We are delighted to announce that Many Hands’ Focus Area Committees have selected four outstanding organizations to receive this year’s grants.
Community Bridges, Inc. empowers girls from diverse backgrounds to become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women by addressing the developmental needs of immigrant and minority girls and their families living at or below the federal poverty level in Montgomery County. The school-based Girls Program encourages girls in grades 3-12 to explore their identity, increase their self-esteem, and build their character in a safe and nurturing space. The College Access and Success Program prepares high school students to enroll and succeed in college. Additional programs provide mentoring, support families and alumnae, and work to create systems change that will ensure a pathway to success for students with learning differences in Montgomery County and beyond.
Healthy Babies Project, Inc. (HBP) empowers District of Columbia youth to build healthy, stable lives. HBP offers life skills training to vulnerable youth to prevent youth pregnancy; provides homeless and transient pregnant/parenting youth with evidence-based, one-on-one case management and peer support so they can build healthy families; and empowers youth with job readiness and advocacy training so they can move out of poverty. HBP also provides short-term crisis housing for pregnant and parenting youth as they work toward the goals of healthy birth outcomes and independent living or family reunification. In 2024, HBP plans to renovate and reopen a longer-term site that will offer young mothers and their children housing and wraparound services for 12-24 months.
SafeSpot Children’s Advocacy Center provides a safe environment and support services for child abuse victims and their families as they navigate the investigation and aftermath of abuse. SafeSpot’s services include forensic interviews conducted in a neutral, fact-finding manner and coordinated to avoid duplicate interviewing; crisis intervention and support for non-offending family members; mental health therapy for children and caregivers; and careful case reviews by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including law enforcement, prosecutors, interviewers, social workers, medical and mental health professionals, victim assistance staff, and child advocates. By coordinating the Fairfax County response to child abuse, SafeSpot puts the interests of the child first.
Together We Bake (TWB) provides a comprehensive workforce training and personal development program to help underserved women gain self-confidence, transferable workforce skills, and hands-on experience, which will allow them to find sustainable employment and move toward self-sufficiency. The program is centered around a small baking business through which women participate in food production, food safety education, and business administration. It includes empowerment and life-skills classes to help women develop self-confidence, healthy coping strategies, and a strong support network. Each woman graduates with a nationally-recognized ServSafe certificate, resulting in preferential hiring and higher wages. Based in Alexandria, TWB serves women across the region.
There’s still time to become a Many Hands member and support our grantees! To participate in voting for this year’s $100,000 Impact Grant recipient, please ensure that we receive your membership check by Monday, May 13 or your online gift by Thursday, May 16. We are also happy to accept your gift at the Annual Meeting. Click here to learn more about membership or email Lori Sostowski at membership@manyhandsdc.org.
