WGC's Emergency Response Network (ERN)

WGC's Emergency Response Network:

​The WGC’s Emergency Response Network was created over 22 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. Since its inception the ERN has assisted over 300 women and their children and organizations who benefited from over $300,000 from donors who have responded to a call to action through WGC’s ERN.

Click here to give a gift to support the WGC's Emergency Response Network, in addition to supporting individual women in need - thank you!

2025

• March 2025: $1,102 (HopeWorks)
• January 2025: $1,583 (HopeWorks)

2024

• December 2024: $2,000 (HopeWorks)
• November 2024: $650 (Leora Dorsey Resource Center)
• November 2024: $2,304 (Columbia Housing Center)
• October 2024: $1,400 (HopeWorks)
• August 2024: $1,000 (JustLiving Advocacy)
• July 2024: $1,700 (Grassroots)
• July 2024: $1,000 (Autism Society of Maryland)
• May 2024: $2,600 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
• March 2024: $2,000 (HopeWorks)
• February 2024: $1,000 (Leora Dorsey Community Resource Center)
• February 2024: $1,260 (JustLiving Advocacy)

​Total in 2024: $16,914

2023

• December 2023: $1,900 (JustLiving Advocacy)
• December 2023: $2,002 (Columbia Community Care)
• November 2023: $1,533 (Grassroots)
• November 2023: $1,532 (HopeWorks)
• August 2023: $2,592 (Community Action Council)
• August 2023: $2,517 (Bridges to Housing Stability)
• July 2023: $2,400 (HopeWorks)
• March 2023: $3,320 (Grassroots)
• February 2023: $1,000 (Grassroots)

2022

• November 2022: 2,000 (Columbia Community Care)
• November 2022: $1,511 (Community Action Council)
• August 2022: $1,308 (Autism Society)
• July 2022:  $2,178 (HopeWorks)
• May 2022: $1,000 (Community Action Council)
• March 2022: $10,000 (Luminus)
• February 2022: $1,435 (Grassroots)
• January 2022: $3,738 (WGC Feminine Hygiene Product Drive)

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

• 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)

The WGC's Emergency Response Network was created over 22 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 increased needs during Covid we extended the scope of the ERN to assist broader needs and more people in our community. We continue to remain flexible and nimble to be as responsive as we can to community needs and often leave a request open to allow for more and ongoing donor participation. 

WGC's Emergency Response Network Nonprofit Partners:

WGC currently has 15 Howard County nonprofit partners that we work with on a regular basis to support women, girls, and their families who have an immediate need:
​

1. Bridges to Housing Stability
2. Columbia Community Care
3. Columbia Housing Center
4. Community Action Council
5. Girls on the Run of Central Maryland - Howard County
6. Grassroots
7. HopeWorks
8. Howard County Autism Society
9. Howard County Community College Educational Foundation
10. Howard Hospital Foundation
11. JustLiving Advocacy
12. Leola Dorsey Community Resource Center
13. Luminus
14. Neighbor Ride
15. OhanaHC

“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 Woods, 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.”

---

The WGC has made 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
​

1. NEED ANNOUNCED: We’ll announce a need from one of our nonprofit partners – what it is, and how much money is needed.
2. 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.
3. CHECK PROVIDED: One check will be sent to our nonprofit partner.

How to Participate:
​

• Join the WGC 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.
• Contact us with questions: [email protected]

NONPROFITS

Download the guidelines here

1. BECOME A PARTNER: Send the following information via email to [email protected]:

• 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 an ERN Partner, if you have a woman client in need of assistance, send the following information via email to [email protected]:
​

• 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 [email protected] with any questions!