CFHC Participates in National Community Foundation Week November 11-18, 2018
During the week of November 11, 2018, the Community Foundation of Harford County will join nearly 1,000 community foundations across America celebrating Community Foundation Week. For 28 years, the effort has raised awareness about the increasingly important role of these philanthropic organizations in fostering local collaboration and innovation to address persistent civic and economic challenges.
During the week, the Community Foundation of Harford County will be promoting its Annual Appeal for its CFHC Mission Fund and the Harford Community Fund. The CFHC Mission Fund supports the work of the Community Foundation. The Harford Community Fund, and its five high impact fields of interest, is the Community Foundation’s discretionary fund that provides valuable resources to create a vibrant Harford County and make an impact on the greatest needs of the community.
Community foundations are independent, public entities that steward philanthropic resources from institutional and individual donors to local nonprofits that are the heart of strong, vibrant communities. Craig Thompson is a three-year participant of Beyond Capernaum, a program at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, which ministers to people with special needs and their families and caregivers. It expanded this fall to include children with special needs thanks to a $3,000 Impact Grant from CFHC. The program averages between 550-650 participants each week who enjoy basketball, dancing, crafts, games, bingo, and live performances, and is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. The goal is to let participants like Craig know they are valued and an important part of our community. By funding programs like this, CFHC shows our commitment to nurturing families in need of support.
“Community foundations impact lives, solve problems, and improve futures,” said Jayne Klein, President of the Foundation. “We are more determined than ever to bring our community partners together to find innovative and effective solutions for some of our most challenging social problems and advance the most promising of opportunities to benefit our residents.”
Community foundations represent one of the fastest-growing forms of philanthropy. Every state in the United States is home to at least one community foundation—large and small, urban and rural—working to advance solutions on a wide range of social issues. Since its inception, the Community Foundation of Harford County has awarded more than $600,000 in grants focusing on five areas of focus, all of which contribute to improving the quality of life in Harford County.
16% has been awarded in the area of Harford County Cares, providing for the homeless and aging community, meeting the needs of citizens during difficult times; 30% has been awarded in the area of Harford County Enriches, providing for the arts and culture of the community, and history and the education of children; 16% has been awarded in the area of Harford County Nurtures, providing for children and family services and support programs in Harford County; 18% has been awarded in the area of Harford County Preserves, providing for the environment, local agriculture and animal welfare; and 20% has been awarded in the area of Harford County Protects, providing for a healthy community life through wellness programs and drug prevention.
Community Foundation Week, created in 1989 by former president George H.W. Bush,recognizes the work of community foundations throughout America and their collaborative approach to working with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to address community problems. To give to the Community Foundation of Harford County, please visit www.cfharfordcounty.org.
Founded in 2007, Community Foundation of Harford County is Harford County’s local resource for informed philanthropy. It has been accredited by the Community Foundations National Standards Board, the nation’s highest honor for philanthropic excellence. As one of 15 community foundations in Maryland and nearly 1,000 across the country, Community Foundation of Harford County provides individuals, families and businesses an easy, meaningful and personal way to give back to the community. For more information, visit www.cfharfordcounty.org.
