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.
 
One of our stated goals is to increase the life skills of women and girls, which we are focused on through our grantmaking. We are also working to meet this goal by hosting an HCPSS Student Intern this year, recognizing that internships can provide a real-world learning experience that can help increase the life skills of young women, open doors, and shape future paths in college and beyond.
 
We recently welcomed our new Student Intern, Lucia Denmeade to the WGC. Lucia is a senior at Howard High School, and already has a good deal of communications, leadership, and marketing experience as the Vice President of the Howard High School Social Studies Honor Society, and through previous internship work with the Howard County Council, the District Court of Maryland, and the Maryland General Assembly.
 
One thing Lucia is supporting this year is our Feminine Hygiene Product Drive, where we are collecting donated products and money to distribute to the Community Action Council/Howard County Foodbank, and Columbia Community Care to distribute to women and girls in our community. We are excited to be able to help provide much-needed items to women and girls in our community.
 
We are thrilled to have Lucia supporting the WGC's Membership and Events Committee, and invited her to share some thoughts about interning with the WGC:
 
1. We are so excited you are working with the WGC this year! Why did you want to take time during your senior year to intern with the WGC?
 
“I have always been interested in law and this year I am researching reproductive rights as part of an independent research course. I thought I would take a step out of my comfort zone and learn more about the people that these broad legal issues are actually affecting. I reached out to the WGC in order to learn more about these issues, while also giving back to my community.”
 
2. Now that you've joined our Membership & Events Committee, what are you working on that interests you?
 
“So far, I have been working on our year-long Feminine Hygiene Product Drive. I have met with branch managers at each of the libraries in the county to set up containers for the drive, and will be working with them in the future to manage the drive year-round. This drive is very interesting to me because lack of feminine hygiene products is such an important issue for people in any community.”
 
3. What is the most interesting thing you've learned so far about women's philanthropy and giving to programs that benefit women and girls? What would you like us to know?
 
“The most interesting thing that I have been able to do so far is just to attend Events Committee meetings, as well as conversing with women throughout the community to get the drive put into motion. It has been so inspiring and the project has only just begun. The Women’s Giving Circle does so much to help the Howard County community, and I am very grateful to be a part of it.”
 
Thank you for your experience, ideas, and hard work Lucia … welcome!

By Liz Bobo
​Former WGC Advisory Board Member 2003-2007
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Coming in on the ground floor of the Women’s Giving Circle in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland was a great opportunity for me to take a look back at my life as an adult woman.

I majored in literature in college at the University of Maryland. A few years later I attended and graduated from law school as a young mom with two children. Living with my family adjacent to Columbia I developed an interest in how James Rouse went about building that new town, as he named it,  “a garden for growing people“.

Now, at the age of 78, looking back on my life as a young woman, I see a quite shy person. In the late sixties, a friend told me about a women’s group that gathered on a weekly basis in Columbia’s first village centers-sometimes Wilde Lake and sometimes Harpers Choice. I can visualize myself so clearly sitting on a bench in the corner of the room with my knees drawn up and my arms around my legs. I would literally pray that no one would notice me much less call my name. Yes I was very shy.

I don’t know where that shyness went, but as the years passed I became involved as a community activist in Howard County. I led an organization of neighbors encouraging our county government to avoid environmentally degrading the many stream valleys along the Middle Patuxent River which ran through the new town.

In years following, I led the community action effort to build Howard County General Hospital and give it time to get on its feet before adding competing hospitals. This led me to develop working relationships with elected representatives and community activists from other communities between Baltimore and Washington.

As I became more recognized as a community leader, I eventually campaigned to become a member of the Howard County Council, and, after eight years serving on that body, two years as chairperson, I ran and won election to the position of Howard County Executive. I was the first female county executive in the state of Maryland. There was considerable talk about a woman not being able to handle the job. That talk ceased when during my term in office, Howard County became the first in the state of Maryland to receive a AAA bond rating.

After 20 years serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing West Columbia and parts of Ellicott City, I chose to end my time as an elected official.  During my last year in office, my first grandchild, Zachary, succumbed to a brain tumor which had first been discovered years before, and following several years in remission, came back.

Zachary spent a good deal of time with me during his last years, having  a profound impact on my spiritual life. I attended a weeklong silent retreat  led by a Buddhist monk for five consecutive years. My meditation practice has led me to a deeper more pervasive way of thinking about life.

I am so grateful to have had the experience of attending the Women’s Center in the early days of Columbia and also of being a part of the Women’s Giving Circle in later years.

I offer a deep bow of gratitude to those women who are keeping it alive.

What moves you to give your time, talent and financial resources?

