Women’s Giving Circle Awards More Than $16,000 in Grants

The Women’s Giving Circle, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc., awarded ten grants to the following organizations: Boys & Girls Club of Washington County; CASA, Inc. - Citizens Assisting & Sheltering the Abused; Girls Inc. of Washington County; Girls on the Run; Lasting Change; Leadership Washington County; Salvation Army; Washington County Family Center’s Together with Families; Washington Goes Purple and Williamsport Food Bank. The Circle gave away a total of $16,942 to the following nonprofit organizations that support its mission of improving the lives of women and their families in Washington County.

• Boys & Girls Club of Washington County: $2,500 for SMART Girls, a program that offers girls guidance on healthy attitudes and lifestyles.
• CASA, Inc. - Citizens Assisting & Sheltering the Abused: $1,500 to provide services to victims residing in their emergency shelter.
• Girls Inc. of Washington County: $2,500 to support a program focused on improving reading levels for girls who are two or more grade levels behind.
• Girls on the Run: $450 to provide registration for three girls who participate in the program. Girls on the Run focuses on providing a healthy lifestyle and empowerment to girls in grades 3-8.
• Lasting Change: $1,800 to equip their Wellness Room with gym equipment and supplies.
• Leadership Washington County: $1,500 for a scholarship to a woman participating in the program who does not have an employer or the personal resources to attend otherwise.
• Salvation Army: $2,500 to provide much needed supplies for the Women and Children’s Emergency Shelter to serve more families.
• Washington County Family Center’s Together with Families: $1,992 to purchase eight computers to help participants in their program working to get their GED.
• Washington Goes Purple: $1,500 for educational materials and classes instructing youth and their families on the dangers of prescription painkillers.
• Williamsport Food Bank: $700 to purchase personal care items and baby products that are not normally donated during food drives.

The Women’s Giving Circle launched in 2003 to encourage women to become more involved philanthropically in Washington County. It provides a unique opportunity for donors to promote and support programs and organizations that enable and empower women. One half of all yearly contributions go to work immediately through the granting process. The other half is secured in the endowment fund to ensure growth and perpetuity.