Hope is Alive

 

While yesterday began at a low ebb for me (see yesterday’s post) it ended on a high note. I was able to spend some time in the company of some truly amazing women at the Women’s Giving Circle event at Howard Community College. There’s nothing more effective for jarring one out of a sense of hopelessness than an evening surrounded by women who see what needs to be done and are doing it. 

From their website:

Mission

The Women’s Giving Circle is building a community of philanthropists to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.​

Impact

We have been part of the Howard County community for 20+ years, have given $1M+ to our nonprofit partners through 250+ grants. We have a $1.3M endowment from 1,600+ donors that will ensure that there are funds to support women and girls in our community in perpetuity. In 2022 we gave $200K to our nonprofit partners in honor of WGC's 20th Anniversary.

While I’ve written about WGC before, I’m not sure I’ve ever revealed that my earliest notions of this group were painfully inaccurate. I somehow had gotten the notion that they were a bunch of affluent white women do-gooder types, maybe like the Junior League. It wasn’t until fairly recently that I finally understood that their mission was about women and girls!

Yikes.

What changed my perceptions? Two things. The first was seeing women I knew take leadership roles with the Women’s Giving Circle: Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz and Candace Dodson-Reed. It’s pretty simple. When you have a personal connection, you find yourself paying more attention. The second was when WGC dedicated themselves to pursuing a path of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through Philanthropy. Many nonprofits pay lip service to such ideas. WGC has truly been walking the walk. 

I’m also impressed by The State of Women and Girls in Howard County a report which is “a baseline compilation of data and a resource about women from statistics published by a range of federal, state, and county agencies as well as public, private, and nonprofit organizations.” Last night I learned how analysis of this information has led to concrete actions by the WGC to address specific needs in the community.

I began the day feeling that everything was hopeless. As the evening wore on I began to think about this quote from George Bernard Shaw:

People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

I’m never going to be a big money donor (unless I win the lottery). What’s special about the Giving Circle model of philanthropy is that it gives all donors, big or small, the opportunity to pool their resources and make a bigger impact. All donors are welcome. And valuable. 

Don’t have big bucks? Or, not sure where to jump in? Here’s a simple way to get started. The Women’s Giving Circle has an ongoing drive to provide feminine hygiene products to those who need them through places like the Community Action Council/Howard County Food Bank, Columbia Community Care. You can drop items off at collection bins at the Howard County Library, The 3rd, Bra La La, and Howard Community College. Or you can make a monetary donation here.

On a day when I looked at the concept of International Women’s Day and felt hopeless, it was reassuring to encounter a place where hope is very much alive and hard at work.