​"I joined the Harriet Tubman Foundation in  2002.  I felt that the story of the Harriet Tubman High School should be told.  

Many people were unaware of the history of the Harriet Tubman High School.  When the building is completed, the story will be shared with the community."

​ - Bessie Bordenave

Read more here - "Bessie Bordenave, Dedicated to Preserving a Legacy"

Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories", a year-long series of giving profiles designed to celebrate women's philanthropy and amplify the voices of women and girls in Howard County.

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

We are so honored!

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County was honored on Sunday, January 16th by the Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission and the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity as the recipient of the Living the Dream Organizational Award for our "steadfast commitment to preserving and promoting the teachings and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in our work and service."

"It is such a honor to have won this award and to participate in the celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." said WGC Chair Barb Van Winkle. "My heart is full."

The annual “Living the Dream” Award recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations (community, civic or religious) that promote the teachings and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through community involvement in Howard County.

"The program was inspiring! Many thanks to the MLK Commission for recognizing the WGC for 20 years of service to help women and girls 'Live the Dream'” said Malynda Madzel, Chair of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" Committee.

You can watch the full ceremony here

2022 is our 20th Anniversary Year!
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This year marks 20 years that we have been a part of the Howard County community. And, by the end of 2022 we will have given $1M+ to our nonprofit partners through 250+ grants, and will have a $1.3M endowment, raised from 1,600+ donors, which will ensure that there are funds to support women and girls in our community in perpetuity.

We are excited for the year ahead ... with numerous efforts planned and many opportunities for growth this year - for the WGC, our members, our grantee partners, and our community as we celebrate 20 years of impact.

Here are five opportunities for growth and impact in 2022 as we celebrate our 20th anniversary year:

• GRANTS: Give $200,000. WGC will continue to increase and enhance our grantmaking, including through our new Social Justice Grant, building on our Emergency Response Network, and finalizing our DEI grants framework, and will give $200,000 in 2022 as part of our 20th anniversary year.

 

• MEMBERSHIP: Raise $200,000. WGC is offering a new and more inclusive menu of membership opportunities of 4 distinct ways to give, including the roll-out of our new “Big Give” membership opportunity.

 

• EVENTS: Give, Learn, Network & Celebrate.  WGC will celebrate our 20th Anniversary year at our upcoming WGC Virtual Annual Celebration on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - International Women's Day, with Keynote Speaker Jeannie Infante Sager, Director of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, who will discuss "Gaps and Growth in Philanthropic Support for Women and Girls". And, we'll host a panel conversation on "The State of Women and Girls in Howard County," provide highlights of our last 20 years, and discuss what we have planned ahead. We’ll also offer more events throughout the year including our "Pink Party in the Park" celebration in Summer 2022.

 

• GOVERNANCE: Build our Strength. Continue to strengthen our Advisory Board, focus on growing our leadership and committees, and bolster our overall core strength.

 

• STRATEGIC DIRECTION: Shape our Future.  Further develop and strengthen our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, implement the framework being developed within all of WGC’s work, and undertake a year-long strategic planning process to shape our future.

Here’s what WGC accomplished in 2021 and here’s a snapshot of 20 Years of WGC Impact by the numbers.
We look forward to continued learning, sharing, celebrating, partnership, growth and impact as we focus on supporting programs that benefit women and girls in Howard County in 2022.

Thanks for being a part of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County – we look forward to a great year in 2022, together!

Barb Van Winkle, Chair
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director

The WGC is building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County, Maryland and can be found at: www.womensgivingcircle.org
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Columbia, MD - The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is pleased to announce the addition of three new members to its Advisory Board, as well as the full slate of Executive Committee and Advisory Board members for 2022. 

The newly elected Advisory Board members are Laura Bacon, Kashonna Holland, and Jade McDuffie McClary, Esq.  

“I am thrilled to welcome these three talented women, each of whom bring diverse experience and unique backgrounds to the Women’s Giving Circle” said Women’s Giving Circle Advisory Board Chair, Barb Van Winkle. “Each of them has deep community knowledge and a passion for philanthropy, and we are fortunate to have them by our side as we work to shape the future for women and girls in Howard County through the power of collective giving.”

We are very grateful to Jillianne Crescenzi, Mireille Grangenois, Christine Meket, and Hina Naseem, who are leaving the WGC Advisory Board after years of dedicated leadership. 

The Women’s Giving Circle 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.

