Standing Up for Anti-Asian Racism

By Stephanie Chan, Member of the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle

Stephanie Chan

Growing up, I was surrounded by a large extended family, went to Dim Sum, and looked forward to receiving red envelopes during the Lunar New Year. As I’ve gotten older (and hopefully wiser), one of the things I’ve yearned for most has been a connection to my heritage and culture.

A few years ago, I joined the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle, a local group of volunteers who work to create positive change for Greater Washington’s underserved Asian American and Pacific Islanders. We’ve been a donor-advised fund at The Community Foundation for the past ten years, during which we’ve raised money and awareness for a wide range of AAPI-serving organizations doing direct service work, advocacy, historical and cultural preservation, and more. And, in response to COVID-19, supporting organizations doing anti-racism work.

Anti-racism work is more critical now than ever in our society—especially as Anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked during the coronavirus pandemic in our region. At the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle, we wanted to do something about it.

In partnership with the Metro-DC chapter of Asian Americans in Philanthropy, we launched a campaign to raise money for local AAPI organizations doing anti-racism work during the pandemic. With these COVID-19 relief funds, we chose to support the following organizations:

• Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) supports low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth in DC; Montgomery County, MD, and Northern Virginia with educational empowerment, identity development, and leadership opportunities through after school, summer, and mentoring programs. In response to the heightened anti-Asian discrimination around COVID-19, which directly impacts the physical and mental wellness of our community, AALEAD has been conducting one-on-one and group check-ins for youth to share their experiences of discrimination and bullying and connect them to the support they need. 

• Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) provides services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, DVRP continues serving its clients and community through continuous coverage of its hotline. DVRP is encouraging those who have experienced a hate incident related to COVID-19 but do not feel comfortable contacting local authorities to reach out to DVRP staff who can record and monitor these incidents and provide peer support and system navigation

• National Korean American Service & Education Consortium – Virginia (NAKASEC-VA) organizes Korean and Asian Americans in Northern Virginia to achieve social, economic, and racial justice. In response to the coronavirus crisis, NAKASEC-VA’s efforts are focused on providing accessible and in-language COVID-19 resources, COVID-19 related advocacy, and developing new ways for members to stay connected, among many other priorities.  

We must speak out when we see racism and prejudice against any individual or community—whether Asian, Black, Indigenous and People of Color. We can use this moment during COVID-19 as a “reset” button to imagine a more equitable approach for philanthropy and for the Greater Washington community.

Join us in standing up against anti-Asian racism by supporting the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle. Learn more at https://dcgivingcircle.wordpress.com/

Community Foundation Announces $3.9 Million in Grants to COVID-19 Emergency Response Efforts

The COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund at the Greater Washington Community Foundation has completed its first round of coordinated rapid response grantmaking. To date, the Fund has made a total of $3.9 million investments in nonprofits helping local residents affected by the coronavirus public health and economic crisis.

These general operating grants – ranging in size from $10,000 to $100,000 – are intended to help vital nonprofits across the Greater Washington region to fulfill their missions and expand critical services by moving operations online, purchasing essential supplies and equipment, covering staff salaries and hazard pay, and help with offsetting lost revenue.

Given the disproportionate impact on the African American community, the Fund made it a priority to support nonprofits represented by and serving people of color. As a result, 52% of the Fund’s grantee organizations are led by people of color.

Since launching the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund on March 13, The Community Foundation has mobilized $6.6 million in commitments and support from more than 500 contributors including corporate partners, local foundations, and individual donors (with individual contributions ranging in size from $10 - $50,000). The Fund is administered by The Community Foundation with working groups comprised of regional philanthropic leaders and local government advisors helping to guide its efforts. Throughout this process, working groups and steering committee members continue to meet weekly to review requests and approve awards on a rolling basis to meet significant demand.

A full list of donors and regional partners is available here.

In less than three weeks, The Community Foundation received more than 730 requests from nonprofits and other small businesses seeking a combined total of $41 million in funding. To date, 97 nonprofits have received assistance through the Fund. For this initial round of grantmaking, priority was given to direct service providers aligned with the Fund’s strategic priorities, who have deep roots in this community and demonstrated an ability to both address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations. Additional funding is expected to be issued to more organizations over the coming weeks.

A full list of the initial organizations receiving assistance through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is here.

Round 1 Investments were made across five issue areas and included the following organizations, among others:

• To provide financial assistance to impacted workers — Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington AFL-CIO to focus on workers who have lost their jobs, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Washington DC on low-wage restaurant workers, and CASA for immigrants and undocumented workers not eligible for unemployment benefits or assistance.

• To support the most vulnerable children and families — The DC Association for Special Education (DCASE) to serve students with special education needs who are at risk of falling behind, Identity, Inc. to help low-income families access internet and digital devices for distance learning, Community Youth Advance to provide a virtual tutoring and instruction. 

• To expand medical care and access for marginalized communities — CCI Health & Wellness Services to purchase PPE kits and COVID-19 Test Kits for minority, immigrant, low-income, and uninsured or underinsured populations; La Clinica del Pueblo to provide comprehensive primary care for Latino immigrants and low-income families; and Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC to implement care through a telehealth system.

• To support and protect individuals, families, and youth experiencing homelessness — Unity Health Care, Inc to provide health care to people in shelters and congregate settings, Calvary Women’s Services to serve women experiencing homelessness in Ward 8, and Stepping Stones Shelter to continue operating emergency shelter for families.

• To provide general operating support to help stabilize critical nonprofits— Gaithersburg HELP, Inc. to provide families with nutritious food from its food pantry, The Arc of Montgomery County to provide virtual supports to people with disabilities, and House of Ruth to serve women and survivors of domestic violence.

“Far too many of our neighbors are struggling and turning to our region’s nonprofit sector to help cover basic needs for food, shelter, and medical care,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The fact that this crisis has hit our region’s marginalized communities the hardest is one of the long-term consequences of inequities that existed long before the current situation. As we continue to respond to the immediate crisis at hand, we are also planning for reconstruction efforts to ensure our community does not go back to the way things were before. We must focus on coming out of this crisis as a stronger community that is more equitable and resilient.”

More information about the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is available here. Anyone interested in contributing can make an online donation here.

Ending Homelessness in DC and our Response to COVID-19

New research suggests that people experiencing homelessness who contract COVID-19 are twice as likely to be hospitalized, two to four times as likely to need critical care, and two to three times as likely to die.

As we are directed to stay in our homes and to practice social distancing, it is important to remember that people experiencing homelessness and the frontline organizations and people who provide essential services for this population don’t have that luxury. Given that shelters are crowded, it is challenging for our neighbors who rely on them to keep the recommended 6 feet distance. The streets have the same risks as always, and a new risk of contracting a virus that is particularly dangerous for seniors and those with underlying health conditions.

Prioritizing a Vulnerable Population

Our response must prioritize this vulnerable population, with the majority of people experiencing chronic homelessness falling into the CDC's special risk population for COVID-19. This is exactly why we created the Partnership to End Homelessness: to ensure that everyone in DC has a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

Even without a pandemic, people experiencing homelessness are extremely vulnerable and face health challenges that are exacerbated by a lack of stable housing. With coronavirus putting an even greater strain on our community and its resources, we must do our part to support our neighbors who don’t have stable housing and the people and organizations working day and night, putting their own health at risk, to keep them safe.

Our Response to COVID-19

As we have seen COVID-19 spread across our community, The Community Foundation has been working with our partners to identify critical needs and to provide a mechanism for the public to offer support. To do this work, we have established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

As part of our regional response, we have developed a Homelessness and Housing Working Group made up of government partners and funders in the area. Together, we have been reaching out to our nonprofit partners and advocates in the community to identify needs and ways we can support the work they are doing.

To date we have:

• Converted our initial grant funding through the Partnership to End Homelessness to general operating support. With these funds, grantees can now respond to emerging needs of people experiencing homelessness as it relates to COVID-19.

• Awarded $805,000 to organizations working to support people experiencing homelessness through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

  • Our first grants focused on medical needs of people experiencing homelessness in DC and Montgomery County.

