On Monday, August 2, 2021 we hosted our Virtual Happy Hour to Celebrate Black Philanthropy Month where we kicked-off WGC's month-long "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series and heard from Tracey Webb and Valaida Fullwood, co-architects of Black Philanthropy Month about BPM, their 10th anniversary this year, and the BPM 2021 Global Summit Series. And, we invited our guests to share your thoughts on "Why I Give" - here's what we heard: Thanks for sharing your motivation for making a difference! #BPM2021

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night for our Virtual Happy Hour to Celebrate Black Philanthropy Month!

We kicked-off WGC's month-long "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series - where we are sharing the stories of Howard County philanthropists each day in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month 2021. We hope you will read about each woman being profiled and help us to amplify the voices and stories of these amazing women on our social media pages - Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin.

We heard from Tracey Webb and Valaida Fullwood, co-architects of Black Philanthropy Month about BPM, their 10th anniversary this year, and the BPM 2021 Global Summit Series which started today - you can learn more and register at no cost here. And, Kimberly Prescott of Prescott HR started the event with a special BPM-inspired drink presentation.

The primary aims of Black Philanthropy Month, which is observed every August, are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms. And, we invited our guests to share your thoughts on "Why I Give" - here's what we heard. Thanks for sharing your motivation for making a difference! 

We are proud to be a sponsor of Black Philanthropy Month and to elevate the voices of women in our community who give back in so many ways.

We truly believe that women’s philanthropy is shaping the future for women and girls through the power of diversified and democratized collective giving. 

Thanks for joining us! #BPM2021

Sincerely,

Malynda Hawes Madzel, WGC OGOS Committee Chair
Judy Smith & Hina Naseem, WGC DEI Committee Co-Chairs
Candace Dodson-Reed, WGC Grants Committee Chair
Barb Van Winkle, WGC Chair
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director

What advice do you have for those interested in giving back?

"No amount is too small! Whether it’s $1 or $10k, every bit helps. Additionally, money is not a requirement to give. Volunteering time and donating goods make a difference as well. Finding an organization that supports a personal mission is a great way to break into the world of philanthropy. Also, look for opportunities that involve the support of the entire family. Including children is a great start for building the next generation of givers."

April has contributed to organizations that address the needs of vulnerable populations or contribute to awareness and educational programming. In addition to the WGC, her national and local support includes:

Concussion Legacy Foundation
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 
Grassroots

She also supports Project: SOAR, which she recently started to provide services, outreach, advocacy and resources to individuals struggling to reach their full potential due to personal barriers and lack of access to services.

Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2021.

#givingcircles #collectivegiving #WGCBPM2021 #BPM2021​ Double click the profile to read it as a PDF - enjoy! 

What advice do you have for those interested in giving back?

"Find the cause that moves you and give what you can and when you may be limited financially - giving your time can be just as valuable - if not more valuable - than financial support." - Faye McCray

Faye is passionate about the arts, education and criminal justice reform. Outside of the Women’s Giving Circle, she supports the work of the following organizations:

Equal Justice Initiative
National Bail Out
Howard County Poetry & Literature Society
ACLU

Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2021.

#givingcircles #collectivegiving #WGCBPM2021 #BPM2021​

Double click the profile to the left to read it as a PDF - enjoy! ​

The latest news from the WGC.

​While we are all enjoying the slower pace of summer, we are also hard at work planning for upcoming events, and our 20th Anniversary in 2022! We are also continuing to engage our community in pooling dollars so that we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone on programs that benefit women and girls. Many thanks to those who have given to the WGC recently - you are appreciated!

This is the value of a giving circle. Read the full eNewsletter here.

We are excited to celebrate Black Philanthropy Month throughout August as we elevate the voices and stories of women philanthropists in our community through WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series. And, we are hosting a free virtual Happy Hour on August 2 at 5:30 pm to kick-off our Black Philanthropy Month celebration - please join us! 

We've partnered with JustLiving Advocacy to support kids in our community with back-to-school supplies. Please consider donating and/or joining us on August 7 at an event to distribute our goal of 750 backpacks! This is a great opportunity to engage your kids in a philanthropic effort this summer.

And, we've funded the Youth in Philanthropy initiative at the Community Foundation of Howard County, and in particular helped to merge WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle into YIP with a track specifically focused on women's philanthropy. YIP just announced $25,000 in grants and we are honored to support the next generation of philanthropists in our community!

