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 2024 Community Foundation Women’s Fund grant recipients are:
1 Year to Empowerment: To support activities designed to enable middle and high school girls to make healthy choices, trusting friendships, and attainable goals all while giving back to the community as a group.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Eastern Shore, Inc.: To assist a Barbie themed girls empowerment campaign to promote mental health, self-esteem, good decision-making and support for girls facing adversity.
Catholic Charities (Seton Center): To provide women in Seton Center's service area with financial assistance for rent, utilities, and bus tickets for transportation to access community resources and employment.
Epoch Dream Center: To support opportunities for girls in Epoch's program to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) related activities.
Faith Over Fear Economic Empowerment Inc.: To educate young women about financial literacy and investing through participation in the Jr. Wallstreeters program.
Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake: To provide financial assistance to girls in the tri-county area from Title 1 schools and/or low-income communities to participate in the Girls on the Run program.
Habitat for Humanity of Wicomico County Inc.: To support the Community Building program and help subsidize the cost of new homes for single mothers.
Life Crisis Center: To provide care bags that will include clothing and personal hygiene items for girls/women who are victims of sexual violence.
Maryland Capital Enterprises, Inc. (MCE): To support MCE’s Women's Business Center with business counseling, one-on-one mentoring, marketing consulting, trainings, and access to funding for women seeking to open or grow their own businesses.
Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services: To support one-on-one financial literacy classes aimed at empowering women with the knowledge and skills to achieve financial independence.
Salisbury University: To support the Women in Business program, which empowers women in business (whether as an employee or entrepreneur) by creating a collaborative space where they can learn and reach their full potential.
The Cricket Center: To cover the annual cost of medical equipment used by forensic nurse examiners, and to set up a safe room in the OCPD for conducting interviews with child victims of abuse.
The Salvation Army of Salisbury: To support youth character-building programs for girls.
Worcester County GOLD: To purchase items for women and girls to go in GOLD's "vault", which has emergency care items for people in need.