Weinberg Foundation Hosts Annual Employee Giving Program

16 employees given opportunity to make $10,000 grant recommendations

BALTIMORE, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the United States, today hosts its 6^th annual Employee Giving Program. At the event, 16 employees will each present a check for $10,000 to a Maryland nonprofit, consistent with the Foundation's mission and grant guidelines – a total of $160,000 this year and more than $750,000 since the inception of this professional development and mission-focused effort.

• Weinberg Foundation 6th Annual Employee Giving Program
• 16 employees will announce $160,000 in grants to local Baltimore nonprofits
• Tuesday, July 24, 2012, 11:45 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Hotel Monaco, 2 North Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201

"This is always a very special day for all of us at the Weinberg Foundation, on many different levels," said Donn Weinberg, Foundation Chairman of the Board. "We know of no other philanthropic organization which provides its entire staff with the opportunity to engage directly in the grantmaking process. Every year, it seems, these grants reveal deep personal connections and stories which only magnify the significance of the grants themselves."

During today's event, each Weinberg Foundation employee will speak briefly about the nonprofit receiving a grant and will present a $10,000 check to the charity's representative who will also speak. This year's grantees include:

1. Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Maryland Chapter
   The mission of the Alzheimer's Association, Maryland Chapter, is to eliminate Alzheimer's disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
2. Associated Catholic Charities
   Catholic Charities of Baltimore compassionately assists people who are poor, children and families, seniors, and those who are developmentally disabled. In our 80 programs, we welcome and serve 160,000 people every year, and serve nearly 350,000 meals to those who are hungry. Without regard to faith, we cherish the Divine within everyone.
3. Baltimore City Department of Social Services – Homeless Emergency Environmental Services Unit (HEESU)
   Assists individuals and families who are homeless and at risk of becoming homeless with case management, financial assistance, referrals to housing placements, and other services.
4. Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation – TWIGS Program
   The Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) established concurrently with the school to raise private funds to supplement the annual budget provided to the school by the Baltimore City Public School System. TWIGS aims to make arts accessible to under-served city students and to identify and train those students who might use the arts to pursue higher education or even arts-related careers. The TWIGS program offers free classes to students in the second through eighth grades who reside in the City of Baltimore and who qualify by audition.
5. The BELL Foundation
   BELL exists to transform the academic achievements, self-confidence, and life trajectories of children living in under-resourced, urban communities.  Because we believe in the tremendous potential of all children to excel, we recognize them as scholars.
6. B'More Clubhouse, Inc.
   B'More Clubhouse empowers individuals with mental illness to lead meaningful and productive lives of their choice in the community. The Clubhouse is an evidence-based, non-medical model that focuses on jobs, education, housing, and a network of friends to help in recovery.
7. Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation
   The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation helps to build character and teach critical life lessons to disadvantaged young people residing in America's most distressed communities through baseball and softball themed programs.
8. Center for Urban Families (CFUF)
   Central to CFUF's mission is the belief that men—the most disconnected and underserved citizens in urban communities—who connect with women, their children, and the workplace are key to the restoration of stability and optimism.
9. Higher Achievement Program
   Higher Achievement's rigorous afterschool and summer academic program closes the opportunity gap for middle school youth in at-risk communities. The program's proven model provides a rigorous year-round learning environment, caring role models, and a culture of high expectations, resulting in college-bound scholars with the character, confidence, and skills to succeed.
10. Maryland Legal Aid
    Maryland Legal Aid is a private, nonprofit, multi-funded law firm providing free legal services to low-income people statewide. Legal Aid serves Baltimore City and Maryland's 23 counties from 13 office locations.
11. Moveable Feast
    Moveable Feast provides nutritious foods and other services in order to preserve quality of life for people with HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening conditions.
12. The Preston Mitchum, Jr. Foundation
    The Preston Mitchum, Jr. Foundation is dedicated to addressing the crippling effects of poverty and violence on at-risk youth in our society. We seek to educate, empower, and provide a vision of a brighter future for these youth through after-school programming and community-based services.
13. SHEMESH - THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore
    SHEMESH provides educational support to Jewish children with learning differences to reach their full potential in a Jewish setting. Services are offered in each school in accordance with the school's educational and religious policies. THE ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore works to enhance Jewish life.
14. Southwest Baltimore Charter School, Inc.
    Southwest Baltimore Charter School's mission is to empower each student to achieve authentic academic success by harnessing the kindness, cooperation, and trust of faculty, family and community. We strive to develop eager learners and critical thinkers who are committed to personal success and the success of their communities.
15. TurnAround
    TurnAround's mission is to build a community free of violence by working with adults and children affected by intimate partner and sexual violence to address their needs and prevent further violence through advocacy and education.
16. The Youth Empowered Society "YES" Drop-In Center
    Founded by formerly homeless youth and their allies, "YES" will meet the immediate needs of youth, ages 14 to 25, who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness by providing temporary shelter in a drop-in space, food, clothing, showers, storage, and laundry, as well as opportunities to receive information on benefits, rights, educational and housing opportunities and referrals to other service providers.

About The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, one of the largest private charitable foundations in the United States, provides approximately $100 million in annual grants to nonprofits that provide direct services to economically disadvantaged people, primarily in the U.S. and Israel. Grants are focused on meeting basic needs and enhancing an individual's ability to meet those needs with emphasis on older adults, the Jewish community, and our hometown communities of Maryland, northeastern Pennsylvania, and Hawaii. The trustees, some of whom also serve as executive officers of the Foundation, are Alvin Awaya, Judge Ellen M. Heller, Robert T. Kelly, Jr., Barry I. Schloss, and Chairman of the Board Donn Weinberg. Rachel Monroe serves as the Weinberg Foundation's President. For more information please go to www.hjweinbergfoundation.org.

Media Contact: Craig Demchak, 443-738-1159
[email protected]

SOURCE Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation