The organizations listed below are part of the 2024 Guide to Giving. Return to the guide’s homepage by clicking here.
The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence
The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence (bandbcoalition.org) strives to ensure that all MCPS students, particularly Black and brown, have equitable access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. The coalition elevates the lived experiences of Black and brown students to inform decision-makers and influence policy and practice at the system level.
HEADQUARTERED: Montgomery County
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $500 supports coaching for parents to speak out for academic supports their children need.
– $1,000 or more supports a community forum for collective action by the Black and brown communities.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Ongoing: Support community forums, both virtual and in person, with translation, interpretation or transportation.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Community Bridges (CB)
Community Bridges (CB) (communitybridges-md.org) empowers girls from diverse backgrounds in elementary, middle and high schools to become exceptional students, positive leaders and healthy young women. Each year the organization supports more than 500 girls at 20 public schools in discovering their unique identity, voice and potential through leadership development, college and career readiness, family support and mentoring.
HEADQUARTERED: Silver Spring
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $250 covers annual activity fees for 10 girls in the program.
– $1,600 sponsors one girl for the year.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Deliver food or supplies, or support CB events.
– Monthly: Mentor a middle school or high school student.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Crittenton Services of Greater Washington
Crittenton Services of Greater Washington (crittentonservices.org) helps more than 1,000 teenage girls annually achieve academic success, make healthy choices and chart their own bright futures. Through proven curricula, Crittenton helps teenage girls believe in their ability to succeed—even in the face of significant challenges. The organization’s programs teach teenage girls to value their education and relationships, and to speak up for their needs.
HEADQUARTERED: Silver Spring
SERVES: Metro region
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $250 pays for a parent to attend workshops on supporting their teen daughter academically and emotionally.
– $2,500 underwrites the costs for a Crittenton teen for an entire year.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Help with supply drives for students.
– Ongoing: Serve as an executive adviser or board member.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Girls on the Run of Montgomery County (GOTR)
Girls on the Run of Montgomery County (GOTR) (girlsontherunofmoco.org) combines running with social-emotional learning for girls in grades three through eight. Meeting twice a week for 10 weeks, they explore their emotions and build self-confidence in small groups with volunteer coaches. To ensure that every girl who wants to participate can, GOTR supplies free running shoes, communicates in English and Spanish, offers accessibility support for girls with disabilities, and provides about 35% of its participants with financial assistance. Since its first season in 2007, almost 50,000 girls have crossed the 5K finish line (the program’s celebratory milestone), showing themselves how much they can accomplish.
HEADQUARTERED: Rockville
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 provides one team with social-emotional learning materials and activities.
– $500 provides new running shoes for one team at a high-need school.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Support the 5K race event.
– Ongoing: Become a team coach.
SSL HOURS: No
INTERNSHIPS: No
Horizons Greater Washington
Horizons Greater Washington (horizonsgreaterwashington.org) connects underserved K-8 students to academic and holistic experiences, including swimming and social-emotional support, over the summers and during the school year. Students enter as kindergarteners and leave for high school with essential skills, networks and motivation. Horizons serves more than 420 students—inclusive of mental health support—at no cost and removing barriers such as transportation and meals. Most students gain more than seven months in reading and math skills during the summer and attend school 2½ times more regularly than their peers.
HEADQUARTERED: Washington, D.C.
SERVES: Metro region
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 covers books and high-quality curricular supplies for one student.
– $1,000 provides swim instruction for five students.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– Weekly: Serve as a guest speaker, classroom volunteer or tutor.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
Identity
Identity (identity-youth.org) works with more than 10,000 Latino and other historically underserved youths and their families, benefiting more than 50,000 residents annually at school, in the community and on playing fields. Identity helps youths develop social-emotional skills, improve at school and get ready for work, and provides family case management, nonclinical emotional support and counseling.
HEADQUARTERED: Gaithersburg
SERVES: Montgomery County
WHAT A DONATION BUYS:
– $100 provides a semester’s transportation for two workforce clients, enabling them to participate in internships or attend career training.
– $500 trains a cohort of community members to co-facilitate nonclinical emotional support groups, helping neighbors and family cope with anxiety, stress and other difficult emotions.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
– One day: Help with a backpack drive, sports tournaments and other events during school holidays. Also, volunteer photographers are needed.
SSL HOURS: Yes
INTERNSHIPS: Yes
