During the week of November 12-18, 2015, the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) will join more than 750 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week.
For more than 25 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address meaningful civic and economic challenges. Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush, recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems.
“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Erica Joseph, CFES President. “As many residents grapple with limited resources and a growing need for services, we are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems.”
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore (CFES) has been serving the needs of Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset Counties granting more than $60 million since 1984. Through the generosity and vision of CFES donors, the Foundation awarded grants totaling more than $5 million in fiscal year 2015.
The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore brings together donors and builds on community assets through scholarships, grants, advocacy, and leadership development. By focusing on people, organizations, neighborhoods and nonprofit capacity building, the Foundation addresses community needs in the areas of health, education, arts and culture, community development and the environment.
For more information about the Foundation, visit www.cfes.org, or call 410-742-9911.