August 14, 2012
hjweinbergfoundation.org

Employee Giving Program supports Maryland nonprofits with $160,000

I:\mfraney\photos\IMG_2378.jpgThe Weinberg Foundation celebrated its 6th Annual Employee Giving Program on July 24, 2012. The Employee Giving Program, initiated in 2007, allows all Foundation employees to support a cause of their choice, consistent with the Foundation’s mission and grant guidelines, by nominating an organization to receive a $10,000 grant.

This year 16 employees presented a check for $10,000 to the following Maryland nonprofits:

  • Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Maryland Chapter
  • Associated Catholic Charities
  • Baltimore City Department of Social Services – Homeless Emergency Environmental Services Unit (HEESU)
  • Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation – TWIGS Program
  • The BELL Foundation
  • B’More Clubhouse
  • Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
  • Center for Urban Families (CFUF)
  • Higher Achievement Program
  • Maryland Legal Aid
  • Moveable Feast
  • The Preston Mitchum, Jr. Foundation
  • SHEMESH - The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
  • Southwest Baltimore Charter School
  • TurnAround
  • The Youth Empowered Society “YES” Drop-In Center

Library Project expands with new $5 million commitment—First grand openings only weeks away

http://hjweinbergfoundation.org/newsletters/images/enews_2011-11-09_clip_image002.gifThe Weinberg Foundation recently announced a major expansion of the Baltimore Elementary and Middle School Library Project. The Foundation’s original commitment now has been increased to $5 million to build 12 new school libraries over four years. This initiative, involving nearly 30 businesses, nonprofits, and government partners, works with Baltimore City Public Schools to design, build, equip, and staff new or renovated school libraries where existing public funding can be leveraged.

The official grand opening celebration of the first three school libraries included in the Library Project will take place September 12 from 9-10:30 a.m. This celebration will feature three simultaneous open house events at each of the three schools: Thomas Johnson Elementary/Middle, Moravia Park Elementary, and Southwest Baltimore Charter School.  Students, parents, and the community will see the renovated spaces up close for the first time. The Foundation will also announce the second group of libraries that will be selected for the Library Project.

Another very special part of the Library Project is the creation of ceramic mosaics of the project logo which will be displayed in every school involved. With the support and guidance of Art with a Heart, a Library Project partner, the Weinberg Foundation organized three separate volunteer opportunities to create the mosaics. Thank you to all of the volunteers who participated! The finished products will be gorgeous, lasting pieces of art not unlike the library spaces themselves.

Each new library will feature new equipment, books, furniture, and technology including e-readers (Nooks), a bank of computers, and a “Parenting Corner” sponsored by the Enoch Pratt Free Library for parents and guardians to visit the library and share time with their child. The spaces have specially designed smaller areas within the overall space for group reading as well as private reading. A graphics package, including signage that welcomes students to the library in more than 50 languages, and murals that literally wrap from the floor to the ceiling will be some of the innovative design elements of the new libraries.

To learn more, visit www.baltimorelibraryproject.org and experience how the website, that reads like a book, tells the story of this special project.

Recent Grants

Older Adults

This is the single largest area of grantmaking by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.  The Foundation remains committed to providing support to older adults to live dignified, meaningful, and engaged lives in the community and to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

The Misgav Regional Council
Misgav, Israel
$200,000 capital grant to construct a multi-purpose enrichment and services center. www.misgav.org.il

ElderHelp of San Diego
San Diego, CA
$200,000 program grant (over two years) to support the Concierge Club which provides comprehensive membership-based home care solutions to address the growing health and social challenges of older adults and their families. www.elderhelpofsandiego.org

St. John’s Home Foundation, Inc.
Rochester, NY
$170,000 capital grant to support the construction of two “Green House” homes, a residence-centered approach to long-term services and supports, each serving 10 elders. www.stjohnsliving.org

Older Adults Technology Services, Inc.
Brooklyn, New York
$165,000 capital grant to support the build out of the Senior Planet Exploration Center, the nation's first technology-themed community center for older adults. www.oats.org

The Health and Community Service Center
Jerusalem, Israel
$100,000 program grant (over two years) to provide dental services, including dentures, dental implants, x-rays and other procedures to an estimated 400 older adults.

Workforce Development

The Weinberg Foundation is committed to helping people to help themselves by obtaining and keeping employment, preferably on a career track. The Foundation funds programs which provide the “life-tools” for clients to lift themselves from poverty into solid self-support.