Finally, do you have a big idea for social change in Howard County? Pitch it to us by August 29 for a chance to win up to $25,000 through the Changemaker Challenge! We are excited that one $10,000 grant will be awarded to an entry for a project created by or serving women and/or girls in Howard County!

As we enter the last month of summer, be sure to connect with us on social media and read our blog to learn more about our efforts and how you can get involved in the coming months.

Thanks for all you do on behalf of our community!

Sincerely,
Barb Van Winkle
WGC Advisory Board Chair
www.womensgivingcircle.org
give * connect * engage ​

A student panel from the Community Foundation of Howard County’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program has selected nine nonprofits for its community grant awards. The grants total $25,000, with funding coming from the Youth in Philanthropy fund and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County, two field of interest funds under the Community Foundation of Howard County umbrella.

Youth in Philanthropy, a second-year program of CFHoCo, was established in 2019 to provide opportunities for high school students to learn about philanthropy firsthand. The YIP class consists of 26 students representing 13 different Howard County high schools. The students learn about community nonprofits, explore the fundraising and grant process and tackle local issues such as homelessness, hunger, domestic violence, environmental issues, arts and cultural opportunities.

“Our YIP students did a tremendous job throughout this process – learning about needs of our community and awarding grants that can make a real impact,” said Dee Athey, CFHoCo’s Director of Grants and Community Engagement. “I was so impressed and proud of their thoughtfulness, focus and competence during the review and interview processes.”

Youth in Philanthropy empowers students to solicit and evaluate grant applications and award funds based on need and effectiveness to nonprofit organizations in Howard County. The group met virtually to talk through the nominations, discuss the merits of each application and interview finalists. This year the group placed a premium on programs that enable access to basic needs, address mental health and help young girls and women.

This year Youth in Philanthropy merged with the WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle (YWGC), which included a meaningful track throughout the year specifically for young women about women's philanthropy.

“YIP participants were able to actively learn about the entire lifecycle of the grant process from the grant submission, review, interview and award phases.  In the end, they were able to gain consensus as a collective group to make decisions about contributing financially to causes they felt address basic needs in their own community. They were able to gain insight into the reasons why these non-profits were requesting the money, and how the grants would be used if selected, while becoming more aware and learning more about the various struggles these organizations and the populations they serve encounter “ said Lee Draminski, WGC Liaison to the YIP Committee.

The WGC has funded the Youth in Philanthropy program and has helped to shape and guide its growth jointly with the Community Foundation's YIP Committee.

"The WGC is proud to be a fund of the Community Foundation of Howard County, and this partnership continues to leverage and strengthen our joint efforts to promote philanthropy in the community to focus on programs that benefit women and girls" said Barb Van Winkle, WGC Chair.

Click to see the nine Howard County nonprofits selected and to read more.

Join us on Monday, August 2 at 5:30 pm for a virtual happy hour to celebrate Black Philanthropy Month and kick-off our month-long "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series! We'll hear from Tracey Webb and Valaida Fullwood, co-architects of Black Philanthropy Month about BPM and their 10th anniversary this year. And, Kimberly Prescott of Prescott HR will kick-off the event with a special drink presentation in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month!

The primary aims of Black Philanthropy Month, which is observed every August, are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms. Beginning August 1 and each day in August thereafter, the WGC will share daily profiles of Howard County philanthropists in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month 2021. Here's what we did last year. Registration is now closed.

In honor of Independence Day, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to recognize Dr. Lillian Norris-Holmes as part of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series.

Dr. Norris-Holmes is a life-long advocate and activist for children, with a passion and commitment to lift up families and communities to improve the welfare of children. She is a professional educator whose Doctoral Dissertation was "Implementing High-Quality Afterschool Programs in a High Poverty Public School District. She is also a political activist who has served on state and county political campaigns promoting candidates and elected officials who lift up families and citizens in need.  She feels her political responsibility is to "keep a finger on the moral pulse of political leaders.”  Her political work is both local and statewide, encouraging and mentoring young women to engage in the political process. She has received numerous recognitions and appointments, including being named as an Obama Fellow-Organizing for America (OFA). She serves as a Board Member of Maryland’s Advocates for Children and Youth and Common Cause Maryland where she is President-Elect, and is on the Howard County Democratic Central Committee.

We are fortunate that we have Dr. Norris-Holmes in our community working with us to elevate the voices of women and girls.