  • Our second round of grants include essential providers who are responding to immediate needs of people experiencing homelessness.

  • A third round of grants is listed online along with our other priority areas.

This work is just getting started and we are committed to making sure that people experiencing homelessness and the organizations that are supporting them in this challenging time have the resources they need.

What You Can Do to Help

• Make a donation to the homeless service organizations that you already support.

• Call your representatives and ask them to make sure funds for homeless and housing programs are included in their response. This will help ensure that the federal, county, and local government response to COVID-19 includes resources to provide housing stability for low-income individuals and people experiencing homelessness; and that access to healthcare, housing, food assistance, and other services provided in response to COVID-19 are made available to everyone, regardless of income, immigration status, or insurance.

• Contribute to our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. Every dollar will make a difference for our neighbors impacted by this crisis.

If you are a nonprofit and would like to share information about community/nonprofit needs related to homelessness and housing, contact Jennifer Olney and Silvana Straw, who lead our Homelessness and Housing Working Group.

If you would like to make a donation, please visit our website or contact Angela Willingham, Associate Vice President, Development.

Now more than ever, it will take all of us working together to prevent and end homelessness in DC. We hope you will join us.

Leading Our Community's Response

Our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has now been in operation for one month. Over that time, we have provided more than $3.8 million in grant funds to local nonprofits providing critical relief supports across our region and across five issue areas—education and youth, employment and small business, medical care and access, housing and homelessness, and general operating support.

Our RFP is currently on pause as we absorb the information from 750 applications on the evolving needs of our community and learn more about communities and populations that are being impacted disproportionately. We plan to reopen our RFP later this month reflecting an updated set of giving priorities.

Over the last few weeks, we have formed working groups for each of our five issue areas to review proposals and make grant recommendations. Below, read about what we are doing and learning in each area - and how our community is organizing to fight the COVID pandemic.

Employment and Small Business

We have made a set of investments in local service providers working to provide emergency cash assistance to our region’s low-income workers that do not have the resources to wait for Federal or State unemployment benefits to kick in, or communities (like undocumented workers) that do not qualify for this type of support.

Education and Youth

We have been singularly focused on supporting the most vulnerable children and families who are struggling as a result of this crisis. Many organizations are stretching themselves to support the youth and families they already have built strong connections with to address basic needs.  Parents are a child’s first teacher and now that schools are closed education is not solely in the classroom.  Despite what schools, local government and philanthropy are doing there are still many families that are not able to connect to services and education opportunities for the children in their homes. 

Medical Care and Access

We are providing support services for health care and frontline workers while also addressing the health access needs of the more vulnerable populations in Greater Washington area. Their focus has been to support efforts to source PPE for frontline workers, increase COVID-19 testing for vulnerable and marginalized communities, and support clinics and health centers providing support and care in response to COVID-19.

As the pandemic response continues to grow on a statewide and national level, we know that our response will have to adapt as well. This working group is continuously monitoring changes, sharing resources, and adjusting its priorities directly in response to needs.

Homelessness and Housing

We have been working to support local providers whose doors are open and who are actively providing direct services to the most vulnerable and disproportionately impacted populations during the COVID crisis - specifically people living in shelters or on the street. Priority populations include: women and children facing increased instances of domestic violence and abuse, families, youth including foster care and LGBTQ youth, older/chronically ill individuals, and undocumented people and immigrants.

As we continue to see increasing numbers of people experiencing homelessness testing positive for COVID and deaths amongst this vulnerable population, our investments will help organizations provide essential services and resources to protect these individuals, families, and youth and to prevent community spread.

General Operating Support

Investments also included grants to nonprofits addressing the dramatic uptick in intimate partner violence and other types of abuse, grants to organizations supporting at-risk communities including those living with disabilities, and grants to support the ability of legal services providers to continue to provide critically needed services to local residents as courts continue to convene.

What’s Next?

We anticipate re-opening the RFP by the end of April. In the meantime, for more information on our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, please visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19 for a list of our grantee partners and funding priorities.

Greater Washington Community Foundation and Nationals Philanthropies Partner to Launch Get Shift Done for DMV

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has teamed up with Washington Nationals Philanthropies to launch the Get Shift Done DMV initiative.

With unemployment claims spiking to record levels, Get Shift Done is helping people earn a basic income while also meeting the needs of the food insecure. The initiative will coordinate, schedule, and pay adversely affected hourly workers in the hospitality industry to work shifts for local food access providers.

Get Shift Done DMV, with founding investments from The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Capital One, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, and the Bainum Family Foundation, will provide wages of $15 an hour to workers left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic. These workers are filling the critical roles of providing meals for neighbors in need that, prior to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, were performed by volunteers. The first batch of workers will report for their first day of work on Saturday, April 25, and more shifts and partners will be added on a rolling basis.

Get Shift Done was originally launched by Communities Foundation of Texas and Dallas business and community leaders in partnership with Shiftsmart and the North Texas Food Bank to fill the gap between the reduction of volunteers and the increased need among food banks and other nonprofits with those from the food and service industry in need of supplemental income. The platform has been able to serve 1 million meals per week while providing more than $250,000 of wages to 1,000 workers per week. Get Shift Done is now launching in other cities, municipalities, and counties across the country. Bringing this successful initiative to the DMV will fill a critical gap as food access providers face unprecedented demand for their services while also struggling with a shortfall in volunteers.

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Your gift, no matter the size, will have a deep impact in our community. By contributing to the Get Shift Done DMV Fund, you help local restaurant workers help nonprofits, who in turn help our neighbors in need.

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“We know that missing even one paycheck can mean members of our community, especially the region’s lower-wage and hourly workers, struggle to pay rent, afford groceries, and otherwise provide for their families,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “Our nonprofit partners and other organizations have stepped in to fill huge gaps created by this crisis, but there is more that we can and must do as a community. We are proud to partner to bring Get Shift Done to DMV in order to connect impacted workers directly to emergency food distribution providers throughout the region.”

“Food insecurity is both a systemic problem and an ever-increasing concern for families across the DMV. Through our work to open Nationals Park as a cooking and packaging site for meals and delivering grants to on-the-ground partners getting food to those who need it most, it was evident that even more was needed to meet demand,” said Nationals Philanthropies CEO Tal Alter. “Get Shift Done complements and extends the incredible coordination of food banks and providers across the region while simultaneously filling critical packaging, preparation, and delivery roles with members of our local hospitality community who are out of work.”

“The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation is proud to be a seed funder of this innovative effort which connects our colleagues in the hospitality industry with the critical and growing need for labor in our region’s food system. Food security was a crisis before the COVID-19 pandemic and has since grown to staggering levels. Concurrently, the hospitality workforce has suffered tremendously and we are thrilled to have an opportunity to address two of the Foundation’s top priorities through this investment,” stated Mieka Wick, Executive Director, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

“As part of Capital One’s broader community response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been working closely with our nonprofit partners to address crucial needs of the most vulnerable populations, including hunger relief and supporting the food and dining community,” said Andy Navarrete, Head of External Affairs, Capital One Financial. “We are proud to support Get Shift Done’s DMV initiative that is providing jobs, filling the much-needed gap in volunteer shifts and getting food to those in need. We will continue to marshal our resources – our funds, digital tools, reach and expertise during these uncertain times to help in the collective recovery.”

"The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is eager to support innovative programs that solve today's problems. As we collectively grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to join with our local partners and the Get Shift Done team to launch the program in the Washington, DC region," says Joe Del Guercio, President and CEO, A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation.

“The shortcomings of our regional food system ― which already make it difficult to get fresh, healthy, affordable food to communities that need it most ― are being intensified by the COVID-19 crisis,” says David Daniels, CEO and President of the Bainum Family Foundation. “As part of our food-security work, we are pleased to support the Get Shift Done DMV effort. It will have an immediate impact, providing both much-needed jobs to displaced workers and nutritious meals for families and individuals who are struggling financially right now.”

