Weinberg Foundation Employees Given $500,000 to be Grantmakers for a Day

BALTIMORE, Dec. 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, today hosts its 11^th annual Employee Giving Program. Foundation employees—not including the trustees or the president—handle every step of their grant evaluation. This includes selection of the grantee, a site visit, collection and review of financials, and preparation of the final grant recommendation. The Foundation's Board then reviews each recommendation to ensure that the grant is consistent with Foundation grantmaking goals and guidelines.

At today's event, 25 employees will each present a check for $20,000 to a Maryland nonprofit of their choice—a total of $500,000 awarded in a single day! More than $3 million has been distributed since the inception of this professional development and mission-focused effort.

• Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park at Living Classrooms
  1417 Thames Street
  Baltimore, MD 21231
• 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Here are this year's grantees:

1. Afrikan Youth Alchemy – Fusion Partnerships Shakera Tuggle, Program Assistant 
   Baltimore
   to support the general operations of this organization that uses African values, media advocacy, community-supported agriculture, and travel-study as tools to foster self-discovery and personal transformation among urban youth
2. Akoben Foundation Rachel Duden, Program Associate, Libraries & General Community Support Grants
   Baltimore
   to support the general operations of this organization that provides after-school literacy programs for children in West Baltimore schools
3. A Wider Circle Kallie Wasserman, Executive Assistant, Investments 
   Throughout Maryland
   to support the general operations of this organization that provides basic needs, workforce development, wraparound support, and neighborhood revitalization services for individuals and families
4. Baltimore Design School Arlene Cox, Chief of Staff
   Baltimore
   to support the purchase of books and other resources for this school's library with the goal of improving literacy rates
5. Bello Machre Brian Clark, Investment Analyst 
   Anne Arundel and Carroll Counties
   to support the general operations of this organization that provides loving care, opportunity, and guidance for individuals with developmental disabilities
6. Benjamin Franklin Center – United Way of Central Maryland Chrissy Laumann, Program Assistant Manager
   Baltimore
   to support the general operations of the United Way Family Center, a day care center at Benjamin Franklin High School, that serves students who are also parents
7. Bridges – Boys School of St. Paul Sheryl Goldstein, Managing Director, Programs & Grants/Program Director, Education (US)
   Baltimore
   to support the general operations of Bridges, a year-round out-of-school time program that provides academic support, enrichment, and mentoring for Baltimore City Public Schools' students, grade four through college
8. Caroline Friess Center Marci Hunn, Program Director, Workforce Development 
   Baltimore
   to support the general operations of this organization that provides career and life skills training as either a certified/geriatric nursing assistant or certified pharmacy technician
9. Catherine's Cottage – The Salvation Army of Central Maryland Amy Kleine, Program Director, Basic Human Needs & Health
   Baltimore
   to support Catherine's Cottage, a program that provides shelter and other services to victims of human trafficking
10. Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake Kate Sorestad, Program Director, Northeastern Pennsylvania and Veterans Grants
    Baltimore
    to support a program focused on educating and empowering elementary and middle school girls through running and small group instruction
11. Harford Family House Jen Banks, Graphic/Web Design Coordinator 
    Harford County
    to support the general operations of this organization that helps homeless families transition into permanent housing
12. The Ingenuity Project Rafi Rone, Program Director, Israel and Jewish General Community Support
    Baltimore
    to support the general operations of this organization that provides accelerated math, science, and research programs for students, grades 6-12, in Baltimore City Public Schools
13. The Institute for Integrative Health Megan Franey, Marketing Associate 
    Baltimore
    to support this organization's Mission Thrive programs serving youth, families, and communities by promoting lifestyle changes that will support their health and well-being
14. Maryland SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Jack Meeker, Network Administrator/Real Estate Associate
    Throughout Maryland
    to support the Humane Education program that helps students, prekindergarten through grade 12, understand the importance of kindness, respect, and responsibility for all living beings
15. Mentoring Male Teens in the Hood – Light Health & Wellness Comprehensive Services Kyle McNair, Controller
    Baltimore
    to support a program that provides a safe environment, mentoring services, educational activities, and character development for male youth
16. The Middle Grades Partnership Fund at Baltimore Community Foundation David Gilmore, Managing Director of Investments
    Baltimore
    to support the general operations of this organization that provides summer and after-school programs designed to improve educational outcomes and personal development, as well as increase acceptance of middle school youth into the high schools of their choice
17. NPower Caleb Bowers, Program Assistant 
    Baltimore
    to support classroom improvements for this organization that prepares young adults to enter the field of information technology
18. Penn-Mar Human Services Craig Demchak, Director of Marketing and Communications 
    Baltimore County, Maryland and York County, Pennsylvania 
    to support the general operations of this organization that provides a variety of services, including housing and integrated employment, for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
19. Point Source Youth Aaron Merki, Program Director, Older Adults (US)
    Baltimore
    to support the general operations of this organization that works to implement three interventions—Family and Kinship Strengthening, Short-Term Host Homes, and Rapid Rehousing—with the goal of preventing youth homelessness
20. P.O.P. (Play on Purpose) Jennifer Finch, Executive Assistant
    Baltimore
    to support the general operations of this organization that works to equip youth with the tools to become better scholars, athletes, and leaders on and off the court
21. Project Safe Haven – Koinonia Baptist Church Frank Jarrell, Accounting Manager 
    Baltimore
    to support Project Safe Haven, an after-school program that provides academic and recreational activities for students, pre-kindergarten through grade eight, in the Frankford, Hamilton, and Overlea communities
22. St. Francis Neighborhood Center Angie Winston, Custodian/Maintenance Assistant
    Baltimore
    to support the Power Project, an afterschool program that addresses the educational and behavioral needs of youth in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood
23. St. Mary's Outreach Center Yvonne Sporrer, Special Projects Coordinator/Assistant to Director of Marketing & Communications
    Baltimore
    to support the general operations of this organization that works to help vulnerable older adults in and around the Hampden community remain independent
24. Story Tapestries Leisel Harry, Program Associate, Library and Special Projects
    Throughout Maryland
    to support the expansion of this organization's programs that teach children and adults to integrate arts into all aspects of their lives
25. Urban Teachers Nakia Horton, GIFTS Administrator 
    Baltimore
    to support the recruitment, selection, training, ongoing support, and evaluation of this organization's participants who teach in City schools

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to low-income and vulnerable individuals and families, primarily in the United States and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and the Foundation's priority communities of Maryland, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Chicago, New York City, rural communities in the United States, and Israel. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Chair Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Donn Weinberg, Alvin Awaya, and Fay Hartog-Levin. Rachel Garbow Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President and Chief Executive Officer. For more information, please visit www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159 
[email protected] 

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Related Links

http://www.hjweinbergfoundation.org