC for long-term success. It has been an honor to help guide this process and support the leadership that will carry the WGC into its next chapter.”

Collective Leadership: 2026 WGC Advisory Board

The WGC announced its full 2026 Executive Committee and Advisory Board, reflecting continuity and shared purpose as the Circle enters its 24th year:

2026 Executive Committee:

• Candace Dodson-Reed, Chair
• Kashonna Marrow, Vice Chair
• Lee Draminski, Secretary
• Lynne Schaefer, Treasurer & Operations Committee Co-Chair
• Laura Bacon, Grants Committee Co-Chair
• Cheryl Gray, Donor Engagement Committee Co-Chair
• Jade McClary, Donor Engagement Committee Co-Chair
• Jessica Moreno, Operations Committee Co-Chair
• Paula Seabright, Grants Committee Co-Chair
• Jennifer Woods, Immediate Past Chair

2026 Advisory Board Members: include Alison Canning, Maxine Clark, Shaundra Turner Jones, Mary Jordan, Kim Lightfoot, Yolanda F. Sonnier, Robin Stimson, Nette’ Stokes, Barb Van Winkle, and CFHC President & CEO Melissa Curtin.

Celebrating Legacy and Recognizing Leadership

WGC also announced the creation of the Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz Women’s Philanthropy Award, an annual award recognizing women leaders who advance the lives of women and girls in Howard County. The award includes a $5,000 grant directed to a local nonprofit selected by the honoree.

The Future in Action

Incoming Grants Committee Co-Chair Paula Seabright highlighted how the future of the WGC is already taking shape through the leadership of WGC's Young Women’s Giving Circle interns and their work on advocacy, service, and the upcoming Break the Cycle Period Product Drive. She recognized the interns who attended the event and celebrated their growing impact across the county.

“Our young women are leading with compassion, courage, and conviction - and they’re already changing the conversation about period poverty in our community,” Seabright said. “Their work shows us exactly what the future of philanthropy looks like.”

Looking Ahead

The WGC previewed its 2026 Annual Celebration & Pink Party, themed “The Power of WE: Courageous Philanthropy for Complex Times” scheduled for March 4, 2026, at the Kahlert Foundation Complex with keynote speaker Hali Lee, trailblazing author of The Big WE and one of the country’s most influential voices in collective giving. Tickets and Sponsorships can be purchased here.

About the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County

Founded in 2002, the Women’s Giving Circle is a community of over 1,800 donors supporting programs that benefit women and girls in Howard County. To date, WGC has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants and built a $1.1 million endowment to sustain long-term impact. The Women’s Giving Circle is a fund of The Community Foundation of Howard County.

By Wawira Waiganjo
WGC Young Women's Giving Circle "Break the Cycle" Intern

This weekend Paula Seabright from the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and Isha Ande and Tanvi Anand from the Mount Hebron Period Club and I attended the Maryland Legislative Agenda for Women (MLAW) Fall Conference - "Women Lead in Maryland: Protecting Our Rights"

This was my first time attending an MLAW Conference, and it was an incredibly informative experience. I learned a lot about how bills are proposed and how much collaboration and passion go into each idea.

It was inspiring to see so many groups present thoughtful and motivated proposals on issues that truly matter.

Ms. Paula Seabright and Isha Ande presented a bill being sponsored by Delegate Jessica Feldmark, on expanding period product access in higher education. Their proposal was met with enthusiasm and constructive feedback, including suggestions such as adding information about the cost of period products to strengthen the bill. Other groups shared proposals on topics ranging from increasing the availability of substitute workers for early education facilities to expanding protections for sexual assault survivors; each offering new perspectives and solutions.

When Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth spoke, she was honest about the challenges of passing legislation, but she also encouraged us to stay engaged, to volunteer, advocate, and keep pushing for progress.

In a time when it’s easy to lose hope, this conference reminded me that we do have the power to create change!

At the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, we believe that when our community comes together, we can make a powerful difference - especially for women, girls, and families in need.

With the impending loss of emergency SNAP benefits and the impacts of the federal shutdown, we know that many of our neighbors are struggling to access basic food and product resources and support.

These challenges highlight why collective giving matters - when we pool our dollars, voices, and resources we can respond quickly to urgent needs and help fill critical gaps.

If you or someone you know needs food or product support right now, please know that you are not alone - help is available, and your community is here for you.

​And, WGC is committed to sharing information, raising awareness, and mobilizing support for those in need in our community.

Here is a list of local partners and organizations offering food and product assistance across Howard County:
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• Community Action Council (CAC) & Howard County Food Bank

The Community Action Council of Howard County (CAC) operates the Howard County Food Bank, located at
9385 Gerwig Lane, Suite J, Columbia, MD 21046. The Food Bank offers family-choice shopping, fresh produce, dairy, frozen meats, and pantry staples.

• Columbia Community Care

Columbia Community Care (CCC) provides free groceries, personal care items, and baby supplies at several distribution sites across the county, and can deliver to residents who cannot travel.

• Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center Pantry

The Grassroots Pantry supports individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, or crisis. Community members can access the food pantry at the Grassroots Day Resource Center at Leola Dorsey.

• Howard County Health Department: Food Access & Resource Locator

The Howard County Health Department’s Food Access and Resource Locator is an interactive map that helps residents find nearby pantries, food distribution events, and community gardens.

• Howard County Animal Control and Adoption Center Food Bank

​If you are a Howard County resident who needs assistance with feeding your pet, please call us at 410-313-2780 ext. 0 for information about our PET FOOD BANK. We are here to help. 

• S.A.F.E Food Pantry

The S.A.F.E. Food Pantry serves clients with food allergies - distributing gluten-free and allergy-friendly food on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am-noon at the NonProfit Collaborative located at 9770 Patuxent Woods Drive in Columbia, MD.

• United Way of Central Maryland: 2-1-1 Helpline

If you’re not sure where to start, dial 2-1-1 or visit 211md.org. The United Way of Central Maryland’s 2-1-1 Helpline connects residents to food resources, emergency shelter, utility assistance, and other essential services - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Together, we can make sure women, girls, and families in Howard County have access to the food and support they need -because when we give collectively, we create a stronger, more caring community for everyone. If you are able, please consider donating to or volunteering with one of these partners - every act of generosity helps feed hope and strengthen our community.