Grant Recipients

Grant Recipients 2003 – 2025

$967,006 to 118 non-profit organizations

2025 Grant Recipients

18 Grants Totaling $64,970 plus Daisy Fund grants of $11,346.57

The following is a description of each of the 2025 grants.

AARON’S PLACE – $4,020

“Addressing the Needs of Women and Female Children” – Aaron’s Place is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for underserved populations on the Eastern Shore by connecting them to nutritious food and healthcare through partnerships with community and educational institutions. Based in Denton, with six satellite distribution points, it serves over 10,000 individuals annually with a wide range of services, including access to healthy and quality food through a food pantry, soup kitchen, community garden, and food giveaways. Additional services include educational development through literacy programs, financial counseling, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, GED classes, summer camps for kids, furniture, rent and utility assistance, parenting classes, and a senior enrichment program. A new program for women and girls will address stress management by creating a plan for daily practices designed to improve mental and physical health. This grant will support “Addressing the Needs of Our Women & Female Children.”
www.aaronsplaceinc.org

ALLEGRO ACADEMY – $2,000

“Student Music Scholarship Fund” – Founded in 2017, Allegro Academy is a small non-profit music conservatory in Easton, with the ambition of inspiring a lifelong appreciation for the joy of music. It connects musicians of all ages – from beginner, intermediate, and advanced students — to the best local and international artists. It does that through workshops and lessons for children and adults, taught by career musicians. Public instrumental and choral performances also play a key role in the academy’s mission, enriching the lives of musicians and music lovers of all ages and incomes in our community. Music lessons can be expensive and not everyone who wants them can afford them. The Student Music Scholarship Fund will help fill the local need for quality music education for underserved populations. This grant will provide assistance for female music students (middle and high school) for nine months of weekly lessons in the instrument of choice.
www.allegroacademyeaston.com

BUILDING AFRICAN AMERICAN MINDS – $5,000

“BAAM Girls Summer Program” – Founded in 2005, BAAM began as an after-school program focused on providing academic resources and social – emotional learning for elementary school-aged African American males because, as a group, they tended to fare more poorly academically and socially than their white male counterparts. BAAM now includes boys up to middle school and a girls program for 1^st-4^th grades with approximately 40 participants. New cohorts of girls will be added each school year until there is a grade at every secondary level. The eight-week Summer Enrichment Program, offered to families at no cost, provides community youth with academic support to help them stay on target when they return to school in the fall. The experience-filled program includes field trips, swimming, fishing, team building, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) activities in a structured, safe environment. The youth, many from low-income households, receive a balanced lunch and snacks each day. This grant supports the cost for 15 girls to attend the Summer Enrichment Program at no cost to their families.
www.baaminc.org

CHESTER VALLEY MINISTERS ASSOCIATION – $5,000

“Good Neighbor Fund” – Chester Valley Ministers Association (CVMA), in existence since the mid-1980s and a registered non-profit for more than 20 years, is an interfaith group comprised of individuals and community-based organizations that promotes community cooperation and supports initiatives to improve people’s lives in Kent and northern Queen Anne’s Counties. Members and guests meet monthly to discuss CVMA program updates, issues, and ideas that could benefit our community. In partnership with the Samaritan Group, CVMA provides emergency funds to community members in crisis who have been referred for help by the Kent County Department of Social Services. Financial assistance, awarded once in a 12-month period, is intended to help defray emergency expenses for basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine co-pays, utility bills, short-term emergency housing, and transportation. The Good Neighbor Fund supports parents and children, especially those facing eviction and homelessness, and for mothers with children, it helps alleviate the financial burden of childcare costs, which can be substantial. This grant will be used to help mothers and families in need.
chestervalleyministers.org