Today Get Shift Done DMV launches with Shiftsmart technology to register workers for shifts with local food access providers. The Shiftsmart platform and operations team manage the onboarding, matching, scheduling, dispatching, and routing of workers to perform shifts. Interested restaurants, nonprofit partners, and individual workers can visit getshiftdone.org/dmv to access sign-up portals.

About Washington Nationals Philanthropies
The Washington Nationals strive to become a civic partner to every Washingtonian interested in making a positive difference in our region and a leading philanthropic organization in professional sports. As the official charitable arm of the Washington Nationals, Nationals Philanthropies is a new entity that replaces the Dream Foundation. Building on the success of the foundation’s first decade in Washington, we aspire to an even bolder, more ambitious philanthropic vision that continues to align with the work of the Youth Baseball Academy while building an enhanced and cohesive platform for civic engagement that extends far beyond the Academy walls. This new platform will catalyze the energy of Nationals fans, and the generosity and philanthropic goals of Nationals players, corporate champions, and community partners to invest philanthropic dollars with, through, and to Nationals Philanthropies – fueling even greater good for a better Washington region. More details coming soon at nats4good.org. Follow us to stay up to date on the latest news and events.

About Greater Washington Community Foundation
The Greater Washington Community Foundation exists to Build Thriving Communities by guiding strategic philanthropy, providing leadership on critical issues, promoting civic engagement, and inspiring local giving. Founded in 1973, we are the region’s largest local funder and have invested nearly $1.3 billion to build more equitable, just, and enriching communities where all residents can thrive. We recently launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits addressing the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities. To date, we have mobilized more than $6.5 million in community support and made nearly $4 million in grants to relief and recovery efforts that are supporting our most vulnerable neighbors. 

The Power of Unrestricted Impact

“I believe that the measure of our lives is how we impacted others”

For John Terry Beaty, philanthropy is in his blood. A native New Yorker, he grew up watching his mother work at the city’s Community Trust, later volunteering for United Way for nearly 15 years.  

“We were all encouraged to, when we had the time or money, help other people,” he said.

Beaty, an investment advisor with Brown Advisory, first learned of The Community Foundation from one of his clients who held a fund with us. He was intrigued by the organization’s ‘multiplier effect:’ our ability to amplify positive impact in the community.

Fast forward several years, and Beaty has his own family fund at The Community Foundation, since 1995; eventually, he even served as Chair of our Board of Trustees’ Investment Committee.

Recently, Beaty and his wife Anne Mehringer, made an even longer-term commitment to The Community Foundation. They established a bequest, entrusting one-third of the Beaty Family Fund to us.

“We wanted to help strengthen the organization,” Beaty says. “It is like leaving our legacy to the community as a whole.”

Their bequest is completely unrestricted, meaning funds can be used for core operating expenses—a resource that’s essential as we work to address the greatest needs facing our community. Beaty wanted to provide this flexibility because “I think [many donors] don’t think about this [being so important].”

He hopes this money will help us remain financially strong, and help donors give to those in the community who need it the most. Beaty says that, while funding core operations can be somewhat unglamorous, he knows it is necessary. And, it will allow other donors to fund more immediate programming.

The Beatys are also regular donors to The Community Foundation’s annual Celebration of Philanthropy, and to the Celebration of Giving in Montgomery County, where they live.

When Beaty isn’t working at Brown Advisory or with The Community Foundation, he is feeding his passion for history. He serves as a board member for the American Battlefield Trust and Fort Ticonderoga; and is a former board member at the National Trust for Historic Preservation and History Montgomery. He is also a former advisory board member for Princeton’s history department.  

Beaty plans to continue giving to The Community Foundation, and staying engaged as an active part of the community.

“I believe that the measure of our lives is how we have impacted others,” says Beaty. “I want to have a positive influence on our community, our families.”

Creating a Lasting Legacy for Impact

By: Rebecca Rothey, Vice President, Development and Senior Philanthropic Advisor

I will admit that, initially, I wasn’t completely comfortable writing an article about planning one’s philanthropic legacy during the coronavirus pandemic. I began to feel differently, though, after speaking with some of our generous donors who are planning their legacies. They have reminded me that legacy planning isn’t about your life ending—it’s about living life well and continuing what is most important to us, even after we are gone.

We are helping many of our donors find creative ways to plan for their philanthropic legacy. Three recent examples that come to mind include:

• Providing flexibility now and for the future.  A long-time donor who has co-funded many Community Foundation initiatives is leaving money to The Community Foundation’s discretion to give where most needed in the region.

• The Importance of Giving Back. A couple is creating a fund for their two children to have discretion over where the charitable distributions will go and over what time frame. Their goal is to share their belief in the importance of “giving back” with the next generation of their family and to introduce them to the importance of stewarding wealth wisely.

• A Gift of Service to Others. One donor spent her entire career in public service augmented by travel, animal rescue and service to seniors. She came to value the importance of attracting and training talented and passionate people to the fields of public administration, veterinary assistance, senior care, environmental education and the arts. She is establishing an endowed fund to encourage future generations to pursue careers in these fields by providing tuition assistance and research funding.  

Having gone through this process many times, I can share with certainty that, even though legacy planning can initially feel daunting, in the end everyone is happy once it has been completed.

It is not about the end of one’s life—it is about exploring what is most important in our lives and then building a legacy that is rooted in those values.

All of us have benefited from important people and organizations in our lives—whether it is our families, our communities, our schools, our faith, and our cultural institutions. There is no better way to live life to the fullest than to continue to foster and support these most important aspects of our lives into the future. And, as these times have so powerfully reminded us, to demonstrate that we’re all in this together.

Learn more about The Community Foundation’s planned giving options at https://thecommunityfoundation.giftlegacy.com/

Celebrating Three Leadership Legacies

What does it take to be a great leader? According to Richard Bynum, President of PNC in Greater Washington and Virginia, it’s helping others. “My hope is that I’m taking some small part in making sure [people] get where they want to be,” he says.

This winter, the Washington Business Journal honored his thoughtful leadership by selecting Bynum, who is also a Community Foundation Board Member, as a Minority Business Leader Award Honoree. The Award acknowledges his creativity and entrepreneurial drive, among other attributes.

Bynum’s accomplishment coincides with two other major board member milestones. Dr. Charlene Dukes, Secretary of our Board, is retiring as President of Prince George’s Community College after 13 years of service. And Artis Hampshire-Cowan, Vice Chair of our Board, will be honored by Leadership Greater Washington as the 2020 Leader of the Years. 

Read more about their lives, work and impact below.

A Mission to Help Others

“It’s always such an honor to be recognized for the work that one does, and this award is no different. It means a great deal to me to go to work fully invested in what I do every day and to make a difference.”

Richard Bynum, President of Greater Washington and Virginia’s PNC Financial Services Group, never intended to work in banking.

Before joining PNC through their Executive Leadership Program in 2005, he had a 12-year career with the American Red Cross. Bynum traveled the country working helping with disaster relief efforts, eventually serving as Operations Director for the Kosovo Refugee Operations; and, finally, Assistant Director of Relief following the aftermath of 9/11 in New York City.

He says this work inspires how he thinks about leadership today.

“It’s all about helping people—the people who work for you and with you, and your clients,” Bynum says.

This winter, Bynum was selected by Washington Business Journal as a Minority Business Leader Award Honoree. The award honors entrepreneurial drive, creativity and diversity and inclusion in the workplace—values he says directly connect to his work at PNC.

As CEO of the market at PNC, Bynum values performance and customer service; and, creating a workplace where everyone can find their own success, as well as contribute to the success of the company. “We work hard to value our differences,” he says.

Bynum is a member of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where he says he is “proud to take some small role in the impact that the Greater Washington Community Foundation makes every day.” He will be honored by the Washington Business Journal at their annual Minority Business Leader Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, July 14.

A Leader of a Renaissance

Dr. Charlene Dukes is known as the “leader of the renaissance of Prince George’s Community College.”

