The Weinberg Foundation has a lot of news to share! We hope you will take a few minutes to read our latest e-news. Also, we invite you to like the Weinberg Foundation on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Weinberg Foundation approves $400,000 in emergency response funding for 10 Baltimore nonprofits

The following nonprofits will receive a total of $400,000 in emergency funding:

1. Center for Urban Families: ($50,000) to provide hard skills training and case management for young adults involved with gangs through a new construction-based demolition project.
2. Vehicles For Change (VFC): ($27,000) to secure, prepare, and warranty 10 vehicles for families impacted by violence in Baltimore as part of VFC’s goal of providing 50 cars to families impacted by the riots.
3. Maryland New Directions: ($50,000) to support expanded summer-time access to walk-in programs where residents of affected communities will receive job search and employment assistance.
4. Youth Empowered Society (YES) - Drop-in Center for Homeless Youth: ($5,000) to replace furniture and equipment destroyed in a fire during the riots.
5. Maryland Food Bank: ($50,000) to support additional food drops throughout West Baltimore and delivery of hot meals to older adults at a local senior center throughout the summer. Food deliveries support residents whose access to corner stores has been diminished in the wake of rioting.
6. Action In Maturity: ($50,000) to provide older adults living in the neighborhoods impacted by the riots with transportation to obtain necessities, including food and prescriptions.
7. Meals-on-Wheels of Central Maryland: ($50,000) to provide meals to a growing number of older adults who are unable to leave their homes located in the neighborhoods impacted by the riots.
8. YouthWorks: ($40,000) to support the City’s summer jobs program operated by the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, doubling the Foundation’s recently approved grant to this organization (this new commitment will result in a total grant of $80,000).
9. Thread: ($40,000) to support the enrollment of 16 students at Frederick Douglass Senior High School in this intensive mentoring program which provides academic and social supports to students who are not meeting minimum academic requirements and are facing significant psychosocial challenges.
10. Druid Heights Family Center Y of Central Maryland: ($38,000) to support the expansion of the New Horizons II summer camp program that serves homeless teens from West Baltimore, particularly the Druid Heights and Upton neighborhoods.

The $400,000 in emergency funding is in addition to $960,000 recently approved by the Weinberg Foundation to support summer youth programs in Baltimore City. For the past two summers, the Weinberg Foundation has provided significant support to quality summer learning programs that serve low-income youth in Baltimore City. Taken together, the Foundation will invest a total of $1,360,000 in Baltimore City this summer.

Weinberg Foundation partners with Aspen Institute to create new workforce leadership program

The Weinberg Sector Skills Academy will consist of nine retreats, meetings, and webinars over the next 12 months. The curriculum is designed to engage participants in developing the skills and strategic perspective to better meet the needs of low-income individuals seeking employment in Baltimore.

The following individuals have been selected to take part in the inaugural 2015 program:

• Steve Bountress, Vice President, Living Classrooms Foundation
• Jacqueline Buedel, Director of Academic and Career Advancement, Caroline Center
• Wayne Butscher, Ph.D., Director of BioSTART and Laboratory Associates Program, BioTechnical Institute of Maryland
• Elaine Carroll, Program Director, Jane Addams Resource Corporation
• Jeff Carroll, Vice President, DETAILS, a social enterprise of Humanim
• Eric Clay, Director, Career Development, Bon Secours Community Works
• Tona Cravioto, Senior Director, Workforce Development, St. Vincent de Paul of Baltimore
• Nancy Fenton, Executive Director, Episcopal Community Services of Maryland
• Terry Fisher, Director of Programs, Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare
• Gicelle Fundales, Director of Training and Production, Civic Works
• Jean Henry, Director of Workforce Development and Community Education, Baltimore City Community College
• Rosalind Howard, Business Services Manager, Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Employment Development
• Lois Mitchell, Director of Programs, Historic East Baltimore Community Action Coalition, Inc.
• Sara Muempfer, Director of Workforce Development, Maryland Department of Human Resources
• Jermaine Peterson, Culinary Program Manager, Moveable Feast
• Nii Sowah, Director of Family Stability and Economic Success Programs, Center for Urban Families
• Matt Stubbs, Program Manager, JumpStart, Job Opportunities Task Force
• Clair Watson, Program Director, Maryland New Directions

The Baltimore Workforce Funders Collaborative, which includes foundation, corporate, and government funders, assisted in the recruitment and nomination process for this year’s first class. The 2015 Weinberg Sector Skills Academy will conclude in April 2016 with a capstone project, which will be presented to the Weinberg Foundation, BWFC, and the broader community. This may provide an opportunity to move projects toward implementation.

Library Project Book Drive raises more than $11,000

More than $11,000 was collected through online and cash donations that will purchase more than 1,500 brand new, hard-cover children’s books for the Library Project Year 4 (2015) Schools: Westport Academy and the Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School.

In addition, nearly 1,000 books were collected at over 40 sites throughout the greater Baltimore metropolitan area. New children’s books will be placed in each of the Year 4 schools, and gently used books will benefit the Maryland Book Bank, one of more than 40 supportive Library Project partners.

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation would like to thank all of the Library Project partners, community members, and organizations that took part in this year’s Book Drive, which included these highlights:

• $2,500 collected by students at current Library Project schools through the “Pay it Forward Penny Challenge.” Eight schools participated this year including the winner—The Historic Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Elementary—where students collected nearly $1,000 in change! Click here to see the kids in action.
• 600 books collected by Wells Fargo in one day. More than 60 Wells Fargo stores throughout the region participated in a “Dress Down for Books Day” where staff exchanged one new children’s book for the chance to dress down on a Friday.

