Community Foundation Women’s Fund awards $65,000 to nonprofits

Salisbury Independent

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s Women’s Fund recently awarded $65,000 to nonprofits for support of programs that address the unmet needs of women and girls in Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. The Women’s Fund is a giving circle at the Community Foundation which allows members to have a team-approach to philanthropy and charitable networking.

The 2023 Community Foundation Women’s Fund grant recipients are:

• 1 Year to Empowerment’s grant will support self-esteem and wellness activities for girls in the year-long Empoweree program to help them make healthy choices, trusting friendships, and attainable goals while giving back to the community.
• Art League of Ocean City’s grant will support three artists in residence who will complete work for a show coinciding with Women’s History Month 2024.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships between volunteer “Bigs” and local youth “Littles” and will use this grant to launch the SHEro campaign to inspire women to be strong female mentors and create a strong future for girls. 
• Catholic Charities Seton Center is a multi-purpose neighborhood community center providing a variety of support services to local residents in Somerset County. This grant will be used to purchase hygiene products for underserved women and girls.
• Chesapeake Housing Mission provides critical home repairs to low-income families in the Chesapeake Region of Maryland. This grant will support two Women’s Builds involving an all-female construction team to help meet the needs of local home-bound women.
• Epoch Dream Center is a free after-school and summer program serving under-resourced children in Hebron and surrounding areas. This grant will cover costs of academic tutoring, meals, transportation, STEM activities, and female-specific “interest hours” for young women in the program.
• Faith Over Fear Economic Empowerment Inc helps minority businesses become stronger and create sustainability in the community. This grant will support an investment club mini-boot camp to teach young women to think strategically about investing and raising capital.
• Grace Center for Maternal and Women’s Health’s grant will support the women’s resource center which offers parenting classes, education, support groups and other complementary services to help pregnant and parenting mothers in the community.
• Help and Outreach Point of Entry (H.O.P.E.) assists those in need with obtaining healthcare, social, and basic living services. With this grant, they will purchase hygiene products and personal care items for underserved women and girls.
• Holy Pickers Center is an organization of current and former seafood workers working to alleviate poverty in lower Somerset County. This grant will support prayer dinners, job dispatch, and community education programs for seafood workers in Crisfield.
• Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services’ grant will provide financial counseling and support to first time female home-buyers and renters in financial crisis.
• Unstoppable Joy Co. supports local cancer fighters by providing them with resources to rejuvenate their mind, body, and spirit during their treatment journey. This grant will provide healing bags, self-care and zen-time services to Lower Shore women fighting cancer.
• Village of Hope provides a transitional living program for at-risk women and children experiencing homelessness and will provide transportation vouchers for women living in the shelter to get to work, school, child-care, and medical appointments with this grant.
• Wicomico County Health Department’s grant will support educational workshops, safety kits, and media campaigns to protect girls and young women against dating and domestic violence.
• Women Supporting Women provides awareness, education, and support to those affected by breast cancer. This grant will support “Your Healthiest You” Integrative Health and Wellness conference for breast cancer sufferers and survivors.
• Worcester County GOLD (Giving Other Lives Dignity) provides emergency financial assistance and basic needs items for Worcester County residents living with low income. This grant will be used to create “Dignity Boxes” of comfort, hygiene, and household products for women and girls.