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Joan Plisko, Grants Committee Co-chair of the Catonsville Women's Giving Circle, presenting a 2011 grant to Jeanne Allert, Executive Director of The Samaritan Women. The grant will finance the purchase of an industrial sink for the teaching kitchen in TSW's new residential facility for homeless women veterans.
The Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle, the newest philanthropic organization in Catonsville, has pooled the contributions of its members to make six grants totaling $8000 to local nonprofits. Each of the grants will support a specific project within organizations ranging in mission from preservation of open space to mental health services.
Sherry Welch is the founding member who originally brought the idea of creating a women’s giving circle to the Catonsville Community Foundation, of which she is a board member.
Welch said, “We are delighted to announce the inaugural round of grants approved by the Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle. The nonprofits who will receive funding are all such worthwhile causes, and we hope our contributions will assist them in fulfilling their missions. In 2012, we hope even more women will want to join our circle and be a part of growing philanthropy in the Catonsville area.”
Some of the grants are for very specific purchases like buying an industrial sink for the teaching kitchen at The Samaritan Women or buying books and CDs for the fall prison literacy program sponsored by Turning Pages.
Other grants are more for support to ongoing costs like legal fees for NeighborSpace or the Catonsville Rails to Trails clean-up efforts after Hurricane Irene.
After one site visit to assess grant requests, Siri Svaeren, co-chair of the grants committee, said, “Being at Lighthouse reminded me that all families and all children have their struggles and deserve access to support services that can help them overcome challenges. Having an organization like Lighthouse impacts the well-being of Catonsville as a whole, and we are honored to be able to support them through the Giving Circle.”
Maggie Schorr, a member of the CWGC and local exercise instructor, was especially excited about the Circle’s grant to The Children’s Home for an exercise program for the residents. Schorr said, “I’m thrilled that the CWGC is supporting a health and wellness program. Keeping Catonsville active will provide benefits that increase the quality of life in our town. It’s great to work with engaged, enthusiastic women on supporting such worthwhile projects.”
The next meeting of the Catonsville Women’s Giving Circle will focus on bringing in new members for 2012. For more information about membership or grants, visit the website at www.catonsvillewomensgiving.org
For more information, contact:
Meg Tipper 410.967.5216 Siri Svaeren 410.869.9152
meg.tipper@gmail.com sirisvaeren@comcast.net
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