Columbia Foundation Awards $6,080 to Howard County Nonprofits

Howard County’s community foundation, The Columbia Foundation, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, awarded $6,080 in mini-grants to four organizations in Howard County:

• Camp Attaway received $2,000 to help pay the salary of a part-time executive director who will oversee implementation of Camp Attaway’s strategic plan. Camp Attaway is a summer day treatment program that offers an intensive, therapeutic and recreational experience for children with emotional and behavioral disorders.

• Mission Excellence with the Islamic Leadership Institute of America, based in Howard County, received $2,000 to design and test a cyber-security youth club, which will bring science, technology, engineering and math activities to middle school students. Mission Excellence seeks to inspire future leaders to reach their fullest potential through tutoring, college-level foreign language courses and exam training.

• Bigger Conversations received $1,080 to rent space for the Caregiver Wellness Circle pilot program. Bigger Conversations seeks to promote wellness in individuals and communities and to cultivate a community vision that promotes collaboration and healing.

• Laurel Lakes Christian Center received $1,000 to fund an evaluation of its Making America Strong and Successful program and to develop training materials for its advisory board. The Making America Strong and Successful program offers mentoring, job readiness training, education and job placement services to low-income residents.

Mini-grants of $500 to $2,000 fund pilot projects, organizational improvements and equipment purchases for organizations that deliver services to Howard County residents in the areas of human services, arts and culture, education, environment and community affairs. The foundation awards mini-grants quickly to meet time-sensitive community needs.

The Columbia Foundation set aside a total of $20,000 for mini-grants this year with three opportunities to apply. This was the first round of mini-grants awarded this year. The deadline for applications for the next round of mini-grants is May 31.

Organizations may access the mini-grant guidelines and application online. For more information, visit www.columbiafoundation.org or call 410-730-7840.