Joining the WGC Advisory Board to help us meet our mission are:
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Laura Bacon is the Founder and CEO of The 3rd, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, co-created, community of Women of Color entrepreneurs. The 3rd believes Women of Color need a space to build, execute, and thrive: “We need access. We need skill building. We need funding. We need collaboration. We need accountability. We need sister friends. We need a community that understands our unique gifts and the unique challenges we face.” Laura creates spaces where people can show up as the best version of themselves. Her life and work centers around community building. For 14 years, she channeled that through her work in education. She’s also worked as company manager in theaters, an artists' manager at an opera, a mentor teacher, and most recently she’s settled into her passion, entrepreneurship and community building. Her talent is in putting all the right people in a space to make something special. Laura is a member and currently serves on the WGC’s Events Committee.

“I am interested in joining the WGC because I believe that the entities we build should be as strong and as profitable as we'd like them to be, and above all, that they have a lasting impact on our communities,” said Laura.

Kashonna Holland is an engaging keynote speaker, an inspiring coach, a motivational author, and an insightful corporate trainer. Kashonna is the President & CEO of Simply Kashonna, a business built to promote BOLD, FEARLESS and COURAGEOUS living. She goes beyond surface issues to address the pink elephants that inhibit personal, professional and spiritual potential. Kashonna has helped many people walk through the ambiguity of their lives and on to defining their life’s purpose by discovering their authentic self. Both, in the corporate arena and in the nonprofit world, strategic growth and development of people have always been the focal point of her service. Corporately, she has held positions in both Human Resources, as well as the Staffing industry. Additionally, Kashonna spent years in an executive pastoral role where crisis intervention and spiritual guidance were her primary responsibilities. Understanding that leadership training and development is essential to any corporation or organization’s growth, Kashonna launched SK Leading Forward, which is dedicated to enhancing employee engagement, performance, productivity and morale. Kashonna is a member and currently serves on the WGC’s Membership & Development Committee.

“I believe in the mission and the focus of the Women's Giving Circle” said Kashonna. ” I believe in building community and I understand that it takes financial capacity to do so … providing philanthropists with a platform that supports their efforts to address the deficiency of resources many women have, is both humbling and an honor.”

Jade McDuffie McClary, Esq. is an attorney for the Home Preservation Project at the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland. Jade is responsible for training and mentoring volunteer lawyers to help homeowners with estate planning and homeownership loss prevention issues, such as tax sale and foreclosures. She is committed to helping low-income homeowners preserve their intergenerational wealth, which oftentimes, is the family home.
Previously, Jade practiced family law in Howard County, drafted bills for the Maryland General Assembly, and clerked for the Honorable Cathy H. Serrette in Prince George’s County. Jade has a degree in Mass Communications from University of South Carolina and a law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She currently serves as a member of the Carey Law Alumni Board and is committed to mentoring students interested in public interest law. 
Jade is a member and currently serves on the WGC’s Events Committee. From 2020 to 2021, Jade also served on the WGC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee where she carefully analyzed the Events Committee’s practices. She is continuing her DEI work by helping the Events Committee implement the initiatives she and her team recommended. 

“I am interested in joining the Advisory Board because I am passionate about WGC's mission and want to get more involved in spreading the message about collective giving to benefit our community,” said Jade.

WGC's 2022 Advisory Board:

WGC Executive Committee

Officers:

Barb Van Winkle, Chair
Jennifer Bodensiek, Vice Chair
Kim Agnor, Treasurer and Governance Committee Chair
Lee Draminski, Secretary
Judy Smith, WGC Strategist

Alison Canning, Immediate Past Chair, Grants Committee Co-Chair
Melissa Curtin, Membership & Development Committee Chair
Mary Thompson, Events Committee Chair
Candace Dodson-Reed, Grants Committee Co-Chair
Lynne Schaefer - Finance Committee Chair

Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director *Ex Officio

WGC Advisory Board Members

Laura Bacon
Maxine Clark
Alice Giles
Kashonna Holland
Jade McDuffie McClary
April Force Pardoe 
Barbara Peart
Beverly White-Seals, CFHoCo President & CEO - Advisory Board Liaison *Ex-Officio
Nette’ Stokes

Dee Athey - CFHoCo Director of Grants and Community Engagement - Staff Liaison  

Thank you!

Barb Van Winkle, Chair
Candace Dodson-Reed and Alison Canning, WGC Grants Committee Co-Chairs
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Executive Director

Maryland Matters
Guest Commentary
 
November 23, 2021

By Candace Dodson-Reed and Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz

There is ample data that makes the case for the value of diversity in corporate, education, private and public sector leadership. A quick internet search reveals that companies and organizations that embrace and value diversity in leadership outperform their peers. And the relationships that are formed and nurtured may even — someday — keep pace with the financial returns.

The data about representation in leadership positions, however, is discouraging.