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"!

WGC has partnered with JustLiving Advocacy for a Back-to-School supply drive and we invite WGC members to help support it and help us hit our goal of filling 750 backpacks before August 2nd!

This is a great opportunity to engage your kids in a summer giving activity - buying school supplies for other kids. Here's 4 ways you can participate:

• Purchase school supplies online through JustLiving's Amazon Smile Wish List
• Purchase/collect and drop off school supplies
• Donate online to JustLiving
• Mail a check to JustLiving
• Supplies can be dropped off and/or checks can be mailed to:  9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. #319, Columbia, MD 21046

We are collecting: Crayons, Pencils and Pens, Highlighters, Erasers, Rulers, Multi Colored Folders, Notebooks, Index Cards, Composition Notebooks, Scissors, and Glue.

Last year JustLiving distributed over 500 backpacks with supplies to family and children in need with the support from Howard County families. This year JustLiving, with support from the WGC, will host the Back-to-School Supply Give-Away on Saturday, August 7 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - learn more here.

Thanks for your support!

Changemaker (n) – One who desires change in the world and, by gathering knowledge and resources, makes that change happen.

The Women's Giving Circle, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, and Community Foundation of Howard County are igniting and recognizing new and continued innovation in our community with the Changemaker Challenge. Think “Shark Tank” for social change! This biennial event awards funding for project ideas that promise to make a difference in Howard County, especially after an unprecedented 2020.​

That’s why our theme for the 2021 Changemaker Challenge is – Innovate. Cultivate. Uplift.

“We are excited to partner with Howard County’s philanthropic community to encourage big ideas that will spark social innovation to better our community through the Changemaker Challenge!” said Barb Van Winkle, WGC Advisory Board Chair.

Despite all the strengths of our community in Howard County, we recognize that many pressing problems continue to persist. Many Howard County households do not earn enough to meet a basic “survival budget” and face barriers beyond their control that limit their ability to become financially stable. Chronic diseases like diabetes disproportionately affect people of color in our community. Public transportation remains a hurdle for residents who need to get to work, school or grocery shopping without a car. The list goes on.

Fortunately, Howard County has a long history of tireless work by many individuals and organizations that have brought creative solutions to some of these pressing problems. With the Changemaker Challenge, we are excited to spark and celebrate new and continued innovation in our community.

We want to hear the best out-of-the-box ideas for social change! 

One of the $10,000 grants will be awarded to an entry for a project created by or serving women and/or girls in Howard County - applications due by August 29!

“Growing philanthropy, engaging community, collective impact, social change, and big ideas – it’s what the Women’s Giving Circle believes in and why we are proud to support the Changemaker Challenge!” said Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director.

Learn more here and please help spread the word through your networks!

Many thanks to all of our members - long-time and new - who have given to the WGC recently. 

Joan Hash, Jean Moon, Barbara Lawson, Barb Van Winkle, Sharice Hammond, Beatrice Dane, Beth Harbinson, Kimberly Agnor, Megan Bruno, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Diana Bailey

Kate Schulze (In Honor of Madge S. Schulze)
Gayle Siegel (In Honor of Jackie Edwards)

​You are appreciated!

In honor of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to recognize Catherine Hyde as part of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series. Catherine is a fearless community advocate who has worked in the social justice arena, primarily around housing insecurity.  

When her child told her, at the age of 4, that he was supposed to be a she, she did not understand transgender or gender identity until National Public Radio educated her years later. Since that awakening and education, she has volunteered as Transgender Coordinator for PFLAG Howard County and speaks and trains on transgender understanding and sensitivity. 

Catherine has been honored both locally and nationally for her work on behalf of the transgender community. She has received awards, testified before the US Senate, served on the PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and the Howard County Human Rights Commission.  

​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"!

In honor of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to recognize Ying Matties as part of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series. Ying is part of the Howard County Immigrant Justice Coalition and the Chinese American Network for Diversity and Opportunity.

Ying works on behalf of LGBTQIA+ Youth and is a founding member of Community Allies of Rainbow Youth (CARY), who are family, friends and allies of LGBTQIA+ youth in Howard County, Maryland. CARY “advocates for LGBTQIA+ youth in our schools and community, get involved in local politics, and support and uplift one another.  As many of these youth are from traditional immigrant communities, Ying works to promote understanding and compassion for them and their families.  She strongly believes “Love is Love.” Learn more about what's happening in Howard County at the PFLAG website.