As president of the college for the past 13 years, she helped lead the development of the Academy for Health Sciences, the first middle college in the state of Maryland; a Teacher Academy; two P-Tech Schools; and the 3D Scholars Program with University of Maryland Global Campus. She also helped found the Prince George’s County Promise Scholarship, which provides financial support for college students graduating from Prince George’s County.

“President Dukes is a talented educator and leader who is passionate about Prince George’s Community College, the County, and the region,” said Sidney Gibson, chair of Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) Board of Trustees. “We are pleased that she has served this community as president for 13 years.”  

Dr. Dukes was the college’s very first woman president of PGCC. In 2013, she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame; in 2016, honored with a medal and certificate as a Woman in American History; and, was recognized by Washingtonian magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the region in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017.

This fall, Dr. Dukes announced her retirement for this upcoming summer. “It’s been an amazing journey, and I leave with no regrets,” she said. “I hope I’ve been able to impact [the community] as much as it has impacted me.”

Dr. Dukes is Secretary of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. She will retire from Prince George’s Community College on June 30, 2020.

A Leader of the Years

“Receiving this award means a great deal to me, not because I am the honoree, but because I so deeply believe in what Leadership Greater Washington (LGW) members do, every day, year after year.”

Artis Hampshire-Cowan is a self-identified “board doctor.” As a governance professional who works with boards, CEOs, and executive leadership, she is passionate about ensuring effective leadership at organizations.

“The best part of my [profession] is I get to help organizations become high performing,” she says.

Hampshire-Cowan recently completed a 23-year tenure at Howard University, which included serving as senior vice president and secretary, interim CEO and acting president. Prior to her role as senior vice president, she served concurrently as secretary and vice president for human resource management and provided executive oversight for Howard University’s workforce of 6,000+.

Leadership Greater Washington, the region’s premiere leadership incubator, recently announced Hampshire-Cowan as the 2020 Leader of the Years. The award, which celebrates local leaders that are furthering community impact and advancing leadership collaboration in the region, connects directly to her work in the community.

“I focus my work as much as possible on organizations that have a regional agenda,” Hampshire-Cowan says. “I seek to connect and leverage relationships to advance the essential mission of these important organizations.

Currently, she is Founding Principal of Leveraged Leadership Group, a corporate governance consulting firm that works with clients on governance, management consulting, and workforce development.

Artis Hampshire Cowan is Vice Chair of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees, where she says, “my hope is to accelerate The Community Foundation’s brand as the community’s guardian for the Greater Washington region.” Hampshire Cowan will be honored with Leadership Greater Washington’s Leader of the Years award at its annual dinner.

$5.2 Million Raised for COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and $1 Million Granted to Local Nonprofit Partners

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has mobilized more than $5.2 million in community support for its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund and made new grants totaling $1 million to 14 nonprofits serving residents of Washington, DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. Through this Fund, which launched on March 13 in collaboration with regional partners, The Community Foundation is working to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in the region.

“During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are inspired by how our generous donors and community partners are stepping up to help us meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with the impacts of coronavirus on this region,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to working with our partners to address both the immediate needs of our neighbors and to plan for the longer term needs of our communities.”

New Grants Announced

Since opening an online request for proposals last week, The Community Foundation has received more than 500 requests for funding across five issue areas: Education and Youth, Employment and Small Business, Medical Care and Access, Housing and Homelessness, and General Operating Support.

The following nonprofit organizations were selected this week to receive a total of $1 million in funding based on their alignment with the Fund’s strategic priorities and their ability to both address urgent needs and reach historically underserved populations.

General Operating Support:

• Network for Victim Recovery to provide staff with living wages, support clients through the Survivor Support Fund, and provide frontline staff at hospitals with hazard pay.  

• Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc. to help stabilize and recover from a sharp drop in revenue due to the COVID crisis, ensuring it continues to provide health care services in Prince George’s County.

• Greater DC Diaper Bank to provide low-income families with a reliable source of diapers, formula, feminine products, and baby gear.

Education and Youth:

• CollegeTracks to provide virtual supports and additional assistance for first-generation-to-college students from low-income, minority, and immigrant families.

• Generation Hope to serve teen parents and their children who may experience or have experienced homelessness, foster care, abuse, and food insecurity.   

• New Futures to serve under-resourced young people pursuing postsecondary degrees while struggling with loss of income, lack of childcare, or adjusting to distance learning and remote work.

Employment and Small Business:

• Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington AFL-CIO to provide financial assistance directly to workers demonstrating need. 

• Martha’s Table to provide a weekly cash stipend to Ward 8 families facing lack of childcare and temporary loss of income for parents and caregivers.

Housing and Homelessness:

• House of Ruth to serve women and survivors of domestic violence and help mitigate the risk of increased homelessness for these populations.

• Miriam's Kitchen to continue providing services and essential frontline support to people experiencing homelessness.

• Calvary Women’s Services to serve women experiencing homelessness in Ward 8.

• Pathways to Housing DC to continue providing outreach and to maintain access to medical and psychiatric care for people living on the streets.

Medical Care and Access:

• CCI Health & Wellness Services to purchase PPE kits, COVID-19 Test Kits, and software to provide critical services to minority, immigrant, low-income, and uninsured or underinsured populations.

• Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC to implement care through a telehealth system, replenish PPE to protect providers and patients, and to create virtual workshops.

To date, the Fund has made nearly $1.8 million in grants. A full list of all nonprofits supported by this Fund is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-grant-recipients.

“Our funding is targeted toward our nonprofit partners serving the most vulnerable communities in our region, including low wage workers, hourly and gig economy workers, health care providers, people of color, and people experiencing homelessness,” said Tonia Wellons. “These flexible grants will help stabilize our nonprofit partners and allow them to begin addressing the economic shocks brought on by this crisis so they can meet the increase in demand for their services. More importantly, this funding will enable them to expand critical medical care, shelter/housing, financial or other supports and services to provide relief for individuals and families facing hardship across this region.”

Mobilizing Community Support

In addition to The Community Foundation’s initial commitment of $150,000 to launch the Fund, support for this effort has come from The Community Foundation’s donors, local foundations, corporate partners, and online contributions. A full list of donors and partners is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-our-partners.

Donors include:

Amazon

Aviv Foundation

Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation

Booz Allen Hamilton

The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

Comcast

The Crimsonbridge Foundation

The Lois and Richard England Family Foundation

Philip L. Graham Fund

Harman Family Foundation

Horizon Therapeutics

International Monetary Fund Giving Together

The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation

Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates company

PNC

Prince Charitable Trusts

Target

United Solutions

Washington AIDS Partnership

Washington Gas

Weissberg Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

The World Bank Group Community Connections Fund

200+ individual online donations from community members with gifts ranging in size from $10 - $5,000

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As the global pandemic continues, we will continue to make grants from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. We anticipate doing so on a weekly basis.

If you’d like to contribute to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, you can read more and donate below.

New COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Grants Announced

The Community Foundation established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support emergency preparedness and response efforts that will help mitigate the impact on disproportionately affected communities in our region. Through this fund, we are focused on addressing lost wages, providing relief for small businesses and gig economy workers, expanding access to medical services, and meeting the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness, among other needs.

Read more about our priorities, which include education and youth, workforce and small business, medical care and access, homelessness and housing, and general operating support for nonprofits to help fill critical gaps.

This week, we are pleased to announce new grants to nonprofit organizations focused on the critical health care needs of people experiencing homeless. These grants will support nonprofits that provide essential health care services for the homeless population in Washington, DC, and Montgomery County, Maryland, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of $175,000 in grants was awarded to:

• Unity Health Care, Inc is the largest network of community health centers in Washington, DC. Unity provides comprehensive primary and specialty health care and wrap-around services, regardless of ability to pay, at numerous traditional and non-traditional sites.

  Unity received a $100,000 grant to increase capacity to serve people in shelters and congregate settings, as well as in quarantine locations. The funds will help provide health care to those who are ill, and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Mobile Medical Care (MobileMed) serves low-income, uninsured, and Medicaid-enrolled residents of Montgomery County, Maryland. MobileMed offers a network of primary care clinics, and specialty care clinics located throughout the county to reach areas of greatest unmet medical need. They also provide primary care and nurse case management services at two County homelessness shelters.

