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Greenbelt Community Foundation

Annual Report 2015 – 2016Annual Report 2015 – 2016

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Greenbelt Community Foundation

Annual Report 2015 – 2016

Ladies’ Angels Basketball Team CHEARS

Blues Festival 2016 ERHS Best of Coffee House

Explore YOUR Greenbelt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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We are thrilled to provide this latest report highlighting Greenbelt Community Foundation's impact within our neighborhoods.  In 10 years, the generosity of Greenbelters has funded more than $150,000 in grants to power 50 community projects of every kind. Our local community foundation has emerged as one of the most vibrant local organizations of its kind in our region. 

Last year, as part of our Explore Your Greenbelt campaign, we held 14 events in partnership with our past grantees. With my six-year old son usually in tow, I joined other campaign volunteers to table at festivals, performances, open houses, and tastings to celebrate all of the organizations that received grants from the Greenbelt Community Foundation. We met with hundreds of people, attracted new volunteers, revamped our website, and shared stories of our impact on the City of Greenbelt with thousands. We welcomed three new board members and forged new partnerships that will spark great things to come. Lastly, we funded some amazing projects during the spring and fall 2015-2016 funding cycles. A description and a summary are outlined in this report. We have also included a financial statement for the past year.

Our logo--a hand holding a sprouting seedling--is an important reminder of our initial charge in our community. By creating an environment where neighbors can come together to support new ideas, we have nourished Greenbelt in so many ways. This year, we know we need to dig wider and deeper. Building on the feedback we received from the community during our strategic planning process, we are resolved to intensify our efforts.

In 2017, we are framing our work around a new Shoots and Roots  initiative  to continue to build our community’s strengths at a time when we need community more than ever. We want to practice inter-generational philanthropy to engage young people, and ensure that there are many hands committed to building our shared future. With the assistance of local businesses, want to provide a powerful support structure to our grantees to help them face the challenges of the future through technical services and an internship program to expand their capacity. And we want to  lay down stronger roots so that our community foundation and our grantees will be equipped to respond to any occasion.

On behalf of the Advisory Board, we want to thank all the donors and supporters of the Greenbelt Community Foundation for giving a gift of community in 2015-2016. We have

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Message from the Chair, Melissa Ehrenreich

made such an indelible impact here in Greenbelt. We are proving that we are, indeed, better together, and that we need each other.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

The Explore Your Greenbelt campaign was organized by GCF to celebrate its 10th anniversary. To illustrate how GCF lives out its mission of “nourishing all of Greenbelt’s Neighborhoods.” This awareness campaign featured GCF funded organizations through a series of 14 events held April through October 2016. It was supported by news articles and ads, blog postings, and Facebook contests and event invitations and generously sponsored by Paradyme Management, Beltway Plaza, and the Greenbelt News Review.

The community events included in the campaign introduced residents to some of the non-profit organizations that were past recipients of GCF grants, including the Greenbelt Co-op, Arts Center, and Farmers Market, Girl Scouts and many more.

The increase in awareness is measured anecdotally through the comments of people during the campaign. In the beginning, they said “I’ve never heard of the foundation. Who are you? What do you do?” By the end, they were saying, “Thank you for supporting so many organizations in my community. I am proud to be a supporter.”

This campaign has prompted other positive changes, including increased volunteerism and development by GCF of new non-profit resources. Not only has the foundation added new volunteers to its roster, but the activities of funded organizations added helping hands to their specific causes. And the superb work of Paradyme Management interns on the execution of the GCF anniversary campaign has led to a collaborative piloting of an intern matching program for local non-profits.

GCF has funded over 50 projects for a total of $150,000 over the past 10 years. But the future has GCF providing education and support to all Greenbelt non-profit organizations and cooperatives. In addition to the intern matching program, GCF plans to add two other new resources in 2017—a grant writing workshop, both live and archived online, and a monthly 30-minute show on Greenbelt Access Television that profiles local community organizations. Information about GCF grants and other resources are already accessible on the GCF website. These include a video on creating Facebook events, a directory of local and regional press outlets and a list of available meeting rooms throughout Greenbelt.

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The Greenbelt Community Foundation would like to thank all the individuals, organizations and companies that made the Explore Your Greenbelt Campaign a success. To find out more about GCF resources and how to volunteer, donate, and participate, please visit the website at greenbeltcommunityfoundation.net.

2015 GRANTEES

The following organizations or groups were awarded Greenbelt Community Foundation grants during 2015. They are varied and show the wealth of services available throughout the City of Greenbelt to support eduation, the arts, science and the environment.

SPRING 2015

The Literacy Day Committee-Greenbelt Middle School - Cortland JonesGirl Talk female mentoring program

An initiative focusing on youth empowerment and character development, by establishing a student service-leadership program that enables students to serve and support their community and obtain student service hours. 2. Through the use of "creative expression" students will be invited to create and participate in activities and initiatives that enable them to make use of their "voice" to affect positive change in self, school and community. 3. Students will participate in and provide instruction related to art, literacy, and leadership to promote self concept development, self-efficacy, and self-actualization.

