WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region announced today more than 40 new grants totaling $526,000 supporting Washington-area nonprofits that provide such vital services as food, clothing, shelter and medicine to many of the region's most vulnerable residents.
The organizations receiving grants serve Washington, DC, Montgomery County, MD, Prince George's County, MD and parts of Northern Virginia. Among them: ALIVE!, which distributes food to residents in need in Alexandria; the Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County, providing transitional housing for individuals and families; Washington-based Jobs Have Priority, Inc., focusing on job- and housing-placement; and Interfaith Works in Rockville, MD which provides support for basic needs such as rent assistance, utility payment, prescription and medical bills for families in need.
"In this time of economic crisis, thanks to the generosity of those in our community who have a substantial safety net, The Community Foundation is able to provide these grants to help our neighbors in need," said Community Foundation President Terri Lee Freeman. "It is shameful that the demand for such basic things as food and shelter have grown to the current levels we're seeing today our nation's capita area. We hope that everyone in our region who is able to help, in whatever way they can, will join with us."
Many Washington-area nonprofit service providers report that the demand for lifeline services has risen as much as 50% over this time last year. This, combined with increased operational costs and growing uncertainty surrounding charitable donations, makes these Community Foundation grants all the more important.
A complete list of the grants follows.
Founded in 1973, The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region is the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC area. In FY2008, The Foundation and its donors awarded some $91 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC region and beyond.
ALIVE! Inc. Alexandria, VA $10,000 To support emergency financial assistance to individuals and families for rent, utilities, medical expenses, prescription medicines and other needs Arlington Food Assistance Center Arlington, VA $10,000 To support the purchase of fresh food for distribution to families in need Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs, Inc. Arlington, VA $10,000 To support the Emergency Financial Assistance and Carter-Jenkins programs providing rent, medical and dental care, prescriptions, transportation, work clothes and equipment Asian Women's Self Help Association Rockville, MD $5,000 To support emergency assistance such as food, housing, medical care, and transportation to South Asian victims of domestic violence Ayuda, Inc. Washington, DC $15,000 To support legal and social services to low-income immigrant families and individuals in the Washington, DC metropolitan area Capital Area Food Bank Washington, DC $25,000 To support food distribution across the Washington, DC metropolitan area Capitol Hill Group Ministry Washington, DC $10,000 To support programs which provide homeless and high-risk families in Washington, DC with emergency shelter, wraparound support services, homelessness prevention services and support services to maintain their housing Community Family Life Services Washington, DC $10,000 To support emergency food, clothing and shelter to low-income and homeless families Community Ministries of Rockville Rockville, MD $10,000 To emergency financial assistance for individuals and families for rent, utilities and medications DC Children's Advocacy Center Washington, DC $15,000 To support emergency food, clothing, financial assistance and resource referrals to child and youth victims of sexual and physical abuse and witnesses to violence Emmaus Services for the Aging Washington, DC $15,000 To support services for low-income seniors including hot meals, an emergency food pantry, nutrition/exercise classes, computer training, health screenings, and long-term advocacy Fairfax Area Christian Emergency & Transitional Services, Inc. Fairfax, VA $15,000 To support the permanent supportive housing programs serving homeless men, women and children in Fairfax County, VA Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County Brentwood, MD $20,000 To support operation of the emergency shelter and provision of services to children and families during their stay Family Place, Inc. Washington, DC $15,000 To support basic needs such as diapers, food, transportation and rent Food for Others Fairfax, VA $15,000 To support food distribution assisting of low-income residents of Northern Virginia Gaithersburg HELP Gaithersburg, MD $7,500 To support emergency food, medical prescriptions and infant supplies for low-income residents of the Gaithersburg, MD Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, Inc. Alexandria, VA $10,000 To support short-term emergency financial assistance to residents of southern Fairfax County, VA Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc. Herndon, VA $15,000 To support emergency financial assistance to persons in crisis in the communities of Herndon, VA and Reston, VA Housing Opportunities Community Partners, Inc. Kensington, MD $15,000 To support the Buddy System, which provides assistance with security deposits, utility connections and miscellaneous move-in expenses to families in Montgomery County, MD Interfaith Works Rockville, MD $20,000 To support basic needs such as rent assistance, utility, prescription and medical bills for families in need Jobs Have Priority, Inc. Washington, DC $10,000 To support job- and housing-placement programs Korean Community Services Center of Greater Washington Annandale, VA $10,000 To support emergency assistance faro low-income members of the Asian community living in the metropolitan Washington, DC area Legal Services of Northern Virginia Falls Church, VA $15,000 To support legal assistance for low-income Northern Virginia residents to preserve affordable, safe and sanitary housing, with a goal of preventing homelessness caused by unlawful evictions, illegal lockouts, utility cut-offs and involuntary displacement due to loss of income or personal crisis Loudoun Cares Leesburg, VA $15,000 $5,000 to provide matching funds for a Commonwealth of Virginia grant; $10,000 to support the Faith Winter Fuel Fund, which provides emergency assistance to prevent utility disconnects Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area Washington, DC $10,000 To support the refugee reception and placement program Manna Food Center Rockville, MD $15,000 To support the food distribution program Miriam's Kitchen Washington, DC $27,500 To support the development of a dinner program based on the successful breakfast program, and the continuation of critical expansion of the current breakfast and case management programs Mobile Medical Care, Inc. Bethesda, MD $10,000 To support low- or no-cost health care services for low-income residents of Montgomery County, MD Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless Rockville, MD $20,000 To support urgent basic needs of residents at the men's emergency shelter National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty Washington, DC $15,000 To support work ensuring that systems are better equipped to address the needs of the homeless as well as families at risk of becoming homeless Nonprofit Village Center, Inc. Silver Spring, MD $10,000 To support the launch of a brokerage service connecting organizations with affordable rental space Our Place DC Washington, DC $10,000 To support emergency services for female residents of Washington, DC who are or have been incarcerated Parklands Community Center Washington, DC $5,000 For general operating support Polaris Project Washington, DC $10,000 To support the Nightingale Transitional Housing program Samaritan Inns Washington, DC $10,000 To support the basic needs of participants in the Transitional Living program Southeast Ministry Washington, DC $15,000 To support emergency assistance for men and women participating in Southeast Ministry programs St. Margaret's Church/Charlie's Place Washington, DC $10,000 To support the breakfast program serving homeless men and women in the Washington, DC neighborhoods of Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights Street Sense Washington, DC $5,000 To support the job-training program for formerly homeless individuals Tahirih Justice Center Falls Church, VA $10,000 To support urgent social and medical services including temporary shelter, food, transportation and medical tests and/or prescriptions- for vulnerable immigrant women and girls fleeing gender-based violence United Community Ministries - Community Solutions Alexandria, VA $15,000 To support emergency assistance for rent, utility, prescriptions and medical bills to residents in need Upper Montgomery Assistance Network Gaithersburg, MD $5,000 To support emergency assistance for residents facing foreclosure Women Empowered Against Violence Washington, DC $10,000 To support basic need assistance, case management, life skills education, financial education and counseling to victims of domestic and relationship violence in Washington, DC WUMCO HELP Poolesville, MD $5,000 To support emergency assistance for families and individuals for basic needs such as rent, utility bills, prescriptions and medical expenses
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