The Board of Directors of the United Fund of Talbot County voted at their June meeting to allocate $236,500 to 16 member agencies for its 2017-18 campaign. These agencies qualified by demonstrating how their requests for funds would be used to meet the health and human services needs of the underserved in Talbot County. The original amount requested by the 16 applicant agencies was $325,500.
“This year’s Agency Review Committee continued to exercise due diligence when reviewing each agency application. The stellar job they did in their reviews and recommendations facilitated the allocation deliberations,” said Chuck Mangold and Leslie Stevenson, Agency Review Committee Co-Chairs. Stevenson noted that “Through a rigorous and comprehensive agency review process, United Fund committee volunteers are able to analyze where funding will have the greatest impact and award grant funding accordingly”. For the just concluded 2016-17 campaign, the United Fund reached only 87% of its goal. The upcoming campaign has again set a goal of $400,000. “It’s unfortunate we could not satisfy total grant requests due to budget constraints, but we continue to strive toward that goal every year,” noted Mangold. He went on to note, “This year also saw the retirement of three agencies with whom we have had long-term relationships – CASA of Talbot County, Talbot Mentors, and Upper Shore Aging. We wish them continued success in the years to come.” The United Fund of Talbot County is the only local philanthropic organization that for over half a century of fundraising has successfully raised over $14 million to assist non-profit charities in Talbot County.
The agencies selected for the 2017-18 campaign are
BAAM (Building African American Minds). $10,000 to provide programs that enrich the academic and social development of young African American boys.
Boy Scouts in Talbot County. $3,000 to deliver scouting programs to both existing scouting troop units and at-risk youth through its outreach efforts.
Character Counts!. $15,000 to promote character development in the county’s public schools as well as conducting workplace ethics classes in the business community.
Delmarva Community Services. $15,500 to fund adult medical daycare and intervention and travel expenses for medically dependent and frail Talbot County clients as well as general transportation services.
For All Seasons. $15,000 to provide advocacy, therapy and education for those needing low cost, easily accessible mental health services.
Girl Scouts. $3,000 to provide a host of programs for local girls to build character and skills for success.
Imagination Library of Talbot County. $10,000 to expose children birth to age 5 with a literature and vocabulary rich environment, promoting reading readiness through the monthly provision of high quality, age-appropriate books.
Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence. $20,000 to provide advocacy and support for victims of domestic violence.
Neighborhood Service Center. $55,000 to serve the total family, addressing housing, food, utilities, eviction and learning needs of local low-income residents.
Partners in Care. $10,000 to empower older adults to remain independent in their homes using the concept of service exchange to provide transportation and handyman services.
St. Martin’s Ministries. $15,000 to help to feed, clothe and financially assist impoverished clients, building their self-esteem and self-sufficiency.
St. Michaels Community Center. $23,000 to provide services to the Bay Hundred Community, including after-school enrichment programs for local youth and teens.
Talbot Special Riders. $20,000 to provide a year-round therapeutic horseback-riding
program for children and adults with learning and physical limitations.
Talbot Village Connections. $1,000 to provide seed money to support senior citizens with programs and services that enable them to age in place.
Tilghman Area Youth Association. $15,000 to cover scholarship costs for children unable to pay for afterschool programs.
United Needs & Abilities. $6,000 to provide counseling, resources and advocacy for adults with development disabilities.
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