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Full Circle News
May 2026
Grants
Announcing the 2026 Grantees! Thanks to our members' thoughtful votes, AAWGT has selected the 2026 grantees which will receive funding to support women and families in Anne Arundel County. 57 initial requests were carefully reviewed by 62 of our dedicated members and 16 compelling proposals were presented to members for the vote. With your participation – an impressive 60% of you voted– we are proud to announce that $262,913 in grants are being awarded this year! Without further ado, here are the awardees: Click HERE to read more.Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation, Inc.: Discoveries Pantry: Essential Diaper, Menstrual, and Hygiene Support for Women and Families - $18,000 will help more than 4,500 women and their families meet basic needs — diapers, menstrual products, and hygiene supplies that make daily life possible. These essentials keep children cared for, help caregivers work, and support. Charlene’s Circle of Support: Kinship Support Hub - $25,000 will empower kinship caregivers and youth impacted by a parent’s struggle with mental illness, substance use, or incarceration by building their resilience and well-being. Charting Careers: Building Pathways of Support for Women and Families - $25,000 will help inspire youth to discover their power and reach their goals through transformative mentoring, life-enriching opportunities, and family partnership and by serving as champions for equity. Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools: After School Program Transportation Pilot for Tracey’s Elementary School - $25,000 will design, launch, and scale a transportation program that increases student participation in after-school programs, thereby alleviating childcare challenges and burdens on working families. Joy Reigns Lutheran Church: 2J2 House Life Skills Program - $14,204 will help equip mothers with the tools to achieve lasting self-sufficiency. This program helps mothers develop essential skills in areas beyond sobriety, such as parenting, financial literacy, and health and wellness will have an impact that is profound and enduring. Little Yellow Bird Foundation: Dental Services for Homeless and Underserved Residents in Anne Arundel County - $25,000 will support at least 150 underserved county women and families who need dental services and emergency care. Path to Hope is a program of Path Project, Inc.: Legal Fund for Immigrant Women and Children - $25,000 will provide legal counsel and representation to low-income immigrants who seek to gain, maintain or change lawful immigration status and employment authorization in the United States. Rise and Shine Inc: Women’s Cohort Workforce Training - $20,000 will provide workforce training and jobs in the bakery industry for people with employment barriers: people experiencing homelessness, veterans, those in addiction recovery, formerly incarcerated, youth aging out of foster care, survivors of domestic violence, and single mothers in poverty. Seafarers Foundation, Inc.: Summer Youth Program - $25,000 will help empower and support underserved youth, families, and seniors through educational services, water safety instructions, maritime experiences, and community care, thus building confidence, reducing drowning rates, and improving quality of life across generations. Seeds 4 Success: Lifelong Learning, Inc.: Lifelong Learning: Collective Child and Caregiver Mentorship - $25,000 will support children enrolled in core mentorship programs. The Blue Ribbon Project, She Matters Initiative - $6,800 will provide essential, gender-specific personal care items to adolescent girls in the foster care system. Touchstones Discussion Project, Inc.: Empowering Incarcerated Women with Transformational Growth and Inclusive Community - $21,460 will triple the number of women served by Touchstones volunteer-led programs to include 100 individuals incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCI-W) and 200 women at AAC’s Detention Center on Jennifer Road and the pre-release facility in Jessup. And, although insufficient funds remained to award the full amount requested, we are pleased to support the work of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Anne Arundel County: Mental Health Programs for Women and Families for $7,449 to improve the quality of lives of Anne Arundel County individuals affected by mental illness and provide support for their family, friends, and caretakers. This process, rooted in trust-based philanthropy, reflects our shared commitment to impactful, lasting change in our community. Thank you for helping direct these vital resources where they’re needed most. Together, we’re making a difference. | Education