St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
Baltimore, MD
$360,000 capital grant to support the construction costs and equipment for the facility used in the Next Course food service training program. www.vincentbaltimore.org
Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development
Beer Sheva, Israel
$250,000 capital grant to expand the Bedouin Women's Catering Kitchen from its present production of 3,000 to 10,000 meals per day (to the National School Hot Lunch Program) and to employ 25 Bedouin mothers. www.nisped.org.il

Basic Human Needs & Health

The Foundation supports programs that meet the basic needs of individuals, families, and communities. These include programs in the areas of homeless services, economic assistance, food security, and health.

West Cecil Health Center
Conowingo, MD
$1,500,000 capital grant (over two years) to support the construction of a new Community Health Center Building which will enable West Cecil Health Center (a Federally Qualified Health Center) to continue to grow and become a Patient Centered Medical Home for the community. www.westcecilhealth.org

Community of Hope, Inc.
Washington, DC
$500,000 capital grant (over two years) to construct a new Health and Resource Center which will provide medical, dental, and behavioral health care as well as social services to low-income residents living in Washington, DC as well as parts of Prince George’s County, Maryland. www.communityofhopedc.org

Paul's Place, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$300,000 capital grant to support the upgrade, renovation, and furnishing of the Paul's Place center which will respond to the need for services in Southwest Baltimore. www.paulsplaceoutreach.org

Marian House, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$150,000 operating grant (over two years) to support the annual operating budget for an organization that provides housing and supportive services for homeless women and children. www.marianhouse.org

Episcopal Housing Corporation
Baltimore, MD
$75,000 Program Grant (over two years) to support the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program which will assist families in Baltimore County to avoid eviction, increase income, and gain stability. www.ehc.ang-md.org

Franciscan Center, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$60,000 Operating Grant (over two years) to support general operations providing basic and emergency needs to the low-income and homeless residents.  www.franciscancenterbaltimore.org

Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Baltimore, MD
$60,000 Program Grant (over two years) to support volunteers who will work for a year at six  nonprofits in Baltimore and five nonprofits in Scranton, to assist poor and vulnerable residents. www.jesuitvolunteers.org

The Women's Housing Coalition, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$60,000 operating grant to support programs that offer affordable, permanent supportive housing to women and families. www.womenshousing.org

Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern PA
Wilkes-Barre, PA
$50,000 capital grant to support the purchase of medical equipment, medical and office supplies, and minor renovations needed to restore the Shickshinny Health Center, which was destroyed in the 2011 flood. www.rhcnepa.com

Food Research & Action Center, Inc.
Metropolitan Baltimore
$40,000 program grant (over two years) to support efforts to connect low-income residents with healthy, affordable food by promoting and supporting the acceptance of Food Supplement Program (FSP)/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit purchases at farmer's markets. www.frac.org

The Light House, Inc.
Annapolis, MD
$20,000 Maryland Small Grant (over two years) to support the homeless prevention and support center which will provide food, clothing, and shelter to the homeless with mental illness, substance abuse, and severe chronic medical conditions. www.annapolislighthouse.org

Disabilities

The Foundation supports organizations and programs that respect and promote the independence, integration, individual choice, and civil rights of children and adults with intellectual, physical, and sensory disabilities as necessary preconditions for a good life.

Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, Inc.
Millersville, MD
$500,000 capital grant to support the purchase and build out of a headquarters facility for care coordination to individuals with multiple disabilities throughout Maryland. www.coordinatingcenter.org

NATAL
Tel Aviv, Israel
$200,000 operating grant (over two years) to support the general operations budget to strengthen the resiliency of adults and children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). www.natal.org.il/english

The Jaffa Institute
Jaffa, Israel
$150,000 program grant (over two years) to support therapeutic programming at an after-school activity center for attention deficit, emotional and/or behavioral disorders. www.jaffainstitute.org

The Center for Independent Living
Beer Sheva, Israel
$100,000 operating grant (over two years) to support the operating budget of this Center which enables people with disabilities to achieve psychological and financial independence. www.atzmaim.org.il

Alut - The Israeli National Autism Association
Modi’in, Israel
$80,000 capital grant to support building renovation and the purchase of equipment for a new Rehabilitation Day Care Center (“Alutaf”) for toddlers with autism. www.alut.org.il

Shutaf-For Inclusion and Advancement of Children with Special Needs
Jerusalem, Israel
$70,000 program grant (over two years) to support this inclusive Israeli summer camp program (75% disabled children and 25% non-disabled) that uses the Ramah-based model of informal Jewish education. www.campshutaf.org

Pocono Environmental Education Center
Dingmans Ferry, PA
$60,000 program grant to support the third year of a special needs residential summer camp and family respite program for children and young adults with disabilities throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. www.peec.org