The Weinberg Foundation and its Library Project partners look forward to the grand openings of our two newest libraries that will be celebrated publically with a single event in September 2015. For more information on the Library Project, please visit www.baltimorelibraryproject.org.

Weinberg-funded model for older adult living and care completed in Colorado

The Green House concept represents a radical departure from traditional nursing homes. In Loveland, for example, the Green House homes will consist of six small residential houses that will each accommodate 10 low and moderate-income older adults. Each resident has a private room and bath, but shares a centrally-located kitchen and living area – including a fireplace – for a more home-like experience. While residents do receive skilled care and a variety of support services, emphasis is placed on individual choice and personal growth.

Hold the Date for the Weinberg Foundation’s Annual Community Gathering!

This year’s event will be held on Wednesday, November 11 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Beth El Congregation, 8101 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville, Maryland.

Daniel Lubetzky will be the featured speaker for this year’s event, a celebration of the Foundation’s work in 2015, grantees, partners, and mission. Lubetzky is the CEO and founder of KIND Healthy Snacks and the KIND Movement. He is also founder of PeaceWorks and OneVoice, and co-founder of the apparel company Maiyet. Lubetzky has written a new book, Do the KIND Thing: Think Boundlessly, Work Purposefully, Live Passionately, which was released on March 31.

The Weinberg Foundation hopes you will hold the date for what promises to be an extraordinary celebration!

More than $2 million in additional new grants announced

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.

Harford Family House, Inc.
Aberdeen, MD
$70,000 Maryland Small Grant over two years ($35,000 per year) to support the general operations of this organization that helps homeless families transition into permanent housing.
http://www.harfordfamilyhouse.org/

Episcopal Housing Corporation
Baltimore County, MD
$60,000 Maryland Small Grant over two years ($30,000 per year) to support the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program that assists families facing eviction and homelessness.
http://www.ehc.ang-md.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.

Tuscon Jewish Community Center, Inc.
Tuscon, AZ
$300,000 capital grant to support the construction of a classroom, activity space, and indoor playground that will provide inclusive programs for children with and without disabilities.
http://www.tucsonjcc.org/

American Friends of Ptach
Jerusalem, Israel
$150,000 program grant to support the expansion of this organization’s educational and psychotherapeutic services for children with learning disabilities.

Northeast Pennsylvania Center for Independent Living
Scranton, PA
$150,000 program grant over two years ($75,000 per year) to support the Weinberg High Functioning Autism program that provides academic and workforce training including organizational, time management, and social skills.
http://www.nepacil.org/

Ben Shemen Youth Village*
Ben Shemen, Israel
$25,000 program grant to support staff training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) so that this organization can better serve students who have experienced trauma.
http://www.ben-shemen.org.il/

Education

For grants within the United States, the Weinberg Foundation supports organizations and programs committed to ensuring that children are ready for kindergarten; achieve grade-level academic performance in reading, math, and science; and graduate from high school prepared for college and the workplace. This portfolio includes an emphasis on STEM (Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Math) literacy, out-of-school time, early childhood development, and child and family safety.

For grants within Israel, for the next several years, the Weinberg Foundation is funding only capital grants which support early education and youth-at-risk. Capital grants are for new construction, renovations, major equipment, and some infrastructure. The Foundation is primarily funding the following types of projects:

Educare of California at Silicon Valley
San Jose, CA
$500,000 capital grant to support the construction of a facility that will house early childhood education programs for children, birth to age five.
http://educaresv.org/

Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO)
Jezreel Valley and Rishon LeZion, Israel
$360,000 capital grant to support the renovation of three dormitories at three youth villages serving at-risk youth. http://www.wizousa.org/

LaMerchav
Hod Hasharon, Israel
$250,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides job placement and education for young adults who are leaving the Israeli foster-care system.

Hamifal Educational Children’s Homes*
Jerusalem, Israel
$215,000 capital grant to support the renovation of three foster family homes called mishpachtonim at the Carmiel Children’s Village for foster youth.

Dr. Israel Goldstein Youth Village
Jerusalem, Israel
$177,000 capital grant to support the renovation of a dormitory that serves at-risk youth.
http://eng.hava.org.il/

Employment Opportunity & Training Center Of Northeastern Pennsylvania
Lackawanna County, PA
$75,000 operating grant to support the general operations of this organization that provides integrated child/family and job-readiness programs for low-income residents.
http://www.eotcworks.org/

Commonwealth Advocacy Project
Northeastern PA
$50,000 Maryland Small Grant over two years ($25,000 per year) to support the Hispanic Outreach Project that provides representation and outreach for low-income, Spanish-speaking workers.

Ingenuity Project, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$50,000 Maryland Small Grant to support the out-of-school time component of the accelerated mathematics and science program serving students at Mount Royal Middle School.
http://www.ingenuityproject.org/

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.

St. Mary’s Outreach Center, Inc.
Baltimore, MD
$20,000 Maryland Small Grant to support this organization that connects older adults with a range of services, including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicare, Medicaid, and the Maryland Energy Discount.
http://smocbaltimore.org/

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.

CASA De Maryland, Inc.
Baltimore City; Montgomery County; and Prince George’s County, MD
$150,000 program grant over two years ($75,000 per year) to support a workforce development program that provides job training and placement services for low-income immigrants.
http://wearecasa.org/

A Safe Haven Foundation
Chicago, IL
$30,000 program grant to support the STRIVE employment program that helps formerly homeless individuals achieve long-term economic success.
http://www.asafehaven.org/

* All grants with an asterisk are paid to either United Israel Appeal (U.I.A.) or PEF Israel Endowment Funds with the recommendation, but not requirement, that they be distributed as described.