Giving Circle of HOPE

08/04/2020

Congratulations to our 2020 Grantees!

Uncertain times call for certain action, and this year is the epitome of an uncertain time.
Many Northern Virginia nonprofits found themselves stretched thin, asked to do more with less. Pandemic conditions made critical fundraising events impossible. In response to this crisis, Giving Circle of Hope quickly launched the Be One of the Helpers campaign.

Foregoing our usual grant application process in favor of a condensed high-impact online collective giving event, GCH members and donors contributed $45,000 to this campaign. Contributors cast votes to select one organization in each of 3 helping categories--Food Pantry, Rental Assistance, and Emerging Needs.

Congratulations to the 3 worthy organizations, below; each will receive a $15,000 grant to support those in the community disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

FOOD PANTRY grantee: Dulles South Food Pantry

RENTAL ASSISTANCE grantee: Herndon-Reston FISH

EMERGING NEEDS grantee: Culmore Clinic

07/01/2020

We've raised over $39,000!

Our member helpers have raised $39,122 and there's still time to contribute through July 3. Also read about two upcoming events.

Join the Book Circle on July 21 at 7 PM! From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a groundbreaking approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society—and in ourselves.  

06/17/2020

HOPE in Action - Campaign & Nonprofit Updates

Our Be One of the Helpers campaign has raised over $37,000! Read on to find out how our proposed grantees are managing the challenges.

06/11/2020

BOOK CIRCLE | GivingCircleofHOPE

For more than 16 years, the members of the Giving Circle of HOPE have come together to support our neighbors in need as they work toward self-sufficiency and the ability to live better lives. As the events surrounding the murder of George Floyd, and so many others, has shown us, there is no greater time to continue the work of the Giving Circle of Hope as now. Please join us as we recommit ourselves to the difficult but necessary work of assisting our local neighbors who need and deserve equal access to justice and opportunity.

Today, in particular, we stand with our neighbors in the Black community.

Although our grants are the primary way we seek to remedy social injustices, our Book Circle provides another opportunity to have conversations about social inequalities and injustices. Feel free to join us as our current selection,
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, is particularly relevant to the social unrest our nation is facing.
https://www.givingcircleofhope.org/book-circle

To provide additional educational opportunities about social issues and the people served by the Giving Circle of HOPE. 

05/25/2020

What better way to remember all of the men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces than to learn what you can do to honor these service members? Here are a few links to help you pay tribute. #MemorialDay

usaa.com/inet/wc/memorial-day?akredirect=true
thanksusa.org/
ourmilitarykids.org/
operationsecondchance.org/
hero-dogs.org/

05/07/2020

There are so many ways we can support our grantees, why not order some delicious treats from Together We Bake?

Looking for snacks that will bring you joy during this time of social distancing? Our delicious, handmade chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon pecan granola, apple chips, and trail mix will do just that! Place your order today and help empower women in need. https://buff.ly/2SAsr9V

05/06/2020

We've already raised $21,000!

Take a moment to read our newsletter and hear about all of the ways our Be One of the Helpers campaign grantees are adapting!

04/18/2020

Women Giving Back

Thank you Diana Katz! Together, 12 families from her neighborhood pulled together a bin of donations. We appreciate this donation and all you do for Giving Circle of HOPE and the Latino Engagement and Achievement Fund.

03/26/2020

Women Giving Back pivots from donating clothes to donating food. Saturday, 3/28, they distributed food to 153 households. They've depleted their supplies and are preparing for next Saturday.

If you want to help, here is the link to their Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1XHJTJOPF3Z8Z/ref=cm_go_nav_hz

Please help us spread the word by simply sharing on your page. One click. 💻

03/24/2020

Community Foundation for Northern Virginia

Community Foundation first round of grants through the COVID-19 Response Fund for Northern Virginia have been distributed to local organizations providing immediate emergency assistance relief. Read more here: http://ow.ly/gLQL30qs4bt

03/20/2020

Coronavirus Update - Food Resources for Families | Fairfax County Public Schools

Please share this information with those that can spread the word to enable more families to find help with food assistance when schools are closed.

https://www.fcps.edu/news/coronavirus-update-food-resources?fbclid=IwAR0EaTJHA1Vc4kQ7_KPimHzm35kgbGGB30DfZfZjypIDBHs8SUu-7T7ke9Y

Coronavirus Update - Food Resources for Families Finding help with food assistance when schools are closed. As we confront school closures and disruption to our daily lives, Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to providing information to assist families that rely on free and reduced priced s....

03/08/2020

People around the world celebrate International Women’s Day today. It’s a moment to recognize the achievements of women from all backgrounds and a time to take action. Investing in women & girls has immense potential for positive social change – not just for them, but also for their families and communities.

