WGC's Emergency Response Network (ERN)
The WGC’s Emergency Response Network was created over 20 years ago in response to the desire of many women to provide direct help to other women in need, in our community. WGC donors have addressed the specific needs of women clients identified by our nonprofit partner agencies serving women and girls in Howard County. These agencies include HopeWorks, Grassroots, Community Action Council, Columbia Community Care, Bridges to Housing Stability, Luminus, and more. Since its inception, and under the visionary leadership of former WGC Advisory Board members Arlene Sheff and Kim Flyr, the ERN has assisted over 250 women and their children and organizations who benefited from over $250,000 from donors who have responded to a call to action through WGC’s ERN.
2023
2022
2021
2020
** As many of you may know, the WGC's Emergency Response Network was created over 19 years ago and is typically utilized for donations up to $1,000 to help an individual in need through our nonprofit partners. However, to address the escalating and unprecedented coronavirus public health crisis, we recently extended the scope of the ERN for a period of time to assist broader needs and more people in our community, and we will continue to pool our dollars so we can have a greater impact together than we might otherwise have alone. We will continue to remain flexible and nimble to be as responsive as we can to growing community needs.** |
“The WGC’s Emergency Response Network expands philanthropic opportunities for WGC donors and increases awareness of unmet needs among women and girls in Howard County” says Jennifer Bodensiek, WGC Chair. “The partnership between the WGC, our donors, and our nonprofit partners is an easy and innovative way to have an immediate impact in the lives of women in our community.”
Here’s what one WGC ERN funding recipient had to say: “I would like to send my heart filled appreciation for helping my children and I get out of a bad situation and bringing us peace! I had been in a bad, abusive relationship and marriage for 12 years and needed a way out but did not know how. I had been told that I was being evicted out of the apartment that I resided with my husband and he did not make me aware that this was happening until 2 weeks prior to moving date. I started to look for places on my own without any money but with lots of hope that this was going to work because I was making the right decision. The WGC’s Emergency Response Network {helped with} the entire amount of my first month’s rent days later – it was a miracle. I moved into my place and my children are the happiest we’ve ever been. Thank you again and I hope to be in a position where I can help someone else just as myself in the near future!” We have recently enhanced the WGC’s ERN to make it easier for our donors to respond, and easier for our nonprofit partners to receive funds by updating our processes and broadening our network.
It’s easy, here’s how it works: DONORS
How to Participate:
NONPROFITS Download guidelines here: wgc-ern_nonprofit_program-guidelines-v1.pdf 1. BECOME A PARTNER: Send the following information via email to WGCERN@CFHoCo.org:
2. CLIENT IN NEED: As a Partner, if you have a woman client in need of assistance, send the following information via email to WGCERN@CFHoCo.org:
3. RECEIVE FUNDING: You will be notified if the request is accepted and will receive a check. Contact us at wgcexecutivedirector@womensgivingcircle.org with any questions! 
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