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3 Questions With Philanthropist, Dorothye McKnight Craft - "Our Giving, Our Stories!" - 8/88/8/2020
![]() What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Start by giving your time. Giving back is not only about money. Volunteer with an organization whose mission resonates with you. Learn about their needs and their impact. Once you have a good understanding of the effectiveness of the organization, you can decide if you want to also support them financially. Often you will find that you will become a part of their broader fundraising efforts by leveraging your network for their benefit." - Janet Currie Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2020. Double click the profile to the right to read it as a large PDF - enjoy! Thank you for registering/joining us for the WGC's virtual “Our Giving, Our Stories!” Happy Hour in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month - hosted by Candace Dodson Reed, with guest speakers Jackie Hrabowski and Cynthia Bell.
We would appreciate hearing your feedback on the event - please take this short survey so we can continue to make our events better. We enjoyed hearing our wonderful panel discuss the three questions that we posed in our daily "Our Giving, Our Stories!" profiles: 1) What moves you to give your time, talent, and financial resources? 2) When did you start giving to issues that are important to you? and 3) What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? Click here to listen to the conversation. Here's a few highlights: Candace - is a long-time supporter of the WGC, and was excited to host the event because as she said "I'm a storyteller, and I understand and appreciate the value of telling our stories, including those about why we give ... I love what the WGC is doing with the "Our Giving, Our Stories!" 31 day profile series of philanthropic women in Howard County as part of Black Philanthropy Month, and it's important to me that the WGC is one of the first giving circles in the country to be a financial supporter of Black Philanthropy Month as well." Jackie - believes that philanthropy is more than just check-writing, and when asked why she gives, simply said: “Because we can." When invited to share advice for those interested in giving back, she mentioned three things:
Cynthia - believes that "our kids are our future" and that all of us have an opportunity to provide examples of making a difference in the community through our philanthropy. When asked about what advice she has for those interested in giving back, she encouraged others to:
We loved hearing from all of you why YOU give, and WHAT you are giving to: And, we invite you to Give, Connect and Engage with us:
If you are interested in learning more about the WGC, please join us for our upcoming virtual WGC Membership Monday Chat on September 21 at 8:30 am. You will meet members of the WGC’s Advisory Board, hear about our efforts, how you might get involved, and have a chance to ask questions. Join us and register today! Finally, we hope you enjoy our collective celebration of Black Philanthropy Month through the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" daily profiles series. Please help us spread the word far and wide. We look forward to hearing from you and keeping in touch! Sincerely, Judy Smith & Hina Naseem, WGC DEI Committee Co-Chairs Barb Van Winkle, WGC Advisory Board Chair Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director ![]() What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Find a cause that touches your heart. Then do your homework to determine how you can support it by using your time, talent and treasures. Know your limits, but also know that a consistent, committed advocate can impact decisions and the lives of our community members." - Mavis Ellis Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2020. Double click the profile to the right to read it as a PDF - enjoy! ![]() What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Everyone must give back: Today’s society has huge needs and face major challenges in supporting families and helping the young to grow up healthy. Children in their early years of development need ‘The Village’ to help raise them. Today’s young will be our leaders and caregivers of tomorrow. Cash donations to reputable causes are always essential. Add to that the smile, kind words and human touch that your in-person volunteerism brings. We all need that." - Dr. Carlessia Hussein Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2020. Double click the profile to the right to read it as a PDF - enjoy! Malynda Madzel and Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz of the WGC had a great time being interviewed about our efforts to Celebrate Black Philanthropy Month by Candace Dodson Reed and Tom Coale for the August 2 Elevate Maryland Podcast.
