 What a night at the WGC's Big Give 2025! The WGC's Big Give 2025 evening was a fun, meaningful, fast-paced giving circle experience where 57 women and girls collectively gave $32,000 to 14 nonprofit partners in Howard County, while learning and connecting. Designed for women who want to learn more about grantmaking to women and girls in our community, The WGC's Big Give is a fast-paced, hands-on giving experience that provides opportunities to learn, connect, share, network, and celebrate their giving. "As the incoming President & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County, I firmly believe that women’s philanthropy is shaping the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving" said Melissa Curtin, WGC Big Give Chair. "WGC's Big Give is empowering women to support other women in our community now, and in the future, and I am proud that the WGC is one of our largest, most visible, and most active funds of the foundation." WGC's Big Give 2025 donors met first on May 12 to review grant applications and narrow down the three nonprofit partners they collectively chose to receive funding - TurnAround, Luminus, and MakingChange. Representatives from each organization joined WGC Big Give donors on May 19 to provide a presentation, and then our Big Give donors made final decisions on grant award amounts. Read about the WGC's Big Give 2025 Kick Off meeting on May 12, 2025. "We are proud to support our nonprofit partners on the ground focusing on women, girls, and families in our community" said Candace Dodson-Reed, WGC Grants Committee Chair. "The WGC's Big Give is a wonderful hands-on opportunity to bring more voices and lived experiences to the philanthropic table." 50 WGC Big Give Donors pooled $20,000 and gave the following grant awards:
The WGC's Mini Give is part of our WGC "Break the Cycle" Period Product Drive and Student Intern Program, where our interns meet monthly, learn about philanthropy. leadership, period poverty and help to support WGC's period product collection efforts to support our nonprofit partners. Our student interns reviewed the 30 Big Give applications and together made a decision on their Mini Give grant award. "We are so proud of these amazing young women" said Paula Seabright, WGC Break the Cycle Chair. "They spent the last nine months learning about philanthropy and how to affect change, which they most certainly have done." 7 WGC Mini Give "Break the Cycle" Student Interns gave a $5,000 grant award:
11 WGC Big Give Spirit Awards totaling $7,000: And each WGC Big Give team and our Student Intern Mini Give team gave a $500 Big Give Spirit Award grant to one of the 30 nonprofit partners that applied to receive funding from the WGC Big Give of their choice, totaling $7,000:
"WGC Big Give Donors were invited to celebrate their giving and show their excitement and comaraderie through team spirit, which can be seen in this year's pictures" said Dee Athey, Director of Grants and Community Outreach at the Community Foundation of Howard County. "Their efforts to review the Big Give applications and determine what nonprofit partners to fund were serious, and they also added some fun and spice to the important process of giving away money thoughtfully, and effectively." When asked to describe in one word how WGC Big Give and Mini Give donors felt awarding these grants, here's what they said: "Grateful", "Optimistic", "Determined", "Amazing", "Open-Minded", "Philanthropic", "Inspired", "Fulfilled", "Excited", "Connected", "Hopeful", "Proud", "Curious", "Happy", "Spicy", "Energized", "Positive", "Elevated", "Wonderful", "Dynamic", "Elated", "Psyched", "Bright", "Mindful", "Inclusive", "Powerful", and "United"! This, is the power of our giving circle: 57 women + $32,000 + 14 nonprofit partners = 1 WGC Big Give community! "Giving circles are a movement, not a moment" said WGC Executive Director Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz. "We are more than donors - we are neighbors, advocates, and changemakers who are leveraging our voices and dollars to have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone though the power of collective giving." For the second year we were honored to be hosted by our partners at Vectorworks, a 3D design software company that has its global headquarters in Columbia. "We are excited to continue to partner with the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County" said Lee Draminski, WGC Advisory Board member and Vectorworks professional. "We love supporting our local community through the WGC Period Product Drive, hosting The WGC Big Give, and in numerous other ways!" You can learn more about the WGC's Big Give 2025 here and view photos below! Interested in participating? Sign up for the WGC's Big Give 2026 here! "I am thrilled to be a part of the WGC's Big Give said Kashonna Marrow, WGC's Membership & Development Committee Chair. "The Big Give has grown each year in the number of women and girls who are participating and in the amount of grant awards we are able to provide to our nonprofit partners, and our goal for 2026 is to engage 100 individual donors or teams - sign up today to join us!"
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
"Women’s philanthropy shapes the future for women and girls through the power of collective giving." - Jennifer Woods, Chair
|
|