  MobileMed received a $75,000 grant to increase capacity to serve people experiencing homelessness at shelters and via telehealth.

These providers are already going above and beyond to serve people who do not have a home where they can isolate or quarantine. Even with the severe shortages of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, they continue to provide essential services to some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

As the global pandemic continues, we will continue to make grants from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. We anticipate doing so on a weekly basis.

If you’d like to apply, please review our Request for Proposals and submit your application.

If you’d like to contribute to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, you can read more and donate below.

Tonia Wellons Named CEO of Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Board of Trustees of the Greater Washington Community Foundation is delighted to announce the appointment of Tonia Wellons as President and CEO. This selection is the result of a rigorous search process conducted by executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates, in partnership with a committee of six Community Foundation Trustees.

While serving as Interim CEO since early October, Tonia has guided The Community Foundation through this leadership transition by ensuring the organization maintained its donor services, continued its programs, and advanced fundraising efforts in order to deepen community impact work. Over the past month, Tonia has led The Community Foundation as it quickly shifted to respond to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak in Greater Washington, helping raise nearly $4.5 million for local relief and recovery efforts.

“As our community continues to face the crisis and uncertainty brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic, Tonia’s steadfast vision and leadership of The Community Foundation offers us hope and much needed continuity for the critical work of addressing this community’s immediate and long-term needs,” said Katharine Weymouth, chair of the Board of Trustees, Greater Washington Community Foundation. “This is a crucial time of both need and opportunity for The Community Foundation as an anchor institution that is uniquely positioned to help our community weather this crisis and come out stronger and more resilient on the other side. Tonia’s expertise in community development, both globally and locally, and her leadership skills combined with her personal connection to this region, make her ideally suited to accelerate our impact in the community.”

Previously, as our VP of Community Investment, Tonia spearheaded multiple initiatives that have had tremendous impact in the region. She led the launch of VoicesDMV, a community engagement initiative designed to understand the quality of life in the region by surveying residents and hosting community conversations. Based on what we learned from VoicesDMV, Tonia led a refresh of our Community Investment framework to focus on Building Thriving Communities by disrupting poverty, deepening culture and human connection, and preparing for the future of work.

Under this new framework, Tonia has been instrumental to the launch of several community impact initiatives, including the Partnership to End Homelessness, a public-private initiative focused on DC, and re-centering the Children’s Opportunity Fund to address the achievement gap for low-income students in Montgomery County. She also co-led the strategic refresh of our Prince George’s County agenda to include more philanthropic and strategic partners and focus investments on education and workforce development.

Prior to joining The Community Foundation in 2016, Tonia was a political appointee for the Obama Administration as head of global partnerships at the Peace Corps. She previously served as fund manager of a multi-donor initiative focused on financial access and inclusion at the World Bank Group. She also spent a significant part of her career working on USAID-funded capacity development initiatives during the immediate post-apartheid era in South Africa and the broader sub-Sahara region. In 2010, Tonia founded the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund (PGCSIF) and its flagship initiative Forty Under 40 Prince George’s, designed to increase social capital in the county where Tonia has lived for nearly 24 years.

“It is an honor to become President and CEO of the region’s largest public foundation, and to lead our team of talented and passionate employees, dedicated to serving this community,” said Tonia Wellons. “I’ve been proud to support The Community Foundation’s mission to Build Thriving Communities and now look forward to working even more closely with Katharine and our board to build on a strong foundation and nearly 50-year history of positively impacting our community.”

Please join us in congratulating Tonia by sharing this announcement on social media or by commenting, liking, or sharing The Community Foundation’s announcement on our Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn channels.

Community Foundation Announces Grants for Prince George’s County Nonprofits Responding to COVID-19

The Greater Washington Community Foundation, working in partnership with County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks’ Administration and Prince George’s County Public Schools, has announced $650,000 in grants to support local nonprofits responding to the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on Prince George’s County residents. The grants will be administered by The Community Foundation, as part of its COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, with funding provided by a personal contribution from Sam Brin, a former Prince George’s County resident.

The first $550,000 in funds will assist 15 local nonprofit organizations providing direct services and support to address the immediate health and economic needs of individuals, youth, families, and disproportionately impacted communities in Prince George’s County. The funds will help to:

• Reduce food and housing insecurity

• Mitigate the impact of reduced wages and lost work for low-wage workers, especially for people of color who are disproportionately affected

• Expand medical care access to seniors, marginalized communities, and the uninsured

• Enhance educational access and services for out of school children and youth from low-income families

• Address the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness

An additional $100,000 in funds will support Prince George’s County Public Schools to help defray the cost of internet connectivity and ensure every senior in need has internet access to participate in distance learning for the remainder of the school year.

“We are grateful to our generous donors and strategic partners for stepping up to help us meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with the impacts of coronavirus on Prince George’s County residents,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to working with our partners to address both the immediate needs of our neighbors and to plan for the longer term needs of our communities. During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are inspired by how members of our community, and beyond, have come together to care for one another.”

“Even in the absence of a pandemic, our nonprofits do invaluable work for Prince George’s County families facing difficult times,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “We are thankful for our partners like The Community Foundation who are truly showing the strength and power of our community while ensuring our residents can make it through these unprecedented times.”

"The ability to work with partners such as the Greater Washington Community Foundation allows us to ensure that all contributions dedicated to Prince George’s County are being monitored and administered directly to the organizations that need it most,” said Diana Léon Brown, Director of Strategic Partnerships in the Office of the Prince George’s County Executive.

"We are grateful for the generous $100,000 donation from former PGCPS student, Sam Brin," said Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Monica Goldson. "His donation, in partnership with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, will help PGCPS defray the cost of internet connectivity and ensure every senior in need has internet access for the remainder of the school year. We look forward to continuing to work with our community partners as we strive to meet the needs of our students."

"Prince George's County welcomed my Soviet refugee family with open arms, and was a nice place to call home,” said Sam Brin. “I consider it my responsibility to help residents meet their basic needs and hope other prospective donors will join me."

Sam Brin was raised in Prince George’s County, attended Prince George’s County Public Schools, and studied Computer Science and Physics at the University of Maryland. Although Mr. Brin no longer resides in the county, he made this personal contribution to give back to the community where he was raised and his family called home.

The nonprofit organizations receiving grants this round include:

Community Crisis Services, Inc.
Community Outreach & Development CDC
Employ Prince George’s
Food & Friends
Hyattsville Aging in Place
Jobs Have Priority
La Clinica del Pueblo
Latin American Youth Center
Laurel Advocacy and Referral Services
Mary’s Center
Mission of Love Charities
Prince George’s Child Resource Center
SHABACH! Ministries
The Arc
United Communities Against Poverty

“During economic hardships, the most vulnerable populations are always those who have less prior to the recession. Most of these residents, and households, are living paycheck to paycheck, always wondering how they will pay the next bill or provide the next meal,” said Walter L. Simmons, President & CEO, Employ Prince George's. “The Greater Washington Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund is allowing Prince George’s County community partners to provide immediate resources to these people. Employ Prince George’s will be able to provide payments to pay a bill and put food on the table!”

For the latest information and resources on the county’s COVID-19 response, go to https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/3397/Coronavirus.

For more information and to make a contribution for Prince George’s County through The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Response Fund, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org

About the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund
The Greater Washington Community Foundation, in collaboration with regional partners, established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to rapidly deploy critical resources to nonprofits responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities. Through this fund, we are focused on addressing lost wages for hourly and gig economy workers, supporting out of school children and youth, expanding access to medical services, and meeting the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness. To date, The Community Foundation has raised more than $4.3 million for relief and recovery efforts that will support our most vulnerable neighbors.

Community Foundation Announces Unprecedented Community Support for Emergency COVID-19 Response Fund

Editor’s note: This post was updated on April 6 to reflect additional contributions to the fund.