We celebrate past and present grantees who are focused on changing lives for women and girls: BRAWS, Empowered Women International, Friends of Guest House, Girls on the Run, Rosie Riveters, She Rocks the World, Space of Her Own (SOHO) Together We Bake & Women Giving Back.

03/06/2020

Did you know that one in 10 Americans over the age of 12 has a substance use disorder? And that overdose is now the #1 cause of death in Americans under the age of 50?

Join us at The Chris Atwood Foundation on Saturday, March 14 from 9 to Noon and volunteer to pack naloxone kits. You'll also learn how to respond to an opioid overdose. Volunteer and save a life!

Signing up is easy, just follow this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0d4ba8af29a5fe3-volunteer

To learn more about The Chris Atwood Foundation, visit chrisatwoodfoundation.org.

02/17/2020

NATIONAL RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY

Kind words and actions can seem so small, but their effects are truly endless.

Acts of kindness don’t have to be grand gestures. Showing someone that you care could take something as little as paying for their coffee order or wishing them a good day. To kick off a week of kindness, here are a few more ideas: https://parade.com/985225/jessicasager/random-acts-of-kindness-week-ideas-2020/

#randomactsofkindnessday

01/20/2020

What a wonderful day today has been with loads of people sharing their time with others!

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. What will you do today? This year?

01/20/2020

Giving Circle of HOPE's cover photo

01/20/2020

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the day of service that celebrates the Civil Rights leader’s life and legacy. Observed as “a day on, not a day off,” MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. What will you do today? This year?

01/20/2020

Giving Circle of HOPE's cover photo

12/06/2019

Congratulations, Mary Ellen! Much deserved for your tireless efforts on behalf of our neighbors at risk of hunger and homelessness.❤️

We are excited to share that Mary Ellen D'Andrea, Director of Development at WFCM, was recognized as Nonprofit Leader of 2019 at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce Stars Over Dulles Awards luncheon today. Mary Ellen represents WFCM at Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce events regularly and is a wonderful member of the WFCM staff and the Dulles community. Thank you to the Dulles Chamber Board Members, Dulles Chamber Chair Valerie Kaiser, CFP® who invited Mary Ellen and WFCM Executive Director Harmonie Taddeo to join her at the event at her table, and Chamber President John Boylan!

11/20/2019

Congratulations to our 2019 Grant Award Recipients!

ASPIRE
BRAWS
Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
La Cocina
Stroke Comeback Center
The Chris Atwood Foundation
The Josh Anderson Foundation
Together We Bake

For more information about these organizations, please visit givingcircleofhope.org/impact.

11/15/2019

National Philanthropy Day honors those who give back to their communities. Philanthropists give of their time and money in ways that provide a lasting impact. On this day, we recognize all of you for your significant contributions, good deeds and for the difference you make in the lives of those in need in our community. Thank you!

And if you're a voting member of the Giving Circle of HOPE, what better way to commemorate the day than to cast your vote for the 2019 Grant Awards. Deadline is today at 5 PM.

11/13/2019

World Kindness Day is a global day devoted to the potential of both large and small acts of kindness. On this day, celebrated annually on November 13, let’s help everyone understand that compassion for others is what binds us all together. Imagine what the world would be like if each person did just one kind thing for someone else? Compliment someone, write a hand-written note, pick up litter, leave a generous tip or simply spread positive messages on social media. Let’s perform small random acts of kindness today! #WorldKindnessDay #actsofkindness #positivevibes

11/08/2019

Did you know that women only make up 28% of the science and engineering workforce, yet there are 2.4 million STEM jobs that are unfilled? On National STEM/STEAM Day, we celebrate and applaud the work of Rosie Riveters--one of our 2019 Endowment Award grantees--as they build girls’ confidence one STEM project at a time!

To find out more, please go to rosieriveters.com and say YES SHE CAN!

11/01/2019

National Family Literacy Day has been celebrated on November 1 since 1994 and is the kickoff to National Family Literacy Month. On this day we celebrate the work of our nonprofit partners who further literacy in our region. Thank you for all that you do!

All Ages Read Together
ASPIRE!
Beacon for Literacy
Literacy Council of NOVA
Literacy Volunteers of America (PW)
Loudoun Literacy Council

11/01/2019

One in 10 Americans has a substance use disorder, let's shine the light today on a nonprofit whose mission is to save lives...

The Chris Atwood Foundation is dedicated to overdose prevention and recovery from substance use disorders. Founded in 2013, the CAF’s mission is to save lives from opioid overdose, support recovery from substance use disorder and defeat the stigma of this treatable brain disease. CAF staff and volunteers have trained over 4,500 individuals through their program, ROPE (Reverse Overdose, Prevent, Educate) and offer classes throughout Northern Virginia. CAF is seeking a project grant to create a new communications and advocacy initiative. To learn more, go to chrisatwoodfounding.org.

