Women's Giving Circle of Harford County Awards More than $36,000 in Grants to Nonprofits

In it's third year, the Women's Giving Circle of Harford County has awarded 11 grants totaling more than $36,000 to nonprofits in the county that assist women and children. Over the past three years, the Women's Giving Circle of Harford County, with 125 members, has awarded more than $91,000 to nonprofits in the community.

The recipients of the most recent grants are Associated Catholic Charities for Anna's House, $4,000; Birthright of Harford County for the Prepare to Parent program, $4,000; Harford Community Action Agency for the Family and Financial Development Program/Road to Success, $4,000; Homecoming Project, Inc., for the Vehicle Down-payment Match for Graduates Program, $4,000; LASOS, for the Butterfly Group, $4,000; and SARC, for the SARC Legal Services Program, $4,000.

Also receiving grants from the Women's Giving Circle of Harford County were S.A.G.E. (Sharon Ann Grose Educational Group) for the Certificate to Career in One Year in Harford County Program, $3,500; Children's Center of North Harford for the 2014-15 Scholarship Fund, $3,000; The Highlands School for the Courage and Confidence Program, $2,485.10; Making a Difference:  Truancy Education for the Making a Difference Program, $2,459; and The Arc Northern Chesapeake Region for Certified Work Incentive Coordinator Certified Training, $1,316.

"A philanthropist, by definition, is someone who gives money and time to make life better for others, and the members of the Women's Giving Circle of Harford County do just that," said Terri Garland, 2012-14 president of the organization. "We are philanthropists. The most recent grants we provided to 11 nonprofits in our community are changing the lives of women and children for the better. Our goal is to make a difference, and we have over the past three years."

The Women's Giving Circle of Harford County, founded in 2010, is dedicated to engaging women of all generations in the power of community philanthropy to address the needs of women, children and families. The Giving Circle funds are held and managed by the Community Foundation of Harford County as a group donor-advised fund.

"Because of the support we received from the Women's Giving Circle, Harford County families are making strides toward becoming financially secure and independent," said Jackie Shaffstall, family and financial development program manager at Harford Community Action Agency. "Our Road to Success initiative aids with the cost of auto repairs that have the potential to take away savings and devastate monthly budgets. Because of the Women's Giving Circle, our families are able to stick to their budgets and remain on the 'Road to Success.'"

More information about the Women's Giving Circle of Harford County may be found at cfharfordcounty.org/womens-giving-circle.