Region’s Largest Community Foundation has raised and committed $4.7 million to support disproportionately impacted communities

Across the region, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is rising and the situation is rapidly evolving. The health, social, and economic implications of this pandemic are already being felt and could continue to be staggering to our region.

Last week, The Community Foundation launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to support emergency preparedness and response efforts to help mitigate the impact on disproportionately affected communities in our region. Through this fund, we are focused on addressing lost wages, relief for small businesses and gig economy workers, expanding access to medical services, and meeting the unique needs of people experiencing homelessness, among other issues.

Since launching the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, The Community Foundation has raised and committed more than $4.7 million in contributions from both individual donors and institutional funders.

You can join this effort to ensure our region is prepared to meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with this public health emergency and economic crisis. Your contribution will help support and assist our nonprofit partners working on the frontlines to provide supplies and direct services to affected communities, especially low-income communities, hourly wage and gig economy workers, people of color, and people experiencing homelessness who may be disproportionately impacted.

“We know that missing one shift or even one paycheck can mean members of our community, especially the region’s low-wage workers, struggle to pay rent, afford groceries, and otherwise provide for their families,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The outpouring of support from our community has been nothing short of incredible! We are truly inspired by our community coming together to help each other out during a difficult time. Your support helps us deploy critical resources to our nonprofit partners responding to the urgent health and economic needs of our communities.”

In addition to The Community Foundation’s initial commitment of $150,000 to seed the fund, support for this effort has come from several individual, philanthropic, and corporate partners. Initial partners and contributions to this fund include:

• The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation has approved a $1 million grant, $750,000 outright and $250,000 as a 1:1 match

• Thanks to a generous matching challenge grant from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, starting today all additional contributions to this fund will be matched up to $500,000

• More than $750,000 in individual contributions from The Community Foundation’s donors and donations from community members ranging in size from $10 - $5,000

• $350,000 from Amazon as part of a $1 million total contribution to four local community foundations serving residents of the Greater Washington region

• $250,000 from Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation and Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

• $200,000 from Public Welfare Foundation

• $150,000 from Pivotal Ventures, a Melinda Gates company, and Wells Fargo Foundation

• $100,000 from Philip L. Graham Fund, Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, and Target

• $75,000 from Horizon Therapeutics and PNC

• $60,000 from International Monetary Fund Giving Together

• $50,000 from the Lois and Richard England Family Foundation, Prince Charitable Trusts, Washington AIDS Partnership, Weissberg Foundation, and the World Bank Group Community Connections Fund

• $25,000 from Booz Allen Hamilton and Comcast

• $10,000 from The Crimsonbridge Foundation and United Solutions

“During these challenging times, the Foundation is pleased to support the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund,” said Calvin Cafritz, President and CEO, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation. “We want to ensure that nonprofits, and the communities they serve, are able to survive this crisis and thrive in the future. We are happy to work with the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and others, to help local organizations in both the short- and long-term.”

"In keeping with Mr. Clark's commitment to the Washington, DC region, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation believes that this is a time to come together as a community to provide resources to our neighbors,” said Joe Del Guercio, President and CEO of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. “The Greater Washington Community Foundation is uniquely positioned to respond to this evolving crisis and address the immediate and long-term needs of the region. We are proud to partner with them on this effort.”

“Right now, our nonprofit partners need flexible resources in order to fill critical gaps and meet increased demand for their services, while they also grapple with their own fundraising and volunteer shortfalls,” said Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is committed to addressing both the immediate needs of people in our region and we’re planning for the longer term needs of communities to ensure our region remains strong and resilient.”

“The Wells Fargo Foundation is appreciative of the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s leadership as our region – and the world – faces unprecedented challenge,” said Anna Bard, Senior Vice President and Community Affairs Manager for DMV at Wells Fargo. “We have chosen to provide a $150,000 investment because we trust The Community Foundation to exercise their convening power and work collaboratively to identify the best means of supporting vulnerable members of our community.”

“Thousands of World Bank Group staff and retirees call the Washington, DC region home and they are eager to help their local communities’ response to the COVID-19 virus,” said Lindsey Buss, Senior Officer, Community Outreach at The World Bank. “Through this emergency grant, from staff/retiree donations and World Bank Group matching funds, to The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, we are happy to be a part of an ongoing and flexible support system for our community and neighbors.”

The Community Foundation will administer grants in cooperation with our local government advisors and philanthropic partners. In order to move resources quickly, funds will be released on a rolling basis throughout the outbreak and recovery phases of this crisis, making it possible to adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding rounds.

With a mission to Build Thriving Communities, The Community Foundation brings together people and resources to tackle critical community issues and leads community impact initiatives to ensure our region is healthy and thriving. The Community Foundation is best known for establishing and managing the Survivor’s Fund, which from 2001-2008 raised and deployed $25 million in support for emergency services to families and victims of the 9/11 Pentagon attack. In 2008, The Community Foundation also created the Neighbors in Need fund and raised more than $5 million to support local residents hit hardest by the economic crisis. More recently, The Community Foundation’s Resilience Fund helped workers displaced by the partial Federal Government shutdown in January 2019 by funding nonprofits providing emergency cash and food assistance to our neighbors.

More information is available at www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19.

Amazon Donates $1 Million to Washington, DC Region Community Foundations to Kick-Start Emergency COVID-19 Response Funds

Donation will support the four largest local community foundations serving residents of the Greater Washington region: ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation – this five-part partnership is strategically positioned to support nonprofits at the frontlines of the region’s Coronavirus response 

Local businesses, community groups, and individuals are encouraged to get involved

Arlington, VA—March 18, 2020 — Amazon has donated $1 million total to kick-start collaborative emergency COVID-19 response funds that will immediately benefit four local community foundations across the Greater Washington region who are working to support vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted amid the coronavirus outbreak. ACT for Alexandria, Arlington Community Foundation, Community Foundation for Northern Virginia, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation will each use these funds for grants to nonprofits addressing food insecurity, housing/shelter, and providing emergency financial assistance. This gift will allow each foundation to lean into their unique strengths and community connections to rapidly disperse resources to nonprofits with deep roots in our community and strong experience serving our most vulnerable neighbors.

The donation from Amazon to the four community foundations is coming at a critical time to bolster frontline services and safety net needs across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. The community foundations recognize that the fast-moving crisis will require both immediate action and long-range planning to best serve those most impacted. Amazon’s donation will be distributed to provide imperative flexible resources to organizations working with communities who are disproportionately impacted by coronavirus and the economic consequences of the outbreak including hourly workers, people experiencing homelessness, and the elderly.

“So many families in our community were already on the financial edge. The need for food, household items and emergency financial assistance is significant,” said Heather Peeler, president and CEO of ACT for Alexandria. “This support enables us to collectively help those who are hardest hit.”

“Our four organizations are working closely together to respond in a nimble way to address the most critical needs facing our neighbors,” said Jennifer Owens, president and CEO of the Arlington Community Foundation. “We know that we are stronger together and hope this gift will inspire others to jump in and do what they can to improve outcomes for our neighbors in need.”

“Amazon’s support allows us to deploy critical resources in response to the urgent health and economic needs of our communities,” said Tonia Wellons, interim president and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We are specifically targeting resources to low-income communities, hourly wage and gig economy workers, and people of color who will be disproportionately impacted. We also know that people experiencing homelessness and direct service providers face unique health risks that must be addressed.”

“As COVID-19 is a public health issue, our community foundations will seek input from public health officials to understand how philanthropy optimally folds into the greater community response,” said Eileen Ellsworth, president and CEO of Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. “This is also an economic issue, and to the greatest extent possible, we will use this gift to respond to the economic impacts of the virus in our service areas.”

“The Washington, D.C. area is our new home, and we must rally together to support our neighbors during this difficult time for our region and around the world,” said Jay Carney, Amazon SVP, Global Corporate Affairs. “In addition to making sure our Amazon customers can get the essentials they need, we will support our community partners who are doing life-saving work. Amazon’s $1 million donation to these four community groups will provide fast, flexible support to those who need it most and encourage a wave of additional community donations during this unprecedented time.”