COMPASS REGIONAL HOSPICE – $4,500

“Compass Women’s Wellness Retreat” – Compass is a fully licensed, independent, community-based nonprofit organization certified by Medicare and the state of Maryland, and accredited by the Joint Commission. Operating in Caroline, Kent, and Queen Anne’s Counties, Compass provides comprehensive, professional, and compassionate care and support to patients, caregivers, and families facing a life-limiting diagnosis or loss. The Hope and Healing Center, a collection of programs and services provided for people of all ages who have experienced the death of a loved one, includes all the Compass Regional Hospice grief resources. Their programs, provided free of charge, are led by social workers, grief counselors, a chaplain, and volunteers specially trained in the many facets and phases of grief. A Women’s Retreat is an opportunity for participants to navigate a variety of issues, ranging from coping with a devastating loss to managing life’s everyday stressors. Hosting an overnight retreat is the most beneficial way to bring women together who are faced with the same life challenges to share this journey with. Participants will be able to take a break, refresh, re-center, and leave with a new sense of purpose. This grant will support the Women’s Wellness Retreat.
www.compassregionalhospice.org

CRITCHLOW ADKIN CHILDREN’S CENTERS – $4,400

“Tuition Assistance for Women & Girls in Need” – Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers’ (CACC) mission is to provide quality, financially-accessible childcare for children ages 2–12 and their families in a nurturing, diverse, safe, and enriching environment. CACC serves more than 400 children ages 2 – 12 annually in its preschool, pre-K – 5th grade before- and after-school care, and summer camp programs. Each of Critchlow’s five sites is licensed and accredited through the Maryland State Department of Education and maintains an EXCELS (Excellence Counts in Early Learning and School-Age Care) Check Level 5 rating. Over the past five decades, CACC has remained committed to the vision of its founders who were concerned about the lack of available quality childcare for working families in Talbot County. Since 1970, more than $2.75 million in tuition scholarships have been provided to CACC families. Through grants and charitable contributions, CACC provides tuition assistance on an annual basis to approximately 45% of our families. Tuition assistance helps working families struggling financially to access high-quality childcare, which plays a vital role in promoting family stability. This grant will provide tuition assistance for single mothers of female children who are working and/or furthering their education.
www.cacckids.org

FOR ALL SEASONS – $3,500

“Empowering Healthy Relationships: Educating Teens on Connection and Consent” – For All Seasons (FAS) is a community-based Behavioral Health and Rape Crisis Center with a mission to provide therapy, advocacy, education, and psychiatric care in a safe environment that nurtures wellness. Founded in 1986 by a group of citizens concerned about child victims of sexual assault, today it is one of the Shore’s largest outpatient mental health providers and still the only Rape Crisis Center in the area. Providing over 50,000 services annually to thousands of women, children, and men, the agency is a lifeline to survivors of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, and trauma for the entire region. The need for education on healthy relationships, consent, and personal boundaries is critical for today’s youth, especially for young women and girls, who experience higher rates of sexual violence and abuse. This issue is particularly pressing in Maryland, where sexual violence and child abuse statistics are above the national average. Anew program, “Empowering Health Relationships”, is designed to address the urgent need by equipping young people and their support networks with accessible, trauma-informed resources. FAS’s Center for Learning will create a series of 12 videos, discussion guides, and downloadable resources to help teens, families, and educators understand and discuss healthy relationships in an accessible, meaningful way. This grant will support costs for program videos and materials.
www.forallseasonsinc.org

GARFIELD CENTER FOR THE ARTS – $1,500

“Funding for Student Play, ‘A Rock Sails By’” – The mission of the Garfield Center for the Arts (GCA) is to invigorate the cultural life of the community by nurturing, celebrating, and supporting arts and artists through performance and education. Located in the Prince Theatre in Chestertown’s Historic District, GAC presents a wide range of art programming, including five seasonal plays carefully selected to provide a variety of entertainment ranging from family musicals, mysteries, and comedies to more serious plays addressing cultural issues. This spring, GAC will produce a thought-provoking student play, “A Rock Sails By.” Female roles are key to the play, a mother/scientist and her daughter face re-connecting their relationship, new life challenges, deep losses, and finding a balance between science and faith. Through the play’s lessons, women and girls – cast, crew, and audience members – will have the opportunity to develop self-esteem and self-sufficiency through education and creative expression. This grant will support the cost of the production.
www.garfieldcenter.org