In the U.S., underrepresented ethnic groups make up 40% of the population but only 12.5% of board directors. Black directors make up just 4% and Black women make up just 1.5% of the 20,000 plus directors. And according to a 2021, Fortune magazine article on women CEOs, in 2021, the number of women running businesses on the Fortune 500 hit an all-time record: 41. However, of the 41, only six are women of color and two identify as Black women.

And, if you look at the leadership of public institutions, nonprofit organizations and commissions, you’ll find that without an intentional focus, the issue is the same. Though we do not yet have this specific data in Maryland, and a bill put forth by Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne Jones may begin to address this issue, we can make a reasonable assumption that the data in our state is similar.

Enter, philanthropy.

Introduced by Speaker Jones during the last legislative session, House Bill 1210 is intended to encourage organizations to address issues related to board and leadership diversity. Inspired by HB1210, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County has invested in helping to create a pipeline of women of color leaders through a new funding partnership with The 3rd and The Highland Project — this partnership is to implement a leadership development program for women of color in Howard County.

The Women’s Giving Circle is providing a $20,000 multi-year grant to The 3rd as an investment in the growth of the organization broadly, and specifically to help support increased representation for women of color in leadership positions in the county. This leadership development program will be introduced as part of the services offered at The 3rd and will provide information, training, resources and connections for increased representation on local committees, task forces, boards of directors and other leadership bodies in Howard County.

The 3rd is a nonprofit organization that is building a space that fosters dreams, creates community and provides mentorship, which enables women of color to turn their ideas into economic power and freedom. As a co-created community of entrepreneurs, The 3rd has been developed with the belief that women of color need a space to build, execute and thrive, and also need access to skill building, collaboration and accountability.

As part of this multi-year grant, the Women’s Giving Circle is also providing a $10,000 grant to The Highland Project, a national effort that is cultivating a coalition of Black women who are leading communities, institutions and systems in the creation of multi-generational wealth and change where they live and serve.

The Highland Project will provide strategic guidance and coaching to The 3rd during the developmental stage of this personalized leadership development program. This partnership will support the growth of The 3rd overall, and this new leadership development program in particular will be modeled on a version of the Highland Project, with the goal to help cultivate a pipeline of women of color in all sectors in Howard County.

The Women’s Giving Circle is building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County. 

In 2022, we will celebrate 20 years of impact, including giving over $1 million in grants to our nonprofit partners and building a $1.3 million endowment from over 1,600 donors to ensure there is funding for women and girls in perpetuity.
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 intent of this grant is woven into our mission, vision, goals, statement of unity, diversity, equity and inclusion focus, and our efforts to raise awareness of gender disparities, and we are proud to collectively invest in leadership opportunities for women of color in our community.

This is the power of a giving circle.

Giving circles bring many more — and more widely representative — everyday donors to the table to help create more equitable communities including women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ people, different giving capacities, youth, people in rural communities, religious minorities and more.

And the impact is growing.

There are currently over 2,000 giving circles in the U.S. that engage over 150,000 people, who have collectively given over $1.29B to communities across the country. Many are focused on democratizing and diversifying philanthropy, and those who participate often do so alongside other passionate, empowered, diverse individuals who are intentionally and collaboratively giving to create the world they want to see.

This is our focus.
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We are proud to partner nationally with The Highland Project and invest locally in The 3rd to support their focus on gender and race equity, and specifically on leadership opportunities for women of color.

The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, and the Community Foundation of Howard County awarded a total of $60,000 at the 2021 Changemaker Challenge, an event focused on sparking innovation and fresh thinking to address some of Howard County’s most pressing issues.

Ten finalists presented their ideas for social change to a live virtual audience of over 700 community members and a panel of judges.
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The winners of this year’s competition are:
​

• Alston for Athletes, which won $25,000 to help provide Mental Health First Aid Training to coaches, athletic directors and trainers to support Howard County’s youth athletes.
• The 3rd Inc., which won $15,000 to help create a community co-working space in downtown Columbia that is run by, supplied by and incubates women of color entrepreneurs.
• Kits to Heart, which won the $10,000 award for a project created by and/or supporting women and girls in Howard County. Founded by cancer survivor Sonia Su, Kits to Heart works to improve the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by cancer through an innovative art therapy program.
• The Community Ecology Institute, which won the $10,000 audience choice award to support its Nourishing Gardens initiative. This program aims to transform lawns in the community into ecologically beneficial food growing spaces and teach people how to grow their own healthy food.

