Women’s Giving Circle Founder Karlys Kline, Community Foundation Trustee and Women’s Giving Circle member Patty Hurwitz, Linda Ryan of Mission of Mercy, Rev. Brian Scott of The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs, Elizabeth Galaida of Advocates for Homeless Families, Doree Lynn Miles of Hope Alive, Pat Hanberry of Mental Health Association, Barbara Martin of Heartly House, Women’s Giving Circle Grants Chair Marlene Young, Sister Ellen of Seton Center Daughters of Charity, Beverly Shelton of Habitat for Humanity, and Barbara Brittain of Families Plus!. Rich Glover of Boys and Girls Club was unavailable for the photo.

$70,000 Awarded in Grants at 3rd Women’s Giving Circle Tea

May 23, 2008: Seventy thousand dollars in grants were awarded to area nonprofits serving women in need during a triumphant 3rd Annual Women’s Giving Circle Tea at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center on May 15.

Founder and Chairwoman Karlys Kline and Grants Chairwoman Marlene Young joined 160 attendees as grants were awarded to ten area nonprofits that help to improve the lives of women and the families that depend on them.

The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County has been a driving force behind grant funding for women in need since its inception in 2006, attributed in large part to the momentum it builds by bringing together those who want to offer their time and resources to improve the lives of women in Frederick County.

Women’s Giving Circle Members pledge a minimum of $1,000 a year for at least three consecutive years and women under 22 can join at $500 a year. Membership contributions and other donations are placed in The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund at The Community Foundation of Frederick County, which in turn provides grants to area nonprofits that aid women. Since its inception in 2006, membership has increased 156 percent, $425,000 has been raised in pledges, and the Fund has awarded $140,000 in grants.

“The Women's Giving Circle is a perfect example of how as a group we can make a bigger impact by supporting not only existing programs, but also new programs of organizations that help to improve women's lives," said Karlys Kline of The Women's Giving Circle's success. "Together, we can achieve so much."

For 2008, The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund awarded grants to the following nonprofit organizations:

Advocates for Homeless Families received $7,500 for its Transitional Housing/Families Forward project. Advocates for Homeless Families empowers motivated families to overcome homelessness through a structured two-year program of education, housing, and support services.

Boys and Girls Club of Frederick received $5,000 for the SMART Girls Program, which includes after school and summer programs involving emotional health and wellness issues for young girls.

Families Plus! received $3,500 for its Single Moms Support Program focusing on educational topics such as financial planning, budgeting, career goals and training resources, parenting and childcare.

Habitat for Humanity Frederick County received $10,000 for its Frederick and Middletown-1 projects providing homes for single mothers and their children.

Heartly House, Inc. received $8,000 for a parking lot security system and for operational support of its Emergency Shelter. Heartly House is committed to achieving a society free of violence by providing services to survivors and non-offending family members of family violence, rape, sexual assault, and child abuse.

Hope Alive, Inc. received $10,000 for its Residential Operations and Children’s Programs. Hope Alive is a family-centered transitional housing program which provides shelter and program services to homeless women and their children.

Mental Health Association of Frederick County received $3,500 for capital improvements to six therapy rooms. Mental Health Association provides counseling services to people of all ages regardless of ability to pay for services.

Mission of Mercy received $5,000 to support the continuation of its existing Mobile Medical and Dental Program which treats 275 women and children each year.

The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs received $15,000 for four programs in its Self Sufficiency for Women-Providing the Tools project: Eviction Prevention and Energy Assistance programs. More than 70 percent of the Religious Coalition’s clients are single female heads of households who may be working but cannot make ends meet when faced with emergencies.

Seton Center-Daughters of Charity received $2,500 for the Jump Start Your Job Search Program which addresses poverty in northern Frederick County by providing comprehensive assistance to women needing to enter or return to the workforce.

Those interested in joining The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County may contact Karlys Kline at 240.357.6400 or kline901@comcast.net.

Contributions to The Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County Fund are accepted at any time in any amount. Checks may be made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick, MD 21701, with the Fund’s name inserted in the check’s memo line. To donate online, click here. All check or online contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.