HORIZIONS OF KENT & QUEEN ANNE’S – $3,750

“Support for 3 Female Students for Summer 2025 Program” – Founded in 1995, Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s, an affiliate of Horizons National, offers a 6-week, tuition-free, summer academic and enrichment program for under-resourced students (who must qualify for the Free and Reduced Meal program to enroll) in PreK–8th grade. Horizon’s mission is to reduce the summer learning loss, otherwise known as the “summer slide,” that contributes to the “achievement gap” and cycle of poverty. The program has two sites: one at The Gunston School in Centreville and the other at Kent School in Chestertown. Skilled educational professionals utilize hands-on teaching methods focusing on reading, writing, and math. During “the six weeks of happiness,” Horizons students receive transportation to each site, a healthy breakfast and lunch, participate in student-centered and hands-on learning activities, and receive tailored support individualized to meet their needs. Afternoons are filled with swim instruction, various on-campus enrichment activities, and field trips that teach students about the world around them. This grant will provide financial assistance for female students to attend the 2025 summer program.
www.horizonskentqueenannes.org

HURLOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GIRLS ON THE RUN – $1,700

“Tuition Assistance for Women & Girls in Need” – The mission of Girls on the Run (GOTR) is to “inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” Its programs help participants recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others. Coaches use physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social, emotional, and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life. Hurlock Elementary School began its GOTR program in 2023 under the auspices of Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake. As a Title I school, Hurlock Elementary students are predominantly from low-income households. Girls, in grades 3-5, join the program for different reasons – looking for a way to exercise or have a safe place to be with friends or learn how to be the best version of themselves, and end up as enthusiastic participants training for the (non-competitive) race to celebrate the end of the ten-week season. Teachers/coaches noticed the girls did not have appropriate footwear for running, and, last year, took up a collection to purchase running shoes for the team. This grant will provide funds for the purchase of new shoes and program expenses for the 2025-2026 season.
www.gotrchesapeake.org

IMAGINATION LIBRARY OF TALBOT COUNTY – $2,500

“Abundant Books for Babies” – Imagination Library of Talbot County is an early literacy program whose objective, both short- and long-term, is to address the very important need to expose children birth to age 5 to a literature and vocabulary-rich environment by mailing high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes each month at no cost to their families. When parents read to their children, they are laying the building blocks for language, reading, and writing skills, along with the foundation for their child’s healthy self-esteem and academic success. There are approximately 1,700 children under the age of 5 who live in Talbot County; approximately 300 live in poverty and another 550 are considered “at-risk”. For the 24-25 school year, all of Talbot County’s elementary schools are now Title 1 schools, meaning that the poverty level is at least 40%. While books are provided to all children, the focus is on ensuring children from low-income families are enrolled in Imagination Library because every child should have the opportunity to enter Kindergarten ready to learn how to read. Currently, 1,177 children are registered and over 4,000 have “graduated” from the program (turned five). This grant will fund the cost for 100 young Talbot county girls to receive 12 high-quality, age-appropriate books for one year.
www.imaginationlibrary.com

MID-SHORE COUNCIL ON FAMILIY VIOLENCE – $3,000

“Food Pantry Project for Victims of Domestic Violence” – Since 1980, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence (MSCFV) has provided domestic violence victims in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties the opportunity to develop the skills, resources, confidence, and connections necessary for personal success. Their mission is to create healthy opportunities to break the cycle of domestic violence through intervention and prevention by providing shelter, counseling, services, and advocacy for victims and abusers. Between July 2022 and June 2023, MSCFV served 499 victims and 826 children. Staff answered 600 hotline calls and each month MSCFV staff served about 135 clients – – and the number of calls per month has increased markedly since then. Many victims working with MSCFV report it is “the small stuff,” such as food, car repairs, cleaning supplies, holiday gifts, and toiletries, that MSCFV has sometimes been able to provide that got them through tough times. Clients have access to a full pantry whether they meet at any of the MSCFV offices, off-site, or after hours for emergency shelter. In addition to the pantries, MSCFV provides the clients with gift cards to local stores and grocery stores, and gas cards. The freedom to choose what they want helps build self-trust and self-esteem as they work to overcome the emotional and psychological impact of the abuse they experienced. This grant will support the Food Pantry.
www.mscfv.org