She also works tirelessly on behalf of the immigrant community, seeking to bring an end to the current pervasive atmosphere of racism, hatred and fear, experienced by so many immigrants.  As part of this effort, she organized a Stop Asian Hate Rally on to honor those Asian women who were killed in a hate crime last March.  

Ying gives her time, talent and treasure to fully support both her causes and their members. 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"!

Many thanks to all of our members - long-time and new - who have given to the WGC recently. You are appreciated!

​​Cyndi Gula, Kate Schulze, Julia McCready, Donna Richardson, Jennifer Bodensiek, Lynne Schaefer, Shirley Harden, Roslyn Jones, Keedra Brown, Sandra te Plate, Shannon Schneider, Melissa Curtin, Megan Bruno, Jacqueline Burrell, Christine Meket, Nadine Green, Jade McDuffie McClary, Kimberly Agnor, Britt Spears, Beatrice Dane, Beth Harbinson, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Paula Seabright, Kari Staddon, Lisa de Hernandez, Ellen Flynn Giles, Robyn Peters, Susan Clack, Arlene Sheff, Jordan Turner, Hima Jain, Valerie Beyers, Bonnie Bricker, Kay Fandetti, Connie Matheson, Tanya Rapacz, Heather Yeung, Kathryn Ariano, Robin Sturman, Lisa Schoenbrodt, Valerie Montague, Patricia Clifford, Christina and Jim Beaudoin, Carole Fisher, Ulrike Jaller, Howard County Dads, Theresa Billow-Supple, Sharice Hammond, Jade McDuffie McClary, Jessica Feldmark

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County. We bring women together to learn about issues impacting women and girls in our community, and pool our dollars to fund programs that address those issues so we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone.  

The WGC was founded in 2002 with 16 founding members. We started almost 20 years ago with multiple giving levels as we built an endowment. Today, we have hundreds of members who have given in the last 20 years, have awarded approximately $750,000 in grants to date, and have built a $1.2 M+ endowment. 

Please Save the Date for March 8, 2022 for our 20th Anniversary Annual Celebration, on International Women's Day, and stay tuned for a number of opportunities to learn more about our history, our impact, our future plans, and how you can join us throughout 2022!

Dr. Jeffrey was born in Saigon, Viet Nam.  Her family emigrated first to Switzerland, then to the US.  She is a graduate of UMBC and the University of Maryland Dental School. Overcoming language and cultural barriers, she became a dentist with a practice in downtown Columbia. She and her husband Bob have been active philanthropists in Howard County. They were early active supporters of the Women's Giving Circle, underwriting the Junior Achievement JA Women Rising program.  Her profile outlines some of their other philanthropic ventures, which includes the Community Foundation of Howard County; FIRN; Leadership, Howard County; Howard Community College and many others dating back over thirty years.

