WGC's Emergency Response Network (ERN)
The WGC’s Emergency Response Network was created over 19 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 Hope Works, 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 200 women and their children and organizations who benefited from over $200,000 from donors who have responded to a call to action through WGC’s ERN.
2022
2021
2020 - 13 WGC ERN Requests, $44,100+
** As many of you may know, the WGC's Emergency Response Network was created over 18 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.**
2018/2019 - 12 WGC ERN Requests, $10,881 in Assistance
12 WGC ERN's, Totaling $10,881:
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!
“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 Barb Van Winkle, 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 about it:
“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!”
2022
- May 2022: $1,000 (Community Action Council)
- March 2022: $10,000 (Luminus)
- February 2022: $1,435 (Grassroots)
2021
- December 2021: $3,552 (Columbia Community Care)
- November 2021: $1,447 (Community Action Council)
- August 2021: $2,000 (Columbia Community Care)
- July 2021: $3,553 (Grassroots)
- May 2021 - $1,600 (Howard County Autism Society)
- April 2021 - $3,500 (Columbia Community Care)
- February 2021 - $5,500 (Columbia Community Care)
- February 2021 - $2,500 (HCC Educational Foundation)
2020 - 13 WGC ERN Requests, $44,100+
- December 2020 - 2,750 (Columbia Community Care)
- November 2020 - $2,669 (Community Action Council)
- October 2020 - $1,300 (Community Action Council)
- September 2020 - $1,000 (HCC Educational Foundation)
- August 2020 - $1,000 (Grassroots)
- July 2020 - $5,305 (Columbia Community Care)
- May 2020 - $1,000 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
- April 2020 - $4,980 (Columbia Community Care - WGC matched $600)
- March 2020 - $585 (Columbia Community Care - WGC matched $500)
- March 2020 - $717 Teen Parenting Program - WGC matched $500)
- March 2020 - $14,815 (Community Action Council - WGC matched $5,000)
- February 2020 - $1,000 (HopeWorks)
- January 2020 - $800 (FIRN)
** As many of you may know, the WGC's Emergency Response Network was created over 18 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.**
2018/2019 - 12 WGC ERN Requests, $10,881 in Assistance
12 WGC ERN's, Totaling $10,881:
- December 2019 - $1,000 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
- November 2019 - $700 (Grassroots)
- October 2019 - $685 (Grassroots)
- June 2019 - $1,000 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
- April 2019 - $1,000 (HopeWorks)
- February 2019 - $1,000 (Howard County Autism Society)
- January 2019 - $1,000 (Community Action Council)
- December 2018 - $800 and $846 (FIRN and FIRN)
- November 2018 - $1,000 (Community Action Council)
- September 2018 - $500 (Grassroots)
- August 2018 - $950 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
- June 2018 - $400 (HopeWorks)
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
- NEED ANNOUNCED: We’ll announce a need from one of our nonprofit partners – what it is, and how much money is needed.
- ONLINE DONATIONS ACCEPTED: Those interested in taking action will make an online donation to the WGC Fund. The WGC will remove requests as soon as the need has been met. In the event that donations exceed the needed amount, the donation will be applied to a future need.
- CHECK PROVIDED: One check will be sent to our nonprofit partner.
How to Participate:
- Join our mailing list to participate in the WGC’s ERN
- Follow the WGC on social media to learn of WGC ERN announcements
- Donate online to directly assist women in need – stay tuned for announcements!
- Contact us with questions: wgcexecutivedirector@wgchowardcounty.org
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:
- A copy of your IRS Letter of Determination;
- A description of your organizations Mission and Vision;
- Describe how the organization serves women and girls; and
- Be available for site visit or meeting, as requested
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:
- Amount needed
- Provide a description of the need
- Describe why the client is in need
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!
“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 Barb Van Winkle, 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 about it:
“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!”
| wgc-ern_nonprofit_program-guidelines-v1.pdf |
