Community Foundation of Harford County received a $6,250 grant from Peace First in support of the We Cancerve Fund, an accumulator fund founded by Abingdon resident Grace Callwood, an 11-year-old cancer survivor.
The donation is the first installment of a two-year, $25,000 grant Grace received from Peace First, a Boston-based nonprofit that supports young people in peacemaking by assisting them with the skills to help solve problems with courage, compassion and collaboration.
The Peace First grant supports the We Cancerve Movement, a nonprofit founded in 2011 by Grace after she was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphomais. The We Cancerve Movement aims to bring happiness to homeless, sick and foster children.
With the first grant installment from Peace First, Grace is presenting $5,000 to Sinai Hospital for a patient assistance fund to help cancer patients (Grace received cancer treatment at Sinai’s pediatric oncology division) and $1,000 to Harford Family House to help the homeless. The formal presentations to Sinai and Harford Family House will be made by Grace at the September 13 Harford County Council meeting.
In recognition of September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Harford County Executive Barry Glassman will light the county administration building in gold (color of childhood cancer) September 13-20. The Bel Air Town Commissioners are also lighting the Bel Air Armory in gold during the same time.
When future distributions arrive from Peace First, Grace will use them to expand her Camp Happy project which is now at two homeless shelters in Harford County and will award funds to nonprofits that help raise awareness about and advocate for homeless, sick and foster children.
The We Cancerve Accumulator Fund through the Community Foundation of Harford County was established by Grace in 2013 to support the work of the We Cancerve Movement and to create sustainability for Grace’s mission of giving.
“It’s so amazing to witness Grace’s strength and good heart,” said Brigitte Peters, executive director of the Community Foundation of Harford County. “The work she has done to help the homeless, the sick and foster children show what a role model Grace is for children and adults alike. What a pleasure it is to see philanthropy start young.”
Founded in 2007, the Community Foundation of Harford County is a nonprofit organization supported by the community through donations, enabling individuals, families and businesses to leave a legacy to benefit the causes that matter on a local level. The Community Foundation of Harford County is accredited by the Community Foundations National Standards Board, the nation’s highest honor for philanthropic excellence. For more information, visit cfharfordcounty.org.