“We are just coming to grips with the full scope of the impact of COVID-19 on our community,” said Justin Wilson, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia. “The human service needs, economic impact and strains on our critical services will be with us long into the future. We have a resilient community and this contribution will help bring our City and our resident back stronger than ever.”

“Arlington welcomes Amazon’s donation to the Arlington Community Foundation,” Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said. “We hope this is the first of many donations by Amazon and our other corporate citizens who recognize the need to partner with County government, and Arlington nonprofits during this public health crisis.”

The funds will be deployed in the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland through the Greater Washington Community Foundation; Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties and the cities of Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park through the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia; the City of Alexandria through ACT for Alexandria; and Arlington County through the Arlington Community Foundation.

Other businesses, community groups, and individuals interested in the COVID-19 response funds can visit: www.thecommunityfoundation.org/covid-19-our-partners/#nova.

As a global company, Amazon is closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19. In addition to those who are affected by the illness, many more are indirectly dealing with changes in their work, school, and community environments. You can read more about how Amazon is supporting customers, their employees, and communities here.

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Learn more:

• ACT for Alexandria: www.actforalexandria.org

• Arlington Community Foundation: www.arlcf.org

• Community Foundation for Northern Virginia: www.cfnova.org

• Greater Washington Community Foundation: www.thecommunityfoundation.org

About the Greater Washington Community Foundation

The Greater Washington Community Foundation exists to Build Thriving Communities by guiding strategic philanthropy, providing leadership on critical issues, promoting civic engagement, and inspiring local giving. Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation is a public charity made up of hundreds of charitable giving funds established by generous individuals, families, and businesses. We work with donors and partners to enhance the quality of life in the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s County. As the region’s largest local funder, we manage $350 million in assets and have invested nearly $1.3 billion to build more equitable, just, and enriching communities where all residents can thrive.

Community Foundation Announces COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund

The Community Foundation is coordinating with our peers in philanthropy to rapidly raise and deploy critical resources to nonprofits on the frontlines of responding to the urgent health and economic needs of disproportionately impacted communities in Greater Washington.

Community Foundation Staff Working Remotely to Serve Our Community

The Greater Washington Community Foundation has a long history of mobilizing local philanthropy and helping our donors direct their giving to impactful nonprofits working to strengthen our region. The global coronavirus pandemic has created a public health emergency and economic crisis across our region, demonstrating that our work is more critical now than ever. We remain committed to ensuring that our community of donors, grantees, and partners are caring for our most vulnerable neighbors.

We are also doing our part to flatten the curve and to help protect the health and safety of our staff and stakeholders. To limit person-to-person contact, The Community Foundation’s main and local offices are closed and all staff are teleworking, while we continue to assess the evolving situation. During this time, we will maintain all essential business functions and do our best to minimize disruptions to services and support for our donors and nonprofit partners.

FOR DONORS

• How to reach Community Foundation staff: All office phone lines are being forwarded to staff at their remote offices, and email will continue to be monitored regularly. If you need to speak with someone at The Community Foundation, you can find our contact information here or please use the main line at 202-955-5890 or donorservices@thecommunityfoundation.org.

• Making gifts to your fund: We will continue to accept and process all forms of gift payments. If you are planning to mail a check, we encourage you to consider other ways to give, including online gifts or stock or wire transfer (You will find our gift transmission instructions here). For gifts made via check, we now have a bank lockbox collection system to ensure faster and more secure gift processing. You can now mail checks directly to PO Box 49010, Baltimore, MD 21297-4910. (Our office address has not changed - this PO Box is only for mailing gifts made via check.)

• Recommending grants from your fund: Our grants review and due diligence process will continue without interruption. All Community Foundation donors are encouraged to use Donor Central, our online donor portal and fund management tool. See the attached tool guide for instructions. If you don’t have access to Donor Central, please complete the grant request form and send it via email to: grantrecommendations@thecommunityfoundation.org. We ask you to please hold any faxes until we return to the office full time.

• Grants processing: We are making a concerted effort to move all grantees and vendor payments to ACH, which is a faster and more secure form of payment. This step is even more critical right now. This might mean that grants could take longer to process, depending on the responsiveness of grantees.

FOR NONPROFITS

• Grants Processing: We will continue processing grant recommendations from our donors and work quickly and efficiently to move resources to our nonprofit partners. We are encouraging all grantees to work with our finance team to get set up for ACH electronic payments, to ensure continuity of services in case there are any disruptions to mail services. If you are a Community Foundation grantee and would like to receive ACH payments for grant funds, please complete this form and send it via email to grantrecommendations@thecommunityfoundation.org.

• Grant Opportunities: The RFP window for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has closed. All open grant opportunities will be posted to our website.

• Flexibility for existing grantee partners: The Community Foundation recognizes that the COVID-19 crisis has made everyday life and work more challenging for all of us. In light of this, we will provide additional flexibility to current grantees on any outstanding reporting that is owed to The Community Foundation. We have turned off automatic report email reminders and are open to current grantees making requests for reporting extensions. Where possible, we are open to reallocating grant funds to cover emergency needs brought on by the COVID-19 crisis. If you would like to make a budget modification request or reporting extension request on your current grant, please contact your program officer.

• Sharing Resources: We are using our social media channels to help share resources from our nonprofit partners providing immediate help, information about public services, and to help connect community members with volunteer opportunities. If you are a nonprofit offering resources, volunteer opportunities, or other services for residents of the Greater Washington region in response to COVID-19, please share it with our community in our Twitter Moment, where we're coordinating an evolving list of resources! To share, send us a direct message on Twitter with a link to your tweeted resource or request.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and at www.thecommunityfoundation.org for updates on our evolving community response.

Cancelled Event Helps Families in Need

Earlier this week, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Celebration of Philanthropy. Despite the event cancellation, we took proactive measures to turn a disappointing situation into something that positively benefits our community. The food and florals for the event were donated to United Communities Against Poverty to provide 500 meals to individuals and families in Prince George's County whose quality of life has been negatively impacted by poverty, unemployment, or homelessness. Our story was featured yesterday as part of WJLA’s (the local ABC7 affiliate) coverage of local coronavirus response efforts.

Celebrating Philanthropy and Civic Spirit

“Every day I’m inspired by [those] who chose to give,” Tonia Wellons, Interim President and CEO of The Community Foundation.

While we regret that the Celebration of Philanthropy was cancelled out of concern for the safety and health of our guests, we still want to celebrate our 2020 Civic Spirit Award honoree, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, and the many contributions of our community to help make this region a more vibrant, equitable, and inclusive place to live.

We want to give a special thanks to our sponsors, especially our lead sponsors from Brown Advisory, Morgan Stanley, and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. We are very fortunate to have the support of so many caring individuals and organizations—too many of them for me to name, but you can see the full list on our website. We would also like to recognize the generosity and leadership of our host committee, especially our co-chairs Debbi Jarvis and Neal Simon. Thank you!

“Every day, I’m inspired by the individuals and families in this region who choose to give some of what they have to help those who have less,” said Tonia Wellons, our Interim President and CEO.

One such example of the incredible power of neighbors helping neighbors comes from our 2020 Civic Spirit Award honoree, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Clark believed in quietly and generously giving back to local organizations serving the community where they lived, worked, and achieved their success.

Now under the leadership of their daughter, Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick, and President and CEO Joe Del Guercio, the Foundation continues this philanthropic legacy by investing in building connections between effort and opportunity to help people achieve their greatest ambitions.

Presenting the 2020 Civic Spirit Award to the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation

In prepared introductory remarks, Patty Stonesifer, retired CEO of Martha’s Table, said: “It is not just what the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation is investing in, but [their] values: hard work, integrity, accountability, and humility.”

Watch the video below to learn more about those values, and how they have influenced the Clark Foundation’s investments.