WGC eNewsletter - April 2021

Megan Bruno, Anne Johnson, Maryland Orthodontic Specialists, Feli Sola-Carter, Horizon Foundation, Phyllis Yigdall, Margaret Wilson, Joanne Jackson, Ellen Liebert, Dee Athey, Bonnie Heneson Communications, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Jackie Crispell, Jordan Turner, Allison and Alan Korn and Clardy, Judy Barnett, Kimberly Prescott, Nette’ Stokes, Andrea Ingram, Susan Porter, Dana Delott, Laurie Scudder, Nina Yudell, Mary Jordan, Julia McCready, Jennifer Kubina, Erika Chavarria, Tanya La Salle, Lori Fuchs, Theresa Billow-Supple, Maria Ferraro, Malynda Madzel, Wendy Baird, Robyn Peters, Mary Peitz, Safa Hira, Louise Kiblet, Denise Sampson, Paula Seabright, Deirdre Mary McElroy. Rhonda Neubauer, Karen Crowder, Beverly Byron, Angela Alston, Cathy Bell, Susan Otradovec, Karen Hussey, Regina Clay Consulting Group LLC, Dawn Popp, Leslie Marsiglia, Laura Salganik, Brenda von Rautenkranz, Paula Rasera, Cheryl Griffin, Barbara Peart, Jennifer Cavey, Arlene Sheff, Robert Sheff, Katherine Zaeh, Nina and Marvin Yudell, Kathryn Haines, Mike Peduto, Karen Jensen, Barb Van Winkle, Jennifer Manner, Jason Price, Wendy Royalty, Natalie Ziegler, Jennifer Smith, Elizabeth Kromm, Gayle Siegel, Joan Hash, Alison Canning, Mary McCally, Kimberly Agnor, Janet & John Rohde, Ray Mellott, Beth Leaman, Carol Mellott, Suzie Wolfinger Schmitt, Tahira Mussarat Hussain, Robin Steele, Suriya Kaul, Naomi Slagowski, Teresa Chaconas, Hurley Group Consulting, Yolanda Bruno, Mary Cannon, Jennifer Broderick, Melissa Rosenberg, Mary Matthews, Leah Musiker, Krista Baker, Stephanie Schultz, Deborah Hurley, Lynne Schaefer, Marci Brand, Wendy Slaughter, Susan R. Buswell, Mary Peitz, Stephanie Brown, Laura Sullivan, Diana Bailey, Tanya La Salle, April Pardoe, Rebecca Gibino, Arielle Karp, Christina Beaudoin, Diane O’Connor, Gina Seyfried, Kelly O'Connor, Laura Mettle, Patricia Clifford, Sue Briggs, Susan Wilensky, Carlessia Hussein, Ellen Millhollon, Katherine Tetrault, Linda Evans, Suzanne Colvin, Patricia Wecker, Laurie Scudder, Nuala Duffy, Vickie Ethridge, Karen Crowder, Neil Davis, Judy Smith, Jean Moon, Linda and Bill Wilson, Renee Lowden, Jocelyn Apollon, Britt Spears, Ruth Japzon, Bronwyn Belling, United Way of Central Maryland, Cynthia Bell, Mary Ann Scully, Christine Meket, Sharon Runge, Joan Hash, Dana Carr, Ann Strozyk, Meg Feroli, Jaki Ulman, Hima Jain, Lisa Terry, Lois Dreisbach, Tina Broccolino, Angie Kozlowski, Sherri Witzke, Tricia Hudson, Beth Harbinson, Beatrice Dane, Linda Eggbeer, Razia Kosi, Tufton Capital Management, Ann Selnick, Amanda Hof, Michele Dudley, Berlyn & Gene Carlson, Junior League of Howard County, Ann McNary, Lynn Coleman, Kari Staddon, Caryn Lasser, Donna Richardson, Maura Dunnigan, Sharice Hammond, Jade McDuffie McClary, Joan Webb Scornaienchi, Pam Foster, Howard Hughes, Sheila Young, Courtney Moon, Valerie Mathis, Rebecca Beall, Beth Ditman, Whittney Carmer, Steven Breeden, Megan Bruno, Deanna Sakellaris, James Melonas, FIRN, Inc., Lisa Schoenbrodt, Salma Kaul, Stacie Hunt, Dorothy Doub, Tonya Aikens, Laura Ciccone, Carolyn Kelemen, Sharon Nussbaum, Buffy Illum, Deb Jung, Robin Sturman, Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts, Suellen Seigel, Robin Kittleman, Lisa Hall, Kim Drake, James Burns, Kimberly Leakey, Kristin Mentz, Suzi Padgett, National Family Resiliency Center, Inc., Elexis Lawson, Dept. Community Resources and Services, Howard County Government, Karen Pitsley, Vanessa Atterbeary, Linda Ostovitz, Linda Lamppert Leslie, Linda Kuberek, Bormel, Grice & Huyett PA, Temple Isaiah, Davis Agnor Rapaport and Skalny, Jessica Feldmark, Nina Basu, Susan Hobby, Karen Hussey, Dana Sohr, Wendy Ryan, Donna Wecker, Carol Kressen, Colleen Ratliffe, Susan Lyons, Emily Shreve, Susan Hobby, Laurie Scudder, Stephanie Schultz, Beth Singleton, Jeffrey Boutwell, Tanya La Salle, Nicole Berger, Carol Beatty, Becky Lessey, Judy Pittman, Jean Silver-Isenstadt, Margaret Shomali, Heidi Abdelhady, Kyle Reis & Sabina Taj, Deborah Gottwals, Angie Kozlowski, Barbara Fowler, Pam Long, Andrea Moore, Kristyn Berger, Roslyn Jones, Bank of America Private Bank, Crystal Konny, Lee Draminski, Donyel Bacon, Kashonna Holland, Mia Draminski, Mary Thompson