FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: John Rodenhausen, President & CEO, CFAAC
john@cfaac.org | 410.280.1102

CFAAC's Women and Girls Fund Invests $25,000 to Power Six Local Nonprofits

(Annapolis, MD, October 1, 2026) The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) recently awarded $25,000 to six nonprofits with initiatives committed to empowering women and girls. Out of the six chosen, five organizations are first-time recipients of grants from this fund. To date, CFAAC has distributed 23 grants to 17 unique nonprofits totaling nearly $117,000 through the Women and Girls Fund.

The Women and Girls Fund aims to support projects that develop individual skills, decrease isolation, create new experiences, and empower women and girls who are at a disadvantage due to varying socioeconomic barriers. 

Grants from the Women and Girls Fund will be used to support nonprofits that help women and girls pursue positive, productive lives by helping remove obstacles for women and girls, increase their economic security, enhance their well-being and safety, and empower them to make positive life decisions for themselves and their families.

Below is a brief description of each nonprofit and the programs funded through the fund:

• Sisters In Sync, Inc., an organization that inspires and improves the lives of young ladies. The grant will be used to support the My Sister My Friend Life Skills Development Program for Middle and High School Girls. Now heading into its third year, this year’s curriculum will provide mentorship and life skills for a diverse group of 20 students in grades 6-8.
• Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Inc. (MTR) will fund its MTR Holistic Equine Assisted Learning (HEAL) Programming for Chrysalis House Residents. Chrysalis House is a residential recovery center for women and their children, aged 18 and over. HEAL is an ongoing MTR program that makes horseback riding available to community organizations. The grant allows MTR to provide nine HEAL sessions for 6-8 participants per session, serving 40 women residing at Chrysalis House throughout the year.
• PlayAnnapolis, Inc. connects families to youth sports and makes recreation available to all children, making it accessible to those otherwise unable to afford the programs. The organization is expanding its girls’ sport programs to include volleyball, lacrosse, and field hockey, to reach 180 middle school girls in 2027. The grant will be used to help cover the costs of uniforms, equipment, participant fees, referee costs, and coach stipends across the programs. 
• Anne Arundel County Public Library Foundation will use the grant to fund its Discoveries Pantry: Menstrual and Hygiene Support for Women and Girls initiative. The pantry provides essential menstrual and personal hygiene products for 200 recipients monthly. The program not only purchases materials for menstrual and personal hygiene, but it also connects recipients to other resources.
• Peak Scholars will use the grant to expand its Young Women’s College Access Mentorship Program, which will enroll 20 low-income students from the high school graduating class of 2028. The program focuses on college readiness. Much of the funds will be used to provide its cohorts with high-quality technology for the program.
• Chesapeake Science Point Charter School will use the grant toward its Girls Step Up to College After School Program, a 10-week residency partnering with StepAfrika! to provide stepping arts education, self-efficacy training, and college-readiness mentoring to 30 high school girls. Though the program is not new, the step education portion is being introduced. The idea is that by introducing stepping—a polyrhythmic, highly collaborative dance form rooted in African American history—this program provides a creative, physical outlet that reinforces teamwork, focus, and self-advocacy. A large majority of its participants will be first-generation college students.

"After thoughtful deliberation, the review committee felt the range of programs proposed by these grantees would have the greatest impact in creating opportunities for women and girls in diverse areas around the county,” says Rosalind Calvin, Grants and Scholarship Manager for CFAAC. "They were especially happy to select some newer nonprofits in addition to those that already have a reputation for strong impact."

The fund accepts donations year-round. Those wishing to contribute to the Women and Girls Fund can make a secure, tax-deductible online donation through www.cfaac.org, or mail a check payable to “CFAAC” with “Women and Girls Fund” in the memo line to CFAAC, 900 Bestgate Road, Ste. 400, Annapolis, MD, 21401.

About CFAAC: The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County (CFAAC) is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) publicly supported philanthropic organization dedicated to inspiring and promoting giving in Anne Arundel County by connecting people who care with causes that matter. Established in 1998, CFAAC is one of the largest funders of nonprofit organizations in the county, distributing $6 to $9 million annually to support a wide range of local needs. Learn more at www.cfaac.org.

###