Limelight November 2009 | Annapolis
Volunteerism and Philanthropy
 The “La Mama Sana” program run by The Center of Help, Inc. in Annapolis teaches expectant and young Latino mothers pregnancy and parenting skills.
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There are many different way of volunteering time, talent, and money to the community.
Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT) has found a significant way to make a difference in the lives of women and children who live in Anne Arundel County.
The group, now in its fourth year, was created to “harness the combined power of many women to make a meaningful difference in the local community.” It is modeled after the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle and is a donor-advised fund of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. Initially composed of 14 members—Colleen Baldwin Patricia Barland Joy Beer Kathleen Brooks, Anna Greenberg, Barbara Hoffstein, Betsey Kimrey, Becki Kurdle, Debbie Richardson, Lynda Salamon, Sharon Stewart, Susan Swayze, Helene Tenner, and Abbie von Schlegell—the group has grown to a membership of 139. Every member contributes $500 plus $50 in administrative fees, which together comprises a fund that can provide yearly grants of up to $10,000 to a number of deserving nonprofit groups that serve women and families.“Each of our member’s annual contributions of $550 (including a $50 administrative fee) is multiplied 100 times or more. This year, that totaled $65,000 in grants to seven deserving nonprofits serving women and families in Anne Arundel County,” explained AAWGT President Sharon Stewart.
Over the past three years, Anne Arundel Women Giving Together has dispersed nearly $165,000 to help support local charities with specific programs geared to aid women and children. One of those programs is “La Mama Sana” offered at Centro de Ayuda (The Center of Help, Inc.), in its location at the Gardner Center on Forest Drive in Annapolis, to assist expectant Latino mothers by educating and supporting them as they prepare for the arrival of a new baby. Classes are offered on childbirth preparation, nutrition, newborn and infant care, household and health management, and good health practices. The program meets one evening a week for nine weeks and holds several sessions per year.
Approximately 36 low-income Latino women between the approximate ages of 18 and 44 who reside in Anne Arundel County have the opportunity to participate in this program which offers training, guidance and support with the initial goal of them delivering a healthy baby and the long term goal of dispersing health and positive lifestyle knowledge to the greater Hispanic community.
La Mama Sana program at Centro de Ayuda can use assistance directly from the community. If you would like to help, they need dinners for the evening programs, educational materials, volunteers to help with transportation, financial assistance to help pay for emergency and other health care, and car seats for the new infants. Call Centro de Ayuda at 410-295-3434 if you would like to volunteer.
Anne Arundel Women Giving Together will begin accepting grant applications for the upcoming year starting in late January 2010. Last year (2009), in addition to Centro de Ayuda’s La Mama Sana program, the following organizations received grant funding:
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Project Anti-Violence (PAVE)
Girls on the Run Annapolis, Scholarship Program
Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Horses for Hope
Partners in Care Maryland, Transportation for Older Women
Sarah’s House, FLASH (Fun Learning at Sarah’s House)
YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Computer Training Program
If you are involved in a charity that provides support to women and/or children and would like to apply for a grant from Anne Arundel Women Giving Together, start by going to their website at
www.givingtogether.org.
–Nadja Maril
Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary with Arts Alive 11, its largest single fundraiser, on September 11th. The “tent under the stars” on Maryland Hall’s front lawn featured silent and live auctions, entertainment by the Brooks Tegler Band, and tasting stations with signature dishes and drinks by area restaurants, hotels, and caterers. The event celebrated and supported Maryland Hall’s many arts-related programs.
 Photo by Don Dement (From left) Mike and Cheryl Miller, MHCA Executive Director Linnell Bowen, MHCA Board member Penny Evans, and Tony Evans.
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 Arts Alive sponsor table for Don and Judy Morrissette.
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 Photo by Joe Andrucyk (From left) Dave Cordle, MHCA Board member Cindy Busch, Michele Cordle, and Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch.
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 Photo by Joe Andrucyk (From left) MHCA board member Cathy Belcher, Anna Greenberg, and MHCA Board member Lily Openshaw.
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 Photo by Joe Andrucyk (From left) (From left) MHCA Board member Sean Looney, Linnell Bowen, and Frances Glendening.
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 Brooks Tegler Band performed at Arts Alive 11.
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(From left)
Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County Executive Director Bess Langbein with board members Carroll Hynson, Carole Alexander, Frank Chaney, and Harley Flack at the annual Cruise for the Community aboard the Catherine Marie on August 28th. Celebrating philanthropy in the county, two hundred guests enjoyed live music, dinner, drinks, raffle, and auction. The event raised funds to support “Live Local, Give Local,” as stated by Board President David Cyphers in his opening remarks. The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County was founded by a group of citizens who wanted to ensure a permanent source of funds for local charitable organizations.
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