Families First: Educational Event Gain a deeper understanding of the impacts of immigration enforcement in our county with the Annapolis Immigration Justice Network and the Anne Arundel Rapid Response Network. Date: Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 Register Today by clicking HERE. Click HERE to read more.Please join us to discuss the impacts of immigration enforcement on families in Anne Arundel County. This session begins with a brief “Immigration 101” to ground the conversation, then moves into what’s happening right now—locally and beyond. We’ll explore real impacts in our community with Kiria Abreu and Jessa Coulter from the Annapolis Immigration Justice Network (AIJN) and Laura Jane Willoughby from the Anne Arundel Rapid Response Team. Our experts will share trusted resources, and identify concrete steps we can take together and individually to connect families to legal counsel and direct case management support. For more information on our speakers, please view here. Links to learn more: Annapolis Immigration Justice Network and the Anne Arundel Rapid |
Announcement
You Spoke. We Listened! Earlier this year, we sent out a Member Survey, asking your views on a number of important AAWGT topics:
We heard from 114 of you – about 25% of our membership – and we thank all of you who participated. You can read what you and other members said here. And we will be using your thoughts along with guidance from our leadership as the basis for our new Strategic Plan – so stay posted! |
Announcement
New Member Reception & Orientation We can't wait to meet you! The New Member Reception and Orientation is a special evening to connect with fellow members and discover all the ways to get involved. New members should have received an email recently with a link to register from our Membership Committee Chair, Cathleen Sparrow. We can’t wait to officially welcome you! Monday, June 1st, 2026 The location will be provided once you RSVP (hosted in a member’s home). If you have any questions, please email us at membership@givingtogether.org. |
Getting Togethers
Join us for Happy Hour Getting Together Member event! Advance registration is required and members are encouraged to bring a guest. It is a cash bar and attendees are asked to contribute $10 for light hors d’oeuvres (cash, if possible). Registration is open so click HERE! | Next Gen
Volunteer Opportunity: HOPE for All The Next Gen Committee is planning a volunteer day at HOPE for All to help sort clothing and household donations. This sorting plays an important role in helping HOPE For All keep up with their weekly donations, and it is a great opportunity to make a hands-on impact in our local community. Please register HERE and join us! Saturday, June 27, 2026 HOPE For All |
DEIAB |
Did You Know that the Month of May Recognizes Two Heritages? This month, we're proud to recognize and celebrate two important heritage observances. May Celebrates Both AANHPI and Jewish Heritage Months! |
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month celebrates and reflects on the history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States. From 1978 to 1989, U.S. Presidents issued annual proclamations designating the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1992, this observance was officially expanded to Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, commonly referred to as AAPI Heritage Month. The month of May was selected for its historical significance. It commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869—an achievement made possible largely through the labor of Chinese immigrants. AANHPI Heritage Month honors the rich histories, diverse cultures, and lasting contributions of Americans with roots in more than 75 countries across the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. In Maryland alone, more than 500,000 residents identify as members of the AANHPI community. |  AANHPI Heritage Month honors the rich histories, diverse cultures, and lasting contributions of Americans with roots in more than 75 countries across the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. In Maryland alone, more than 500,000 residents identify as members of the AANHPI community. The purpose of the month is to celebrate the diverse and vibrant American Jewish experience and their essential role in American history. Nationwide, events are held to recognize the notable contributions of Jewish Americans such as Albert Einstein, Jonas Salk, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Links to learn more are as follows: AANHPI Heritage Monthhttps://www.si.edu/events/asian-pacific-american-heritage-month |
Leadership, Governance, & Nominating Congratulations to our new leadership! A big thank you to the incoming leadership, who will be stepping into their new roles on July 1. On May 12th our incoming slate of leaders was voted in by our membership. Thanks to the LGN (leadership, governance and nominating) team for their diligent work in putting together this dynamic group of women. President – Ellen Shiery Thanks also to the members who have stepped up into committee chair and assistant chair positions for the upcoming year. If you have interest in serving on any of our committees please reach out. We do have positions in events and Web/IT to fill. LGN@givingtogether.org | Member Spotlight
