• 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
    • WGC - Get Involved
  • Give
    • WGC's 4 Distinct Ways to Give >
      • WGC Community Member >
        • WGC In Her Honor >
          • In Honor and Memory of WGC Supporter Jackie Melonas
        • WGC Core Support
        • WGC Impact 2024
      • WGC Sponsor Member >
        • Thank You 2025 Sponsors!
        • Thank You 2024 Sponsors!
        • 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's Emergency Response Network
    • WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle
    • WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive
    • WGC's Barb Van Winkle Leadership Fund
  • Grants
  • Events
  • News
    • WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County
    • WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories Series >
      • Monthly OGOS Profiles
      • Black Philanthropy Month OGOS Profiles
      • OGOS Nominations
    • WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories
    • WGC's (S)hero Mosaic
  • Blog
  • Contact
WGC OF HOWARD COUNTY
  • 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
    • WGC - Get Involved
  • Give
    • WGC's 4 Distinct Ways to Give >
      • WGC Community Member >
        • WGC In Her Honor >
          • In Honor and Memory of WGC Supporter Jackie Melonas
        • WGC Core Support
        • WGC Impact 2024
      • WGC Sponsor Member >
        • Thank You 2025 Sponsors!
        • Thank You 2024 Sponsors!
        • 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's Emergency Response Network
    • WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle
    • WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive
    • WGC's Barb Van Winkle Leadership Fund
  • Grants
  • Events
  • News
    • WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County
    • WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories Series >
      • Monthly OGOS Profiles
      • Black Philanthropy Month OGOS Profiles
      • OGOS Nominations
    • WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories
    • WGC's (S)hero Mosaic
  • Blog
  • Contact

Erika Strauss Chavarria, Founder of Columbia Community Care, Recognized as a WGC Featured (S)hero

1/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Adora Brown, WGC Student Intern

The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is highlighting Howard County “(S)heroes Among Us” this year as part of our March 8, 2021 Virtual Annual Celebration. We believe that all women are (S)heroes in their own ways - women admired for their courage and outstanding achievements. 

This year, we are proud to feature five (S)heroes Among Us who have led critical efforts on behalf of organizations that we have funded this year through our Emergency Response Network, who are focusing on widespread community needs affecting women, their families, and the broader community:

  • Jen Broderick - Bridges to Housing Stability
  • Erika Strauss Chavarria - Columbia Community Care
  • Bita Dayhoff - Community Action Council
  • Dr. Mariana Izraelson - Grassroots Crisis Intervention
  • Vanita Leatherwood - HopeWorks of Howard County

Recognized among these (S)heroes is Erika Strauss Chavarria, the founder of Columbia Community Care (CCC). She saw a need for many families; without schools, libraries, and after school programs, many children were left with a “grab and go” meal while parents struggled to balance a loss of income and a need for childcare.

Erika said, “I created CCC because I saw that many of my students and their families who were already facing hardships were concerned about how they were going to make ends meet, provide food for their families, and survive through the pandemic.”

Erika founded CCC in March of 2020 in response to these problems. Volunteers from the Howard County come together (socially distanced) to provide local families with supplies they need such as food, household care items, personal care items, and holiday toys. Erika has created a safe, healthy environment for members of the community to seek help, including making everything accessible.

“We have made it an intentional part of our mission to eliminate any and all obstacles to access. For example, we never ask for any identification or proof of need. We also provide home deliveries for folks who do not have transportation and we make sure our sites are walkable accessible. We also provide translation services for our clients and all our information is in English and Spanish,” said Erika.

​​Erika encourages people to get involved with organizations like hers that are already doing the work on the ground, from social media campaigns to donation collections. And CCC is still growing. Chavarria stated, “We are actually on a mission to create a community center that will continue upon and expand the services of CCC.”

​According to Erika, “There are so many ways that folks can help eliminate hunger in their communities! The best way and most effective way to help is by doing something unique and by doing something you enjoy.”

Picture
Please join us in thanking Erika and all WGC’s (S)heroes for their efforts. And, we hope you will join us in highlighting every day (S)heroes Among Us, by uploading a photo of YOUR Howard County (S)heroes on our WGC (S)heroes Among Us Virtual Mosaic Wall. 
 
With your help, we are highlighting women across the county before, during and after our upcoming  Virtual Annual Celebration - "Celebrating (S)heroes Among Us" on Monday, March 8, 2021 - International Women's Day, with host, WGC Advisory Board Member Candace Dodson-Reed, and Keynote Speakers:

Valaida Fullwood: Author, “Giving Back: A Tribute to Generations of African American Philanthropists", Creator, The Soul of Philanthropy, and Co-Architect, Black Philanthropy Month

Sara Lomelin: Executive Director, Philanthropy Together, and Founder of the Latino Giving Circle Network™, the Largest Network of its Kind in the Country

Who will discuss “Democratizing and Diversifying Philanthropy Through the Power of Collective Giving”

Please join us!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    WGC
    ​News

    The latest news, information, and opinion from the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, MD.

    PAST
    ​POSTS

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018

    FOCUS

    All
    Donors
    ENewsletter
    Events
    Grants
    News
    Resources

Picture
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving​." - Jennifer Woods, Chair
Picture
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 and partner with local, regional and national philanthropic organizations 
Picture
Picture
Picture

Contact Us

www.womensgivingcircle.org

    Subscribe Today!

Submit
  • 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
    • WGC - Get Involved
  • Give
    • WGC's 4 Distinct Ways to Give >
      • WGC Community Member >
        • WGC In Her Honor >
          • In Honor and Memory of WGC Supporter Jackie Melonas
        • WGC Core Support
        • WGC Impact 2024
      • WGC Sponsor Member >
        • Thank You 2025 Sponsors!
        • Thank You 2024 Sponsors!
        • 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's Emergency Response Network
    • WGC's Young Women's Giving Circle
    • WGC's "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive
    • WGC's Barb Van Winkle Leadership Fund
  • Grants
  • Events
  • News
    • WGC's State of Women and Girls in Howard County
    • WGC's Our Giving, Our Stories Series >
      • Monthly OGOS Profiles
      • Black Philanthropy Month OGOS Profiles
      • OGOS Nominations
    • WGC's 20 Years, 20 Stories
    • WGC's (S)hero Mosaic
  • Blog
  • Contact