University of Maryland Medical System Foundation
In 1998, Dr. Carnell Cooper created the Violence Prevention Program (VPP), after repeatedly treating victims and perpetrators of violence admitted into the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. The VPP is a hospital-based violence-intervention program that assists victims of violent injuries to reduce recidivism and hospital costs. Victims receive immediate assessment at the bedside from a social worker and/or caseworker, who assists with linkage to necessary resources and social support. Funding from the Abell Foundation will support the on-going expansion of the VPP program to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Emergency Departments at the Downtown and Midtown campuses.
Venture For America
Venture for America strengthens entrepreneurship, business formation, and economic growth by attracting top talent students to work in start-up and early-stage companies. Since 2013, VFA has placed 127 Fellows in Baltimore City for two-year followships with more than 60 high-growth companies and startups, and they have supported the launch of nine Fellow-founded companies. Of 15 participating cities, Baltimore is the second largest program and boasts the second highest post-Fellowship retention rate.
Advocates for Children and Youth
Advocates for Children and Youth (ACY) is an independent organization dedicated to promoting the interests of children and families in Maryland through research, policy development, community outreach, media relations, and government relations. ACY is one of the leading champions of policies in Maryland that advance the interests of children across a broad range of issues, including education, child welfare, juvenile justice, and health care. This grant supports ACY’s child welfare program, which focuses on the needs of foster and homeless youth in Maryland.
Baltimore Community Rowing
Reach High Baltimore, a project of Baltimore Community Rowing, was founded in 2011 to bring the sport of rowing to Baltimore City middle and high school students. The program provides programming year-round and serves about 125 students a year. This grant supports the program’s efforts to increase enrollment from the neighborhoods closest to the Baltimore Rowing Center, by funding a second bus route, which will provide transportation to students living in Cherry Hill and Westport.
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts
Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts is the fiscal host for the Baltimore Artist Emergency Relief Fund, a dedicated fund established for one time grants of $500 to Baltimore City resident artists over the age of 18 of any discipline and creative professionals who’ve lost income due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many artists rely on public events to sell/perform their art, and suddenly lost their income due to social distancing requirements. An advisory committee reviewed and approved applications and framework based on a clear selection criteria. This grant provided support for direct grants to local artists.