10/31/2019

Our spotlight today shines on a nonprofit that offers comfort and community...

Project Knitwell provides a proven wellness tool that helps people cope with stressful situations in hospital and community settings. PK serves individuals dealing with grief, mental health challenges and those in transitional situations that need tools that go beyond traditional medical interventions. In school settings, they are focused on youth with significant emotional challenges. PK seeks a project grant to serve formerly incarcerated individuals providing them with an easily accessible, low-cost coping mechanism. To learn more, please visit projectknitwell.org.

10/30/2019

Giving circles, where people pool their money for charity, have quadrupled, especially among women

Giving Circles continue to grow and multiply and are making philanthropists out of every day givers. As Jacqueline Ackerman from the Women's Philanthropy Institute notes in this article, 'It’s really a way for the average person who may not have that many dollars or that much capital to make a difference in their communities.' What we do makes a difference to nonprofits and often means the difference between getting by and getting strong. Tomorrow is the last day to contribute to this year's grant pool, join us!

“If you donate money to any other organization, you’re writing a check. You don’t really see where the money is going. Here, we have a voice.”

10/30/2019

Today's light shines on a workforce development program with added benefits to the community...

La Cocina’s Culinary Career Readiness, Job Placement and Food Assistance Program provides unemployed, low-income members in Northern Virginia with a bilingual certified job training program that transforms unemployment into full employment in a very short time period. During their culinary training students prepare healthy meals that are donated to homeless shelters and families in low-income housing. This program provides approximately 13,000 healthy meals annually. They are seeking a project grant to continue to provide technical and vocational education. For more information, go to lacocinava.org.

10/29/2019

Today's spotlight shines on a nonprofit removing the stigma from eating disorder treatment…

Rock Recovery supports the journey to freedom from disordered eating through holistic and accessible recovery programming and community empowerment. They do this by removing barriers of cost, location and timing and by helping people break isolation. Uniquely combining clinical expertise rooted in research plus spirituality they achieve deeper healing and restoration. Rock Recovery is seeking a project grant for their Teen Skills Program. To learn more about their work, go to rockrecoveryed.org. You can also read about one of their programs here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/one-shared-meal-at-a-time-the-unique-way-this-virginia-group-is-helping-people-with-eating-disorders/2019/10/02/81e08df2-e551-11e9-b403-f738899982d2_story.html

10/26/2019

Make a Difference Day is a national event celebrating neighbors helping neighbors and isn’t that what the Giving Circle of HOPE has been doing for 15 years?

Established in 1992, this ‘national day of doing good’ promotes volunteering and emphasizes the impact that giving back can have on one’s own community.

Check out our Kids’ Club service program or any of the nonprofits featured on our website, givingcircleofhope.org, for opportunities to make a difference. You can also search for opportunities by area at allforgood.org.

Or become a member of the Giving Circle of HOPE and make a difference every day of the year. Let’s not just stand for something, let’s do something!

10/25/2019

Our featured nonprofit today is helping to connect a community of women…

2Unstoppable forges powerful, motivating and supportive partnerships to encourage women with a cancer diagnosis to get moving and keep moving through an online, no cost matching system, oncology fitness resources and events. Women who exercise regularly after a breast cancer diagnosis have 40-50% higher survival rates and lower recurrence rates compared with more sedentary women. Those with colon cancer have 20% better survival rates with exercise. 2Unstoppable is seeking a pilot project grant for exercise counseling. Join them at a fundraising spin class on Sunday, October 27 in Vienna. For more info go to 2unstoppable.org.

10/24/2019

Today's bright light shines on a nonprofit that envisions a world free of violence and oppression...

The Domestic Violence Resource Project serves Asian/Pacific Islander survivors of domestic and sexual violence in DC/MD/VA, primarily low-income and immigrant women. Since 1996, DVRP's mission has been to address, prevent and end domestic violence and sexual assault in the A/PI communities while empowering survivors to rebuild their lives after abuse. Their three-pronged approach includes Survivor Services, Outreach and Training & Technical Assistance Programs. DVRP seeks a project grant for their Visibility in Virginia initiative. To learn more, go to dvrp.org.

10/22/2019

Our spotlight today shines on a nonprofit providing a life participation approach to aphasia...

Stroke Comeback Center addresses the critical need for affordable, ongoing and personally meaningful communication, cognition and fitness services for stroke survivors after insurance reimbursement ends. SCC’s innovative care model is nationally recognized, with 90% of members experiencing improved speaking, comprehension, writing and/or reading skills; 88% achieving significant improvement in language, cognitive function and ability to interact with others. SCC is seeking a capacity-building grant to increase program management capabilities. Join SCC at their Minds Matter luncheon on October 25 and learn more about their work at strokecomebackcenter.org.