OPEN DOORS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION – $5,000

“Tutoring for Women and Girls in Kent County” – Founded in 2020, Open Doors Partners in Education seeks to increase the literacy rate of struggling readers by providing tutoring and offering educational enrichment opportunities to families in Kent County and its surrounding communities. Tutoring is provided at no cost to Kent County public school students and adults who live in Kent County who are falling behind in reading skills. Students enrolled in other schools and adults who live outside Kent County may also enroll in tutoring for a discounted cost. Open Doors uses the Orton-Gillingham Approach, a multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive method, to teach literacy. According to the 2024 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program results, nearly 51% of female students in Kent County, between third and tenth grades, failed to meet the standards for proficiency in English Language Arts. Female literacy impacts not only the individuals directly involved but also the entire community. When women with low literacy skills become mothers, their own reading abilities are the most significant predictor of their children’s future academic success. Studies have shown that children of literate mothers are more likely to perform well in school and develop strong literacy skills themselves, creating a positive cycle of educational achievement. This grant will fund literacy tutoring for school-aged girls as well as women in shelters and rehabilitation facilities.
www.opendoorsed.org

PINE STREET COMMITTEE – $4,000

“Pine Street Enrichment Program: Summer Success for Girls” – The Empowerment Center is a nonprofit, multi-use community center in the heart of the Pine Street Historic District in Cambridge. Opened in 2003, it sits on the former site of The Pine Street School that was built in 1918 in the heart of the African American community, and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. The Empowerment Center is governed by a board of directors, The Pine Street Committee, which oversees programs and use of the building. The local population has many needs and most families are living in poverty. The Center strives to serve as many needs as possible, and the Board is especially focused on children who are suffering and lagging behind in school. The After-School Enrichment Program is open from 3:30-5:30pm, four days a week during the school year. It provides a meal, academic tutoring, learning experiences, and social interaction. Licensed by the State of Maryland in March 2023, the program currently serves 30-40 children daily and is free to all families. The Summer Enrichment Program, also free to all families, runs eight hours a day, four days a week, for nine weeks, providing 45 children with a safe and nurturing environment. Children breakfast, lunch, and a snack each day, which is crucial when so many of the families experience food insecurity. Qualified teachers tutor the children to help them maintain or improve their academics. Children also enjoy special learning experiences and social interaction with friends. This summer, two local high school or college students will be hired as assistants and have a chance to earn a salary, learn how to maintain employment, gain knowledge about educational programs, and serve as role models to the girls. This grant will fund ten girls for the Summer Enrichment Program.
cambridgeempowermentcenter.org

TALBOT HOSPICE – $3,850

“Women’s Grief Program” – Talbot Hospice has played a central role in providing compassionate hospice services in Talbot County for more than four decades since its founding in May of 1981. Talbot Hospice has evolved from a volunteer run hospice to a fully licensed medical hospice. It offers comprehensive care in homes, nursing facilities, at Hospice House, and partners with the local hospital to serve hospice patients who cannot leave the acute care setting. Its mission is “to promote a Hospice Program of services for all persons in Talbot County, to provide means to integrate a Hospice Program into the lives of the community, and to educate the community in an awareness of the Hospice concept.” In 2015 Talbot Hospice completed a building expansion project. The Eleanor A. Koons Hospice House added six additional patient rooms, a family room with kitchen, and a shower facility for family members. The Clark-Guthrie Center houses the bereavement center, a community classroom, volunteer program space, an expanded conference room, and new offices for clinical staff. By providing a variety of grief support activities and programs, Talbot Hospice works to meet the needs of those suffering from grief – – including programs for women. The Women’s Grief Program, a twice-a-year, 8- to 10-week program, is open to Mid-Shore women regardless of whether their loved ones received care through Talbot Hospice. The program includes a speakers series, arts and craft activities, weekly yoga sessions, and two book study groups, one specifically for younger women. The goal is to help women cope with their grief, accelerate healing, promote mindfulness, and offer the opportunity to build meaningful relationships. This grant will support costs associated with arts and crafts activities and the “Understanding Your Grief” book study.
www.talbothospice.com