Listen to the podcast, read Buffy's blog post about Black Philanthropy Month for Elevate Maryland, and read about the podcast in the recent Elevate eNews here. ![]() What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "Life should not be about how much money and material things you possess but about making a difference in any way you can to uplift those in need. There is power in using your gifts to create opportunities for others. Embrace this fact and support those causes which inspire you to act. Life is too short but you can find a way to leave your footprint on this earth in meaningful ways." - Joan Hash Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2020. Double click the profile to the right to read it as a PDF - enjoy! ![]() What advice do you have for those interested in giving back? "My advice to anyone interested in giving back is – do it!! Every day we wake up is a gift from God. Now more than ever, it should be apparent that the talents, skills, and resources that we’ve been gifted with are most impactful when serving others. There’s a saying that goes 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.' This is why I founded the Newwave Foundation to create opportunities for educational equality in the next generation so they have the tools they need to live a successful life." Learn more about the WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Daily Profile Series celebrating Black Philanthropy Month every day in August 2020. Double click the profile to the right to read it as a PDF - enjoy! ![]() July 2020 WGC Donors and Friends, August is Black Philanthropy Month, which is a global celebration and concerted campaign to elevate Black philanthropic leadership around the world - and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is excited to support it again this year as a financial sponsor, and locally in two ways: First, tomorrow we launch our daily WGC’s “Our Giving, Our Stories!” Daily Profile Series throughout the month of August. Chaired by long-time WGC supporter and former Advisory Board member Malynda Madzel, I hope you'll follow along on our social media pages and our website to read about these inspirational philanthropists in our community! And, we are hosting WGC's "Our Giving, Our Stories!" Virtual Happy Hour this coming Monday, August 3 at 6:00 pm, where we will celebrate our profile series and discuss women's giving in our county. Hosted by long-time WGC supporter Candace Dodson Reed, with featured speakers Jackie Hrabowski and Cynthia Bell, this will be a wonderful way to celebrate Black Philanthropy Month together - register here today! Read on below to learn more about WGC's Black Philanthropy Month efforts, including us having a chance to discuss on the Elevate Maryland Podcast at 2 pm - tune in! And, make sure you read our latest WGC Her Mind Magazine columns that discuss Black Philanthropy Month, and our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. There's lots going on during the hot, hazy days of summer - please join with us and learn more about these incredible, dynamic philanthropists in our community! Warm regards, Barb Van Winkle WGC Chair [email protected] READ THE FULL ENEWSLETTER HERE ![]() August is Black Philanthropy Month. Black Philanthropy Month is a global celebration and concerted campaign to elevate Black philanthropic leadership, and the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is excited to support it. "We are excited to continue our support of National Black Philanthropy Month" said Hina Naseem and Judy Smith, co-Chairs of WGC's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. "Informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership are among the goals of this annual celebration and we are committed to advancing this important work in philanthropy, both in our community and across the country." The WGC will highlight Black Philanthropy Month with two celebratory efforts: WGC’s “Our Giving, Our Stories!” Profiles Beginning on Saturday, August 1 and each day in August thereafter, the WGC will be sharing daily profiles of Howard County philanthropists in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month. We look forward to highlighting these inspirational stories of women in our community who will discuss what moves them to give their time, talent and financial resources, when they started giving to issues that are important to them, and what advice they have for those interested in giving back. Follow the WGC on social media and be sure to check our website daily to learn more about these inspirational philanthropists! www.womensgivingcircle.org “I am thrilled to be leading the WGC’s “Our Giving, Our Stories!” Profile effort for Black Philanthropy Month” said Malynda Madzel, philanthropist and former WGC Advisory Board Member. “As a long-time supporter of the WGC, I’m excited to elevate the voices of women in our community who give back in so many ways.” WGC’s “Our Giving, Our Stories!” Virtual Happy Hour Monday, August 3, 2020 at 6:00 pm With Keynote Speaker Jackie Hrabowski Joined by Cynthia Bell and Hosted by Candace Dodson Reed Join us for a virtual happy hour to kick-off the WGC's series of “Our Giving, Our Stories!” profiles in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month. We’ll discuss the WGC, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and what motivates women to give. RSVP by July 31, 2020 at www.womensgivingcircle.org “I am honored to host this important WGC Virtual Happy Hour conversation for Black Philanthropy Month” said Candace Dodson Reed, philanthropist and long-time WGC supporter. “Elevating the important stories of how women are giving in our community is critical as we work to engage others in collectively addressing critical issues in our community, and our country.” This is the second year that the WGC is supporting National Black Philanthropy Month, and is among the first giving circles to become a sponsor. "The WGC's continued support as a Black Philanthropy Month Sponsor is helping to lead the way nationally for giving circles to promote and invest in black philanthropic leadership during August and year-round" said BPM Co-Architect Valaida Fullwood, who founded a giving circle in North Carolina. "We are very proud to continue our support for Black Philanthropy Month" said Barb Van Winkle, Chair of the Women's Giving Circle. "We look forward to promoting this important work and invite the community to join us!” ![]() Please join us for a virtual happy hour to kick-off the WGC's series of "Our Giving, Our Stories!" profiles in celebration of Black Philanthropy Month. We’ll discuss the WGC, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, and what motivates women to give.
