Many Hands is delighted to announce that the following organizations have been chosen as finalists for our 2019 $100,000 grant:

Access Youth serves vulnerable low-income students in DC through two programs–Truancy Prevention and Restorative Justice in Schools–that give them the tools they need to stay in school, graduate, and avoid the juvenile justice system. Access Youth would use the Many Hands grant to launch a Peer Mediation Program that would provide leadership training and opportunities for students and allow Access Youth to serve them throughout high school.

CASA/Prince George’s County serves youth in foster care through a network of highly trained volunteers who work one-on-one with children, under the guidance of CASA case supervisors, to advocate for their best interests. CASA would use the Many Hands grant to launch a new project, Job Readiness for Transitioning Youth, that would prepare foster youth from the ages of 14 to 20 to enter adulthood with job readiness skills and employment.

Greater DC Diaper Bank serves families in need across the DC area as a free and reliable source of basic baby and personal hygiene products, including 1.6 million diapers distributed through more than 40 community partners last year. Greater DC Diaper Bank would use the Many Hands grant to increase its warehouse space by 3,000 square feet, allowing it to house more products, staff, and volunteers and assist more families.

 

New Endeavors by Women (NEW) serves chronically homeless women and children in DC by operating seven housing programs that provide both shelter and support for their social, health, educational, and employment needs. NEW would use the Many Hands grant to strengthen the New Journeys II program for homeless senior women through the purchase of a handicapped-accessible van, increased client training, and help with basic needs like food.

We are deeply grateful to the more than 60 women who served on this year’s Education, Health, Housing, and Job Readiness Committees and selected our finalists. Collectively, they reviewed nearly 100 applications, visited 25 organizations across the greater Washington area, and engaged in dozens of hours of thoughtful and informed discussion.

All Many Hands members are invited to vote for the recipient of the 2019 Many Hands $100,000 grant at our Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 16. Click here for more information about the meeting.