​“This event is always so inspiring and uplifting, and this year was no different,” said Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation. “Given the immense challenges we have faced as a community over the past year and a half, our goal for the Changemaker Challenge this year was to launch sustainable actions to help our residents recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequities it exposed. We are so proud of all of our Changemakers for their creativity and commitment to help make our community a better place for everyone. We can’t wait to see these innovative ideas in action.”

Franklyn Baker, president and CEO of United Way of Central Maryland, said, “Together with the Horizon Foundation and other partners in Howard County, the Changemaker Challenge began in 2017 to spark new ideas for social change. This initiative finds and supports grassroots, boots-on-the-ground leaders, who are among the best equipped to drive real change within their communities. The Changemaker Challenge give more people a seat at the table and provides a compelling way to share their big ideas: ideas that will help close service and resource gaps, so that together, we can help even more people.”

We would like to thank all who joined us for this inspiring event, and to our opening guest speakers County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball, United Way of Central Maryland President and CEO Franklyn Baker and Nikki Highsmith Vernick. We would also like to thank our panel of judges: Cathy Hamel, Board Chair of the Horizon Foundation; Lisa Pearson, Vice Chair for the Horizon Foundation Board of Trustees; Barb Van Winkle, Chair on the Advisory Board for the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County; Teshia Davis, Chair of the Howard County RUN Board for United Way of Central Maryland, and; Ryan Brown, Board Member on the Howard County RUN Board for United Way of Central Maryland.

"We are honored to partner with United Way of Central Maryland, the Horizon Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Howard County to elevate and celebrate big ideas for social change in Howard County through the Changemaker Challenge - congratulations to all!" said Barb Van Winkle, WGC Chair.

We also thank all of our additional finalists for being part of the Changemaker Challenge and look forward to seeing their continued innovation and leadership in the future: 4Girls2STEM; Howard County Lynching Truth and Reconciliation, Inc.; HoCo Pirate Adventures, Inc.; Oakland Mills Online; Upcycled, Inc.; and Howard County Autism Society.

“The Changemaker Challenge is an incredible platform to recognize and showcase the tremendous grassroots efforts by so many to improve lives in Howard County,” stated Beverly White-Seals, president & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “The finalists were all so inspiring, and they represent Howard County so well. We salute all of the participants and wish them continued success as they grow their innovative ideas to lift up the community.”

The recording of the event is available here

Learn more about the Changemaker Challenge, including past winners and their big ideas, at changemakerchallengehc.org.

In honor of Veterans Day, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is proud to recognize Wanda Riddle as part of the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories" profile series.

Wanda has dedicated her career to serving our country. She continues to contribute her time, talents and resources to veterans causes, including serving on the board of directors of The Howard County Veterans Foundation. Her extraordinary leadership and dedication to the mission of the Foundation have made her an indispensable part of that organization. Learn more:

What moves you to give your time, talent and financial resources? I was raised in a family where duty to country and service to others were fundamental in our mindset.  My parents were part of the Greatest Generation having lived through the depression and having served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  Growing up, we were taught to always be thankful for what we had, share what we could, and to be respectful, courteous and helpful to others.  My mother in particular was a shining example of generosity and selflessness.  Those early lessons continue to guide me today.

When did you start giving to issues that are important to you?
Throughout my thirty years of military service, I volunteered in some form or fashion with various civilian community groups and organizations.  Each duty station provided new opportunities to be involved and to contribute.  It ranged from tutoring inner city children to assisting with therapeutic equine riding programs. When I retired from active duty and moved to Maryland, I gravitated towards those organizations that support and advocate for military veterans and their families.  One such nonprofit is The Howard County Veterans Foundation.  The Foundation is currently working towards making a veterans and military families monument a reality for our community. I am also a member of the local American Legion Post where I enjoy the camaraderie of fellow members and advancing programs that assist other veterans. It was an honor to have served my country in uniform, and it is now my privilege to serve my community as a civilian.

What advice do you have for those interested in giving back?
Everyone has something to offer.  Find your passion or at least identify your interests and get involved.  There is a special satisfaction in knowing you are contributing to making life better for someone else and helping to improve your community.  Just go for it!

We are fortunate that we have Wanda in our community working with us to elevate the voices of women and girls. Thank you for joining us in recognizing her and learning more about all of the amazing women who are part of  WGC "Our Giving, Our Stories"!

Time is running out! Register for the 2021 Changemaker Challenge

Join us for the virtual live event Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.

The 2021 Changemaker Challenge is almost here! Join the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, and the Community Foundation of Howard County on November 9 to watch our 10 finalists compete for up to $35,000 to bring their big ideas for social change in Howard County to life. Register for FREE today!
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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. Meet our finalists and learn about their big ideas to drive social change in Howard County.

Register now!

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"!