Register here by July 31, 2020 Jacqueline C. Hrabowski retired in 2009 as Vice President of Corporate Community Involvement at T. Rowe Price. Mrs. Hrabowski is currently an active community volunteer and advocate of mentoring and child development initiatives. A philanthropist, and trustee of the Abell Foundation, she is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc., and has received numerous awards, including being named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women. Cynthia Bell is a God fearing daughter, sister, wife, mother of four, and philanthropist. “I am honored to host this important WGC Virtual Happy Hour conversation for Black Philanthropy Month” said Candace Dodson Reed, philanthropist and long-time WGC supporter. “Elevating the important stories of how women are giving in our community is critical as we work to engage others in collectively addressing critical issues in our community, and our country.” Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), observed every August, is a global celebration and concerted campaign to elevate African-descent giving. The primary aims of BPM are informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership to strengthen African-American and African-descent giving in all its forms, for the benefit of our planet, our communities, our organizations and our lives. "We are excited to continue our support of National Black Philanthropy Month" said Hina Naseem and Judy Smith, co-Chairs of WGC's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. "Informing, involving, inspiring and investing in Black philanthropic leadership are among the goals of this annual celebration and we are committed to advancing this important work in philanthropy, both in our community and across the country." This is the second year that the WGC is supporting National Black Philanthropy Month. "The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is among the first giving circles to support Black Philanthropy Month by becoming a sponsor" said BPM Co-Architect Valaida Fullwood, who founded a giving circle in North Carolina. "The WGC's continued support as a BPM Sponsor is helping to lead the way nationally for giving circles to promote and invest in black philanthropic leadership during August and year-round." "We are very proud to continue our support for Black Philanthropy Month" said Barb Van Winkle, Chair of the Women's Giving Circle. "We look forward to promoting BPM's important work and invite the community to join us!”
![]() Philanthropy means generosity in all its forms and is often defined as giving gifts of time, talent and financial resources to promote the common good. In order to do this work and improve our philanthropic efforts to better meet our mission, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County is working to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in our giving circle and our grantmaking. I have invited my friend and colleague Judy Smith to guest write my column this month and highlight the important DEI work she is leading for the Women’s Giving Circle. – Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director July 2, 2020 By Judy Smith, WGC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Co-Chair For Her Mind Magazine In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, abounding racial inequities, and increasing political polarization, Hina Naseem and I, co-chairs for the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County’s (WGC) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, are incorporating mindful leadership in all we do for the WGC and the Committee. We are actualizing the DEI charter by moving from words on a sheet of paper to the implementation of a measurable action agenda. Our goal is to ensure all WGC activities reflect the organization’s DEI commitment in practice, policy and governance. Our approach incorporates strategic thinking, team building, egoless actions, innovation, and presence. The DEI Committee’s action agenda incorporates two tracks: Track 1 – Learn and Reflect
Track 2 – Act and Dive Deeper
This approach acknowledges that each of us still has more to learn about DEI while knocking down unknown structural barriers that prevent us from closing any equity gaps in grant giving. So, where does WGC stand with its DEI initiatives?
What can you expect in the upcoming months from the WGC’s DEI efforts? We have a busy summer agenda:
As I reflect on the task at hand, some moments present great joy and honor to be a DEI co-chair. Then, there are times when I am overwhelmed by the thought of such an enormous task. Those are the times when I ground myself in the facts:
It is my hope that I have shed some light on the WGC DEI Committee and you too will see the value in joining Hina and I as we journey to be a part of WGC efforts to expand philanthropy and increase giving by local women to help local women. Young Women's Giving Circle Delivers Feminine Hygiene Products to the Howard County Food Bank6/30/2020 ![]() Wow! The WGC’s (YWGC) Young Women’s Giving Circle was able to start gathering some of the products collected at local businesses, for their Feminine Product Hygiene Drive this Spring. Look at this first delivery to the Howard County Food Bank/Community Action Council of Howard County! "The power of collective giving helping people in our very own community was the focus of the girl's philanthropic efforts this past year" said Lee Draminski and April Force Pardoe, WGC Advisory Board members and leaders of the YWGC. "We are so proud of the learning and growth the girls experienced this year, and the measurable results they have seen from their efforts." We'll continue to highlight the YWGC's efforts to deliver all of the products they collected in the Spring. Many thanks again to everyone who donated money or products, and all of the business and the Howard County Library System branches that served as collection spots! Thanks to all who joined our Virtual Coffee Chat on Wednesday, June 24 to learn more about how the WGC is using our unique strengths as a giving circle to respond to COVID-19!
We discussed the WGC, our grantmaking and response to COVID-19, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and how everyone can get involved. We also invited conversation and perspectives through polling and several breakout room sessions. These important conversations helped us learn more about what our members are seeing in the community and what they are interested in supporting. In particular, we heard concerns regarding job and income loss, mental health, housing, food insecurity, childcare, education, the elderly, and social isolation, and access among other issues. "Hearing from our members and others in the community is very important to us" said Barb Van Winkle, WGC Advisory Board Chair. "We are listening, learning and focused on inclusion." And, it's great to hear that our virtual event is enjoyed as well: "This was one of the best virtual meetings I have attended. It was the perfect amount of time, was to the point, and gave excellent information. Thanks for a great start to my day!!" For those interested in learning more:
We will be hosting other virtual events soon - stay tuned. We know that it's hard to find a time that works for everyone ,so we are committed to trying various times as we move forward. We hope to see you soon! Questions? Contact Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, WGC Executive Director |
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