TALBOT INTERFAITH SHELTER – $4,000

“Pathways to Stability Childcare Program” – Talbot Interfaith Shelter (TIS), established in 2008, is dedicated to ending homelessness in Maryland’s Mid-Shore by providing Shelter, Stability, Support, and a path to Success for families and individuals in need. The S4 Program is a step-by-step process designed to help participants gain financial stability, secure sustainable housing, and ultimately achieve lasting independence. Homelessness among families is a growing crisis, with an increasing number of parents, primarily single mothers, and children relying on shelters as they transition to more stable housing. Currently, there is a significant gap in accessible childcare for families living in TIS’s shelters, which hinders parents’ ability to progress towards self-sufficiency and has lasting effects on children. Through the Pathways to Stability program, TIS will be able to secure no-cost structured, professionally-staffed childcare services for homeless children living in Talbot Interfaith Shelters and Transitional Housing, thereby allowing parents to focus on work, training, and personal development while their children experience stability, care, and developmental support in a nurturing environment. This grant will provide funding to address the critical gap in services, empowering homeless families to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
www.talbotinterfaithshelter.org

TIDES OF GRACE – $4,000

“Glow Up Pop-Up Boutique” – Tides of Grace’s mission is to cultivate a community grounded in kindness and compassion. It strives to foster connections and build bridges of empathy, creating a ripple effect of positive change, ensuring that the spirit of generosity and care resonates throughout the community. Tides of Grace provides resources, educational support, and essential services to those facing life’s toughest challenges. Monthly events address community needs from essential necessities to community baby showers, clothing drives, and CPR trainings. This grant is directed to the Glow Up Pop-Up Boutique, which receives donations of formal wear, and has a long list of volunteers waiting their turn to help with the event. For many families in the community, the cost of purchasing formal wear, shoes, and accessories for events, such as prom, weddings, and other special occasions, is unaffordable. These events, especially prom, are not just about attending a formal event—they are pivotal life experiences that create lasting memories for young women. Additionally, the lack of size inclusivity in many retail stores further compounds the issue for girls who struggle with self-confidence or body image, and may avoid shopping for dresses discouraged by the limited options available in traditional retail settings. Tides of Grace’s free Glow Up Pop-Up Boutique offers a personalized shopping experience for young women and women in need of formal wear with a wide variety of high-quality, name-brand dresses and suits, ranging from prom attire to wedding dresses. Each guest is given the chance to browse through hundreds of dresses, try them on in private changing rooms, and enjoy an enhanced shopping experience complete with sparkling cider and desserts to make the event feel celebratory. By creating a judgment-free environment, the focus is on boosting self-esteem and providing a dignified shopping experience, rather than simply offering a handout. This grant will underwrite costs associated with staging the event.
www.tidesofgraceinc.org

TILGHMAN AREA YOUTH ASSOCIATION – $3,250

“Empowerment in Motion: Girls Running Toward Confidence and Community” – The Tilghman Area Youth Association (TAYA) mission is to enrich the lives of Tilghman youth, by connecting them to each other, their families, and their community. Started in 2003, under the auspices of the St. Michaels Community Center, TAYA addresses the critical needs for enrichment, relationship building, and skill development through out-of-school time programs offered for children from birth to middle school. Tilghman After School Kids (TASK) extends the learning day at Tilghman Elementary School, offering a safe, nurturing environment afterschool program for students each weekday with different creative enrichment classes as well as time for exercise, homework, and nutritious snacks. Over the last 20 years, TASK has provided more than 50 distinct enrichment classes, including Math Club, Lego challenges, and technology and STEM projects, in an effort to address Tilghman Island’s lack of access to enriching extracurricular activities readily available to children in more urban areas. A new program for girls, the Empowerment in Motion class aims to empower young girls to develop a strong sense of self, build resilience, and foster a supportive community through the Girls on the Run (GOTR) initiative. Participants will follow the GOTR curriculum twice a week, engage in emotional resilience training, hear from inspiring female role model guest speakers, and participate in a team-building field trip designed to foster confidence, leadership, and physical wellness. This grant will help cover the costs of guest speakers, leadership workshops, snacks, staff training, and the final team-building activity.
www.tilghmanyouth.org