WGC Connector - April 2020 eNewsletter

April 2020

WGC Donors and Friends,

We hope that you and your family are staying safe and healthy during this very challenging time for our country right now. Our hearts go out to all those impacted by COVID-19. We are truly in unprecedented times.

As we try to adjust to the new daily realities for ourselves and our families during this public health crisis, it is heartening to see funders come together to harness the power of philanthropy to make a difference in our communities.

READ THE FULL ENEWSLETTER HERE

To do this, we are leveraging the things that make the WGC an empowering way to give, and using our unique strengths to make a difference.

We have focused on communicating regularly, being nimble and flexible, broadening our grantmaking scope, collaborating with other funders, seeking information and resources from trusted partners, and leveraging our large network of donors to have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone - all hallmarks of the strength and draw of giving circles.

In the last six weeks, between our Emergency Response Network and our HoCoRespond partnership, we have given over $56,000 to nonprofits on the frontline of responding to the urgent needs of disproportionately impacted communities in Howard County.

I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your generosity in so many ways, and specifically those of you who have donated to the WGC to support our community during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis!

We are also collaborating locally with the Community Foundation of Howard County, Horizon Foundation, and United Way of Central Maryland to assess where assistance may be needed, accept donations, and provide funding to assist Howard County nonprofits on the frontline of support, focusing on assisting with food security, housing, childcare and healthcare - through the newly launched HoCoRespond.com. Last week we jointly announced $205,000 in grants to Howard County nonprofits and next week we will announce a second round of grants, as we continue to accept donations to continue our joint funding in the community.

And, we are coordinating with funders across the state by participating in weekly calls through our statewide Maryland Philanthropy Network (formerly the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers-ABAG) to learn what our colleagues are doing, and share information. Finally, we are in contact with Philanos (formerly Catalist Women), our national network of women's giving circles across the country regarding philanthropy's important role during this challenging time.

For those who wish to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic right now through the WGC:
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• You can give to the WGC's COVID-19 Response Fund here and double your donation through the generosity of Cyndi and Ron Gula
• You can continue to give to the Community Action Council here
• You can continue to support Columbia Community Care here
• You can continue to give to the Teen Parenting Program here

We will continue to provide opportunities to give directly to our nonprofit and community partners through the WGC's Emergency Response Network and the WGC's COVID-19 Response Fund. And, on Tuesday, May 5, we'll be participating in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving to support our community during this challenging time - I hope you'll join us!

Thank you - we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone. Stay strong, stay healthy!

Sincerely,
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Barb Van Winkle
WGC Chair

If you have any questions about the Women's Giving Circle, our Emergency Response Network, or HoCoRespond.com, please contact WGC Executive Director, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz at wgcexecutivedirector@wgchowardcounty.org or myself at wgcchair@wgchowardcounty.org.

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