Summary:

The expected outcomes were achieved: more students joined the literacy related activities than expected: the female enrichment program encouraged middle schoolers to see themselves as leaders and doers and from this particular activity Voices of Liberty emerged that led to students doing public speaking as one way of demonstrating their increased self-confidence and self-esteem.

Several students participated in a service initiative, Working Together 4 the Better, and provided tutorial services to Springhill Lake Elementary School and Dora Kennedy French Immersion that helped K-3 grade students with reading and math. In addition there was additional interest by community stakeholders within and outside of Greenbelt who donated books and volunteered to

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assist students. A male mentoring program was also established by community volunteers. Five graphic design students created a website for the literacy initiave called GMS A.L.L. or GMS Art, Literature, Leadership program website using Google sites. During the Summer, three students continued providing math and tutoring to Springhill Lake ES and are seriously thinking of starting a Summer business to further assist students.

Friends of the Greenbelt Theatre - Caitlin McGrathBuilding Bridges:Creating Community Through Cinema

In keeping with the GCF's theme of Fostering One Greenbelt, Friends of Greenbelt Theatre proposes a 10 part film series that would both highlight past partnerships between GCF and Greenbelt Community Organizations as well as forge new relationships across all three areas of the city. In celebration of the GCF's 10th anniversary, we would like to have 5 films that showcase the work of 5 groups that have been sponsored by GCF grants, and then demonstrate the potential to extend this kind of partnership with five other events with new groups. These will focus on amazing diversity of the arts, education and community activism represented in all of Greenbelt.

Summary:This project suported the 10th Anniversary of the Greenbelt Community Foundation and began with the screening of Rosenwald. The director Aviva Kempner was in attendance as well as a number of former students from Rosenwald schools. Their presence enhanced the film discussion which was well attended. Next Spare Parts was shown as a fundraiser for MakerSpace-Club 125 Mobile Robotics van. In October the film The City was shown which celebrates co-ops and their importance to the City of Greenbelt. Bikes vs Cars was shown in December in partnership with Proteus Bikes and a Zigo family bike was raffled. In April Salaam Dunk was presented. In May, I am Eleven and the director Genevieve Baily spoke live from Australia via skype. Also shown was Landfillharmonic; then First Position, in conjuinction with Alight Dance Theatre. In August, Girl Rising in conjunction with the Maryland Women’s History Center and the American Association of University Women. The last film, Beyond February: African American History Through Film had guest speakers Chanel Compton, Mayor Emmett Jordan, and UMD professor Mary Ellen to lead the lively discussion. Old Greenbelt Theater also

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made a post card and ran ads in the Greenbelt News Review, that proved to be helpful in boosting attendance during the second half of the year.

FALL 2015

Greenbelt Nursery School - Lisa MeyerWolf Trap Institute Classroom Residency

The 16 session Wolf Trap Institute Classroom Residency is a partnership between a Wolf Trap Teaching Artist and an early childhood educator. The program provides hands-on professional development for teachers in their classrooms and fosters children's learning through active participation.

Summary:Teachers were able to arrange a program using the skills of arts-integrated strategies learned during their Residency. Students were able to sing songs and keep a steady beat. Teachers are more confident in being able to incorporate music and arts into the curriculum. Drama, dance and puppety were also incorporated into the arts skills. Teachers also developed techniques to integrate arts into the literacy curriculum as well as STEM. An unespected outcome was that some parents discovered that their children were musically talented and decided to continue to engage them in musical education.

National Family Resilicency Center, Inc - Risa GaronKidsConnex: A Partnership with the Courts, Schools and CommunityThis project will provide a free educational program for children whose parents have made a decision to separate or divorce. The one session program will be facilitated at Greenbelt Middle School while their parents are attending the co-parent education program that is mandated by the courts; the seminar is open to all parents and other caregivers such as grandparents who want to attend on a voluntary basis. The program for children and teens will help them to understand loss and grief, how to express feelings in healthy ways, learn how to cope with changes in their lives and build a sense of hope for their own lives during a difficult time.

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Summary:

KidxConnex showed great promise. This was an original program for Prince George’s Country Court System. There was a challenge finding affordable space, however once the program began it proved to be a valuable asset to the children of Greenbelt and the county. Twenty children and their parents participated in the program and the results have been promissing. Nine children were from Greenbelt Middle School and Eleanor Roosevelt HS. This program is on going and a final report will provide greater details. To date has helpful and supportive of Greenbelt families and youth.Greenbelt News Review - Cathie MeetreNews Review One Greenbelt Internships

Each of three interns will research the interests of their targeted populations and investigate, recommend and implement initiatives that provide benefit to citizens currently underserved by the paper. Populations are Greenbelt East, Greenbelt West and the Hispanic Community. Working as a team, the interns will collectively contribute articles and related photographs on topics of interest to their populations with the objective of one such article per week. Each intern will identify and build up a cadre of participants including writers, volunteers and readers, who increasingly identify with the city and the paper. They will work with residents assocations and schools to identify and foster contributions by individuals of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. A bilingual intern will be specifically tasked with reaching out to the Hispanic community and exploring realistic ways in which the paper can be more accessible to that community - including online translation of articles and editing and inclusion of Spanich language articles and commentaries. At the end of their term, interns will complete a followup survey to assess their impact on the paper's readership in their respoective target areas.

