Through a team of dedicated Frederick volunteers, COIPP has developed a unique approach to assisting the children and families who are impacted by incarceration. In fact, COIPP is ostensibly the only organization in the nation that serves not only the child, but also the child’s caregiver and the incarcerated family member. All services are provided free of charge to the families and revolve around the needs of the children. We accomplish this through donations, fundraising, and grants. We care greatly about the children in our community for they are our neighbors and our friends. They deserve to have a happy, healthy childhood so they can grow up to be productive adults.

There are over 2.7 million children, ages birth through 18, with an incarcerated parent in the United States. In Maryland alone there are over 90,000 children in this situation. The exact number of Frederick children with an incarcerated parent is difficult to discern, for their parents may be incarcerated at jails and prisons throughout the United States. In 2019, we served over 700 children in one capacity or another. Many times children impacted by the incarceration of a loved one suffer financially, socially and emotionally. Because the incarceration is often viewed as a family secret, or the family lacks the ability to help with needed resources for the child, this situation can bring about enormous stress and trauma.

Through the Unity Campaign, we will be able to maintain our present efforts and enhance our ability to offer much needed services to meet the needs of these children. Our expanded endeavors will include the distribution of additional, high quality children’s books on relevant topics such as feelings, having an incarcerated loved one, and the meaning of family. Funds raised through the Unity Campaign will enable us to increase the number of Family Resource Boxes we mail out, and expand resources for our Sharing Fairs and COVID Emergency Giveaways. It is our goal to increase the number of scholarships we offer at Frederick Community College for caregivers, ex-inmates who are parents, and children old enough to attend college. We would also like to expand our GED offerings and possibly add scholarships to technical schools and at local four year colleges and universities. In addition, it is our plan to provide financial support for children who would benefit from attending extra curricular activities such as dance classes, art lessons, and sports, and attend summer camps. These ideas grow as we listen carefully to our children, their caregivers and their parents to ensure that we are responding to their needs. For us this means that the assistance we can offer is endless. Help us aid these children by raising money for activities and resources geared to help mitigate the children’s trauma, while supporting their financial needs.

About Us:
Welcome to the Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc! We are one of more than 750 similar tax-exempt public charities throughout the United States that work to make their community a better place to live. We are a local organization staffed by residents of the community and led by a board of trustees who have an in-depth knowledge of the issues that shape our County.

This Community Foundation was created by and for the people of Washington County MD, and exists to improve the quality of life for all of our citizens, now and for generations to come, by building community endowments, addressing needs through grant making and providing leadership on key community issues.

Established in 1997, The Community Foundation of Washington County has grown from one fund worth $9,000 to 350 funds valued at over $45 million. The Foundation has awarded $22 million in grants and scholarships since inception. Interested donors may contribute to a range of charitable endeavors or set up their own endowed fund to ensure support for generations to come.

The Community Foundation meets the national standards of the National Council on Foundations. To learn more about the Foundation or to set up a fund, please contact our offices at (301) 745-5210, or email us at cfwc@cfwcmd.org.

Our Mission:
To inspire, grow and steward philanthropy for the benefit of Washington County.

Due to the Covid-19 landscape, many of the families we serve are ALICE families and have found themselves in significant financial distress. We want to make sure that they have after-school programming options that will help develop strong and resilient girls.

Unity Campaign funding will specifically support program fees for 75 girls at schools & community sites in Frederick County. These funds will enable us to make the program a positive reality to girls in our high-risk areas of Frederick County.

GOTR plays a critical role in building girls’ social emotional competencies. Our curriculum emphasizes empowerment and self-care. Girls that participate in our program credit GOTR with helping them manage emotions, establish boundaries, develop confidence, resolve conflict, help others, and be intentional with decisions – life skills that are critical during the current environment and that girls are able continue to use long after our program’s conclusion.

The Girls on the Run (GOTR) program targets 3rd-8th grade girls participating at school & community sites, and includes parent engagement materials distributed to families of the participants. The 16-lesson GOTR curriculum combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills, and make healthy decisions.

Covid-19 modifications for our program include: Pivoting our team locations to local community sites. Should schools allow us in the after-school time frame, we will also host teams at Frederick County Public Schools as in the past.

-Our season will be eight weeks (rather than ten) for Spring 2021.
-We have made accommodations in our curriculum so that coaches can meet in person (social-distancing responsibly) or virtually in the event that is needed at any point in the season.
-We have also provided updated coach training to reflect the current Covid climate.
-Our girls will be given all the program materials individually packed so that no sharing will be needed.
-Coaches have been provided sanitizer, wipes, and masks for use during practices.
-We have modified the activities in our program so that girls will remain apart but still be able to meet in person with a smaller team of girls and coaches.

Each team of girls is led by a team of trained volunteer coaches. These dedicated volunteers are the key to the excellence of our program – not only do they provide positive relationships and create a caring and supportive climate for the girls, they also ensure that the curriculum – which is designed to intentionally teach life skills – is implemented as intended.

Depending on the Covid-19 landscape in June of next year, we will either host an in-person, socially responsibly distanced if required, 5K event in a local park, or team specific 5Ks.

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Habitat works toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.

About Us:

We believe in the power of work to strengthen individuals and to transform lives. We envision persons with barriers to employment being able to choose rewarding employment, achieving financial security, and building careers and lives for themselves and their families, thus enriching our communities.