Kindness Grows Here Is Proving Kids Can Change Their Communities, One Grant at a Time In a world where it is easy to focus on what is broken, Kindness Grows Here is focused on something far more powerful: what happens when children are trusted to lead. Founded in 2017 in response to a hate incident at Crofton Middle School, Kindness Grows Here (KGH) began with a simple “chalk the walk” effort designed to spread positivity and connection. What started as a grassroots act of compassion has since grown into a thriving nonprofit that empowers young people to create meaningful change in their schools and neighborhoods. Click HERE to read more.Why does this matter? What are they doing? At Magothy River Middle School, students created “Slay Boxes” filled with comforting items for children experiencing foster care, homelessness, or hospitalization. At Crofton Middle School, students developed the “Eagle Eyes for Kindness Table,” a welcoming cafeteria space where no one has to eat alone. Students at The Green School of Baltimore launched a community food box in Herring Run Park with the message: “Take what you need, give what you can.” And at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, students created birthday celebration bags so every child feels remembered and celebrated. How can the community help? What happens now? |
Fundraising Celebrate AAWGT’s 20th Anniversary With a Gift to Our Future! 20 Years - 20 More LIfetime Members - $200,000 This year, in celebration of AAWGT’s 20th Anniversary, our goal is to grow the AAWGT Endowment by adding 20 new Lifetime Members and raising an additional $200,000! Learn More about Lifetime Membership here Or make a one-time donation here | Welcome New Members! Welcome! We’re thrilled to share that 22 new members joined us this past month! A warm welcome to our newest Anne Arundel Women Giving Together members—we’re so glad you’re here!. Together, our collective giving strengthens support for women and children across Anne Arundel County, and we’re excited to make an impact together. Karen Adkins Jesse Alvarado (4/12/2026 - 5/11/2026) |
Sponsor Spotlight
Grateful Thanks to AAWGT Member and Sponsor Dr. Namita Murthy! Dr. Namita Murthy has been a sponsor and involved member of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together since 2024 — a commitment that grew naturally out of the work she does every day. A facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Murthy opened her solo practice, Murthy Facial Plastic Surgery (www.murthyfacialplasticsurgery.com) in Annapolis in 2022. Her patients often include women recovering from domestic violence and facial trauma, which makes contributing to women-centered causes especially meaningful to her. For her, AAWGT, with a model of women collectively directing funding to nonprofits in order to serve other women and families, is a natural fit. What she values most about AAWGT is its genuine giving-circle spirit, where every member has a voice in how funds serve the community, along with the organization's emphasis on mentorship and education. | Leadership Message
WHAT A MONTH MAY HAS BEEN! Our program year is coming to a close, and what a year it's been. We welcomed over 118 new members, bringing our total to 440. We awarded $262,931 in grants to 13 nonprofits. We launched a Strategic Plan, stood up two new committees — Fundraising/Development and Next Gen — and welcomed a dynamic new slate of officers, chairs, and assistant chairs, many stepping into leadership for the very first time. All of our accomplishments are a result of our membership’s dedication to our mission of working collectively to identify, fund and support nonprofit organizations that strengthen and improve the lives of women and families in Anne Arundel County. Be proud of the work we all do in conjunction with many other organizations in AA County and the DMV. There is always room for more as the need continues to grow. A special thank you to the Grants Committee, lead by Chris Messina-Boyer, LGN chaired by Kathy Brooks and the Strategic Plan task force led by Lynne Davidson and Leslie Teichgraber for the amazing work they and their committees accomplished in a short period of time. Liz, Jen and I thank you all for continuing to make AAWGT an enthusiastic, caring organization, full of heart and the occasional laugh! |
Recent Events/Photos! | Mark Your Calendar |
Circle Up! AAWGT leaders join DMV giving circles through the Philanos Circle Up! “Building Community to Transform Philanthropy” in DC on May 6. | Your list of upcoming AAWGT events! Mark your calendars & register today!
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