Summary:

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The orientation was designed and presented via PowerPoint to the students. Greenbelt News Review editors, board members and staff assisted in the process. As a result the Greenbelt News Review received 77 well written and researched articles from students from the Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland. The orientation enabled them to learn the history, background and philosophy of the paper. In addition students from Eleanor Roosevelt High School. and a senior from DuVall High School were attracted to the project were oriented and were able to contribute

information about programs and events occurring at their respective high schools. “The Eleanor Roosevelt HS students also strengthened their writing skills and received exposure outside of the schools walls” (GNR). One student, Tisha Claudia Lim, from the University of Maryland shared the story about her experiences during the internship and told how it enhanced her learning and benefited her growth as a journalist, which can be read on the GCF website.

Greenbelt Elementary School PTA - Pete ColarcoG. E. Counseling materials and supplies

This proposal is for a one-time $1000 grant to support a new initiative to provide social skills training using innovative computer based technology. An Ipad with apps would be purchased and utilized with students at Greenbelt Elementary who have been diagnosed with Autism. We are also seeking new materials such as games and activities, to provide counseling to students with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Use of thse resources is not restrickted to certain populations. All of these resources can be used with all students to improve the social skills of the student body. This project is in keeping with the ideals and spirit of Greenbelt which places high value on community. A strong community has residents who have strong social skills.

Summary:Students are now receiving updated instruction and there was collaboration between the school psychologist, teachers and PTA personnel.

The Foundation accepts applications from nonprofit and cooperative organizations every year. The deadlines are April 15 and October 15. For informaiton on how to submit an application, please visit our website www.greenbeltfoundation.net Grants, then How to Apply.

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Greenbelt Community Foundation Financial Report – 2015

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2015 INCOME:     AmountIndividual Gifts 27,782.00 Foundation & Government Grants* 25,000.00 Corporate Gifts 1,650.00 Sponsorships & Other Income 1,100.00 TOTAL 55,532.00

2015 EXPENSES:CFNCR Management Fees 971.30 Contracted Services 2,586.00Postage 979.00Office Supplies/Equipment 1,587.16 Community Outreach & Meetings 2,335.09 Miscellaneous 2,158.40Printing/Copying 581.37TOTAL 11,198.32

2015 GRANTS AWARDED:Grants Approved 12,128.32

TOTAL NET 2015 INCOME 32,205.36

CUMULATIVE NET INCOME:Net Income (2007-2014) 304,697.07Raised in Current Year (2015) 32,205.36TOTAL 336,902.43

*Prince George’s County grant for the purposes of supporting educational projects in Greenbelt.

2016 INCOME:     AmountIndividual Gifts 10,581.00 Foundation & Government Grants* 25,000.00 Corporate Gifts 1,650.00 Sponsorships & Other Income 2,500.00 TOTAL 39,731.00

2016 EXPENSES:CFNCR Management Fees 2,006.24 Contracted Services 1,354.50Postage 279.55Office Supplies/Equipment 117.95 Community Outreach & Meetings 550.20 Miscellaneous 1,688.40Printing/Copying 917.10TOTAL 6,913.94

2016 GRANTS AWARDED:Grants Approved 27,533.00

STRATEGTIC PLAN (2014-2017)EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Greenbelt Community Foundation Advisory Board launched a strategic planning effort in 2014 to set the Foundation’s direction for the next three years. The resulting plan was developed with significant input from community members, stakeholders, and city leaders. We are pleased to share this plan with you and hope you will join us in its implementation.

GOALS

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MissionThe mission of the Greenbelt Community Foundation is to promote community projects that build upon the ideals of collaboration, cooperation, and engagement through the generous participation of individuals and organizations.

VisionOur vision is for a thriving, engaged community that is socially responsible, environmentally conscious, and supportive of education, the arts and sciences.

What the Community has to say about the Foundation

“GCF has a friendly and predictable cycle for solicitation and award of qualified grants”

“The Community knows the groups that get funded on a personal basis”

“GCF has a strong, diverse board, with good people recruited”

2016 INCOME:     AmountIndividual Gifts 10,581.00 Foundation & Government Grants* 25,000.00 Corporate Gifts 1,650.00 Sponsorships & Other Income 2,500.00 TOTAL 39,731.00

2016 EXPENSES:CFNCR Management Fees 2,006.24 Contracted Services 1,354.50Postage 279.55Office Supplies/Equipment 117.95 Community Outreach & Meetings 550.20 Miscellaneous 1,688.40Printing/Copying 917.10TOTAL 6,913.94

2016 GRANTS AWARDED:Grants Approved 27,533.00

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Outreach - Expand the Foundation's visbility as a highly-regarded organization that provides valuable benefits.1Catalyst - Develop and support programs that respond to community priorities related to quality of life in Greenbelt.2Financial Sustainability - Build a financially strong Greenbelt Community Foundation. 3Leadership - Increase the Foundation’s capacity to provide visionary leadership and pursue innovative practices.4