The Haifa Center for CHI.L.D
Haifa, Israel
$50,000 operating grant to support a range of programs for children with learning differences, developmental delays, and emotional and behavioral problems, as well as their families.  www.haifacenter.org

Maryland Department of Disabilities
Baltimore, MD
$88,000 Maryland Small Grant (over two years) to support post-secondary education opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities helping them develop their independence, problem solving, and employment skills. www.mdod.maryland.gov

Education, Children, Youth & Families

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation aims to build economic self-sufficiency through child/family development and education, from early childhood through high school graduation, preparing individuals for success in college or the workplace. Funding is intended to address critical issues in education, as well as youth homelessness, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Cristo Rey Network
Chicago, IL
$1,500,000 capital grant (over three years) to support the Capital Projects Fund which supports Cristo Rey Network schools across the United States. http://www.cristoreynetwork.org

Teach For America
Baltimore, MD
$600,000 operating grant (over two years) to support the general operations budget which funds the recruitment, selection, training, and ongoing support of corps members who teach pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Baltimore City and County Public Schools. www.teachforamerica.org

Urban Teacher Center
Baltimore, MD
$300,000 program grant (over two years) to support the recruitment, selection, training, ongoing support and evaluation of Urban Teacher Center’s residents in Baltimore City Schools. www.urbanteachercenter.org

Experience Corps/Experience In Action
Baltimore, MD
$150,000 program grant (over two years) to provide support for mentoring and tutoring to low-income students in Baltimore City Schools to increase school attendance and ensure they are on grade level by the end of 3rd grade.  www.experiencecorps.org

Junior Achievement USA
Baltimore, MD
$100,000 program grant (over two years) to support the expansion of Junior Achievement’s Finance Park Virtual, a financial literacy, and career and college readiness program for low-income middle/high school students and their families. www.jamaryland.org

Cristo Rey Network
Chicago, IL
$75,000 operating grant (over three years) to support the national Cristo Ray Network office that coordinates the Capital Projects Fund, which supports Cristo Rey Network schools. http://www.cristoreynetwork.org

New Leaders
Baltimore, MD
$75,000 operating grant to support the recruitment, selection, and training of school leaders, including principals, to drive academic gains. www.nlns.org

Center for Inspired Teaching
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 program grant to support a system-wide professional development partnership with Baltimore City Schools to train middle school math teachers in inquiry-based teaching methods. www.inspiredteaching.org

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 program grant to support the entrepreneurship program in over 20 Baltimore City Schools, reinforcing literacy and math skills and provides real-life exposure to the business world. www.nfte.com

Alternative Directions, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$35,000 program grant to support the Hand in Hand Baltimore program which focuses on reducing the recidivism rate among male adjudicated youth by providing them with job training, individual mentoring, employment connections, and continued educational opportunities. www.alternativedirectionsinc.org

Arts Every Day, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$30,000 operating grant to provide general operating support to integrate arts into the existing curriculum for Baltimore City Public Schools students.  www.artseveryday.org

Cristo Rey Corporate Internship Program, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$25,000 program grant to support the internship program which allows each Cristo Rey Jesuit High School student to work five days per month for a Baltimore area business to help pay for educational costs and to learn life and work skills.  www.cristoreybalt.org

Reading Partners
Baltimore, MD
$25,000 program grant to support the expansion of its volunteer-driven, 1:1 literacy tutoring program which will serve 160 K-5 students at four Title 1 schools. www.readingpartners.org

Raising A Reader
Baltimore, MD
$70,000 Maryland Small Grant (over two years) to support the expanding programming in Baltimore City kindergarten classrooms which provides books, materials, literacy, and family engagement to 800 children in 32 kindergarten classrooms. www.raisingareader.org

Weinberg Foundation’s Annual Community Gathering
Tuesday, November 13, 4-6 p.m.

HippodromeYou are invited to this year’s Annual Community Gathering which will take place on Tuesday, November 13, from 4-6 p.m. at the historic Hippodrome Theatre on Eutaw Street in West Baltimore. Even more exciting, the Foundation will host a nationally known guest as the keynote speaker. This is always a very special event as the Weinberg Foundation celebrates its work and partnerships of the past year. We hope you will join us!

Connecting with the community—Social media continues to grow

The Weinberg Foundation is thrilled at the positive response it has received through Facebook and Twitter. Just recently, the Foundation saw a 136% increase in Facebook reach in just one week.  We continue to share recently approved grants on a weekly basis and hope that our grantees and other stakeholders benefit from seeing specific grants as they are approved. Please consider following the Foundation on Twitter @hjweinbergfdn or liking us on Facebook. Your support is greatly appreciated.