Howard County’s community foundation, The Columbia Foundation, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, gave $305,000 in grants to 65 nonprofit organizations in Howard County. This is $10,000 more in grant awards than last year. Grants come from the foundation’s community grant program, which combines operational and project requests into one funding cycle.
“This year’s grantees presented compelling, innovative proposals designed to tackle evolving and expanded human-service and educational challenges as well as to expand the reach of arts and cultural programs,” said Beverly White-Seals, president and CEO of The Columbia Foundation. “The strength of The Columbia Foundation is the variety and depth of ways that we are able to link the generosity of our donors with organizations to benefit the entire Howard County community.”
Human Services Grants
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The 23 human services grants total $174,000. The human services grants support organizations that address critical concerns of the community, including family issues, health care and housing.
Adaptive Living – $2,000 supporting a residential and support program for residents with developmental and/or cognitive disabilities
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Best Buddies Maryland – $5,000 supporting friendship match, community service, social and life skills programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Better BedRest – $3,000 supporting a board retreat to develop new short- and long-term goals to improve effectiveness of assistance programs for women placed on bed rest due to pregnancy complications
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Maryland – $2,500 supporting community one-to-one, children of prisoners, and military mentoring programs in Howard County
Bridges to Housing Stability – $11,000 supporting housing, case management and advocacy efforts to end homelessness in Howard County
Christ Church Link – $5,400 supporting advocacy and helpline programs for county residents in need of financial aid, food, medicine, shelter, housing, health care, jobs and other basic needs
Columbia Triathlon Association – $6,000 supporting staff time and materials required for local events that promote lifelong health and fitness
Community Action Council of Howard County – $12,500 supporting a full-time volunteer coordinator who will manage its food bank and garden as well as identify support for opening new food pantries in Elkridge, Laurel and Savage, Md.
Domestic Violence Center of Howard County – $12,500 supporting comprehensive domestic violence and sexual assault services
FIRN – $14,000 supporting information and referral, immigration counseling, interpreting/translating, and English tutoring services
FISH of Howard County – $9,000 supporting food, financial and pharmaceutical assistance programs for Howard County residents in need
Gilchrist Hospice Care – $5,000 supporting comprehensive end-of-life care to Howard County patients
Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center – $12,000 supporting programs including walk-in counseling, crisis intervention services, hotline, shelter programs and the day resource center
Howard County Autism Society – $9,000 supporting advocacy, training and professional development, support groups and social opportunity programs for individuals on the autism spectrum, their families and their communities
Howard County General Hospital Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource Center – $12,000 supporting educational, aesthetic, and wellness resources and support services for cancer patients
Living in Recovery – $4,000 supporting a third recovery house in Howard County for people in recovery from alcohol and/or drug addiction
Maryland Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped – $5,000 supporting the provision of dental care for disabled or chronically ill individuals
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland – $10,500 supporting home-delivered meals, in-home nutritional assessments and reduction of social isolation services in Howard County
NAMI Howard County – $5,000 supporting support groups, education courses and advocacy efforts for support programs for individuals and families living with mental illness
National Family Resiliency Center – $8,500 supporting clinical therapy services, educational programs, continuing education seminars and peer counselor programs to help children and adults preserve a sense of family and foster healthy relationships
Neighbor Ride – $10,000 supporting the organization’s volunteer-based supplemental transportation program for seniors in Howard County
The Serenity Center – $5,100 supporting building maintenance and repair costs of a four-room meeting house that serves more than 50 self-help, 12-step recovery fellowships
Voices for Children – $5,000 supporting court-appointed special advocates and fostering programs that help abused and neglected children in the Howard County court system
Arts and Culture Grants
The arts and culture grants total $70,900 to 15 nonprofit organizations, an increase of three more organizations compared to 2012.
B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station – $5,100 supporting the educational programs and museum exhibits that preserve the physical legacy and experience of American railroading
Candlelight Concert Society – $11,200 supporting its Chamber and CandleKids Music Series, community outreach programs and master classes
Chesapeake Shakespeare Company – $3,500 supporting the free Shakespeare for Kids summer program
Columbia Bands – $3,500 supporting free concerts and programs in Howard County
Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts – $5,500 supporting conservatory, theatrical arts productions and outreach programs
Columbia Festival of the Arts – $11,500 supporting programs and events that build community through shared participation and celebration, engage participants in a broad spectrum of art forms and cultures, and encourage interaction among artists and audiences
Columbia Orchestra – $10,500 supporting concerts and programs that foster lifelong appreciation of, enthusiasm for, and participation in music
Columbia Pro Cantare – $3,500 supporting the concert season that provides enriching, creative and diverse musical experiences for both singers and listeners
HoCoPoLitSo – $4,600 supporting live programs and events including writer-in-residence, live literary events, Shakespeare and writer-to-writer television programs that promote excellence in literary arts
Howard County Arts Council – $4,000 supporting arts programming, facility management, arts advocacy and outreach programs
Kinetics Dance Theatre – $2,500 supporting dance training and outreach programs dedicated to the development and presentation of contemporary dance
Little Patuxent Review – $1,000 supporting the publication of a journal, salon series and outreach programs that reflect and draw upon the creativity and diversity of Howard County and the region
Showtime Singers – $1,000 supporting the 2013 spring concert season that offers a capella and accompanied singing as well as the provision of vocal education
Sundays at Three – $1,000 supporting its 16th concert season offering public performances of chamber music
Young Audiences of Maryland – $2,500 supporting arts programs, professional development opportunities and a teaching art institute to benefit Howard County schools
Education and Community Affairs Grants
The 10 education and community affairs grants total $60,100, an increase of $21,600 more than last year’s education and community affairs grants.
A-OK Mentoring–Tutoring – $4,100 supporting a mentoring program for Howard County Public School students
Conexiones – $4,000 supporting programs to advance the leadership capabilities and educational achievements of Hispanic students in Howard County
Cradlerock Children’s Center – $4,000 supporting English Immersion and Preschool for Children of Immigrant Families programs
Friends of Howard County Library – $3,300 supporting a new United States Citizenship Course
HC DrugFree – $8,700 supporting educational programs and drug/alcohol prevention services for parents, youth, educators and the community
Howard County Foundation for Black Educational and Cultural Achievement – $2,000 supporting scholarship and book award programs for Howard County African-American high school students who plan to pursue post-secondary education or training
Junior Achievement of Central Maryland – $7,500 supporting JA Finance Park Virtual for Howard County middle-grade students
Leadership Howard County – $5,100 supporting Leadership Premier, Essentials, Leadership U and alumni programs that empower individuals to strengthen and transform the community
Loyola University of Maryland – $7,600 supporting Expanding Horizons: Broadway Kids program, which partners with the Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts and the Howard County Public School System to address the communication needs of children with social communication disorders
makingCHANGE – $4,000 supporting a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site coordinator position to provide financial coaching at the North Laurel Multi-Service Center
The Columbia Foundation, founded in 1969, has awarded more than $12 million in grants to Howard County nonprofit organizations delivering human service, arts and cultural, educational and civic programs. Money for the grant programs comes primarily from income generated by the Foundation’s endowment supported by more than 290 funds established by Howard County businesses, families and individuals. For more information, visit www.columbiafoundation.org or call 410-730-7840.