A Thank You from Courtney Clark Pastrick

Courtney Clark Pastrick

“It is with sincere thanks that we accept the Greater Washington Community Foundation’s 2020 Civic Spirit Award. Although we are not celebrating together in person, my gratitude is not dampened. This award is an incredible honor for me, my family, and the entire team at the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation."

“My parents, Alice and Jim always believed in investing in others and connecting effort with opportunity. For 30 years, I was fortunate to work with my father to help to direct his philanthropic investments in the Washington, DC region as well as for engineering scholarships and veterans support programs across the country. Today we continue this work in his honor. Our investments in the Washington, DC region focus on three areas: maternal and child health and early education, strong schools and community anchors, and college persistence for DC students. We are inspired by the work of our grantee partners and are grateful to the Greater Washington Community Foundation for this honor.”

Supporting Our Community

In addition to honoring the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation with the 2020 Civic Spirit Award, the Celebration raised more than $620,000 to support The Community Foundation’s work to foster more vibrant and healthy communities. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will now be dedicated to supporting local emergency response efforts.

We have already started coordinating with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, United Way, and our peers in philanthropy to prepare for our community's response to a potential public health and economic crisis. The Community Foundation has opened and provided seed funding for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund to collect donations that can help with supplies and emergency preparedness activities, and to provide emergency cash or other assistance to nonprofits and community members who may be negatively impacted by major event cancellations, lost wages, decrease in demand for small business services, lack of access to health care, and more. If you would like to make an additional contribution to this effort, please click here.

Delivering food to United Communities Against Poverty

Despite the event cancellation, we have taken proactive measures to turn a disappointing situation into something that positively benefits our community. The food and florals for the event have been donated to United Communities Against Poverty to provide 500 meals to individuals and families in Prince George's County whose quality of life has been negatively impacted by poverty, unemployment, or homelessness. We also compensated all workers, volunteers, and nonprofit performers who were relying on this event as a source of income to ensure that our cancellation did not create negative financial impacts for them. 

With a mission to Build Thriving Communities, The Community Foundation continues to bring together people and resources to tackle critical community issues and leads community impact initiatives to ensure the Greater Washington region is a place where all residents can live, work, and thrive.

As the largest funder of nonprofits in the region, The Community Foundation and our donors have invested nearly $1.3 billion to strengthen our community since 1973. Last year alone, we collectively granted more than $64 million to thousands of nonprofit partners, with 73% directly serving the Greater Washington region. This is a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community of givers who chose to focus their giving locally.

How to Get Involved

To all of our sponsors, Host Committee members, and guests, although we do not get to celebrate with you tonight, your continued support and partnership are crucial to building the kind of community that we are all proud to call our home. And that is something worth celebrating!

If you are not already part of our remarkable community of givers, partners, and doers, we invite you to join with us today. You can visit our website or contact Angela Willingham, AVP of Development.

2020 Celebration of Philanthropy Canceled

On March 9, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Celebration of Philanthropy, scheduled for Thursday, March 12.

While local and federal governments continue to view the threat level as low, we have made this decision out of an abundance of caution and concern for your health and safety. As a community foundation whose mission is to ensure a vibrant and healthy community, we cannot in good conscience proceed with a large public gathering that could potentially put you and our valued community members at risk of exposure.

Proactive and Positive Measures
We are taking proactive measures to turn a disappointing situation into something that positively benefits our community. The food and florals for the event will be donated to our grantee partners that help feed and care for vulnerable members of our community. We also plan to pay the workers and volunteers who were relying on our event as a source of income to ensure that our cancellation does not create negative financial impacts for them. And we will honor our agreement to compensate our nonprofit performers in appreciation for their continued partnership, impact in our community, and the time they spent in preparation for this event.

Preparing for our Community’s Response
Shifting our focus away from the event will allow The Community Foundation to begin coordinating and preparing for our community's response to this potential public health crisis, and how we can help community members who may be impacted by lost wages, decrease in demand for small businesses, or lack of access to health services. We have already begun coordinating discussion and efforts with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, WRAG, and other local funders. A portion of the proceeds from the Celebration will now be dedicated to supporting disaster response, something we have strong experience with and have built a reputation for leading in our community.

Questions?
We thank you for your patience and understanding! If you have any questions, please contact Danielle Yates at dyates@thecommunityfoundation.org or 202-973-2513.

Impact Stories: Shelley Gilbert

By Shelley Gilbert

When I was around 6 or 7 years old I began being sexually assaulted. My parents didn’t know it was happening. When they found out, they got me therapy. But it takes time to get over that kind of trauma--my self-esteem was tainted, I felt dirty--and I carried it with me for a long while.

I was a wild teenager, drinking and partying. My parents separated when I was 13, and I shuttled back and forth between my Dad on the East coast and my Mom on the West coast. After I graduated high school, I was still partying. My Mom and Dad, who was in the Army himself, thought it would be good for me to join the military so when I was 20 years old I signed up to the Coast Guard. I put in four years of service and trained as a medical technician during that time. When I left the military, I was able to get a job as a dialysis technician. I worked in dialysis for nearly 20 years in Baltimore, and had two daughters which I raised as a single parent.

But I was still carrying a lot of baggage with me. I was depressed, and I had a lot of repressed anger. I had a hard time holding onto jobs--I had a temper and I was having flashbacks of the past. I’d catch myself just staring at the walls.

In 2010, I decided to try my hand at sales. I had a steady job for several months, but it was getting harder and harder to make ends meet. I lost my car. And then on June 13, 2011, I lost my apartment. It was a Monday morning, and I wasn’t going to get paid until Friday. I couldn’t make the rent.

My mind wasn’t working – I was in a fog – and didn’t think to ask my employer for an advance. When things pile up so high, you get paralyzed.

I was homeless for 17 months. I was couch surfing for a while. I stayed in a hotel. One rainy night, it was 20 degrees out and I had nowhere to stay, so I slept in a bus stop. I also stayed in a shelter for a while, but it was hard to sleep there, and I had to get up at 4:30 a.m. to go to work. Eventually, I lost my job.

In April 2012, I became a manager at Denny’s. I was still homeless, living in a hotel with my daughter. I had a 45-minute walk to work, and was on my feet for 13 hours, before I had to walk back home, often at 2:30 a.m. in the morning after my shift ended. Then in October I had an injury. One day, something just snapped in my back. I bought a soft brace at Walmart on my way to work. I told my manager I was in pain and was going to the ER after my shift.

I was out of work for six weeks. I was in so much pain and taking some strong painkillers which really knocked me out. When I had left the hospital, they gave me a packet which included a booklet with a suicide hotline for Veterans. I wasn’t considering suicide, but I needed help, so I called them. Through that hotline, I got connected to a case worker at Friendship Place, a nonprofit in Washington, DC which helps people experiencing homelessness to find stable housing. He told me to look for an apartment, that as a Veteran I qualified for financial support, and he could give me a check to cover my deposit as well as my move in costs. I thought it was too good to be true.

Weeks went by. I was still taking the painkillers, and they were so strong, that I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even recognize my grandkids. So I stopped taking them. I called Friendship Place, and they told me that they could still help me find a home.

I went to see an apartment at 9 a.m. the next day. I waited all morning and afternoon to hear whether I got the place. At 3:16 p.m., as I was on my way back to the apartment building office to see if there was any update, they called to say they’d reviewed all my paperwork and I’d been approved for the apartment. I could just picture a key dangling from a key chain. A few days later, I moved in.

Having a home is empowering. Being able to stand on your own two feet, and not having to rely on someone else makes you feel good about yourself. It hasn’t been easy– I’ve had times that I’ve not been able to pay my rent and had two major car accidents that really set me back. I came close to being homeless two more times. But I’m back working in dialysis, spending time with my kids and grandkids, and will turn 55 soon. Having my own place, and the security and stability that comes with it, has really been life-changing for me.

Because of my military service, I qualified for the Veterans Affairs' Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program that was established during the Obama Administration. When President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited Friendship Place, I was able to be there to thank them personally for the SSVF, which was an incredible gift in my life.