Leveling the Playing Field, Inc.
Leveling the Playing Field collects and redistributes used and excess sporting equipment to schools and organizations serving low-income children. The donated equipment enables programs to pass on the savings to families through reduced or free registration fees or expanded programming. Last year, the organization collected more than $850,000 worth of donated equipment from more than 120 different organizations and people. It was able to distribute about $475,000 worth of equipment to Baltimore-area partner organizations during COVID 19, as well as 2,100 Sports Kits to City youth through City Schools’ meal sites. This grant supports Leveling the Playing Field’s general operating costs.
Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.
Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) provides free legal services to people experiencing homelessness throughout Maryland, and advocates for long-term solutions to homelessness. This grant supports HPRP’s Homeless Youth Initiative, which provides direct representation to unaccompanied homeless youth on a range of legal needs, engages in state and local coalitions to address the needs of homeless youth, and advocates for policy solutions to youth homelessness in Maryland.
Baltimore Furniture Bank, Fiscally Sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.
The Baltimore Furniture Bank (BFB) was founded in 2017 by two men with lived experiences of homelessness to provide donated furniture to homeless individuals who are moving into apartments. The BFB solicits donations of used furniture from institutions with surplus furniture and from individuals; sorts, cleans and stores the furniture in a warehouse; and distributes it at events and through partnerships with nonprofit housing providers. This grant supports the Baltimore Furniture Bank’s general operating costs. BFB is fiscally sponsored by Fusion Partnerships, Inc.
Moveable Feast, Inc.
Founded in 1989 as a volunteer-led organization providing home-cooked meals for people with HIV and AIDS, Moveable Feast is now the leading provider of home-delivered medically tailored meals for people with chronic health conditions in the Baltimore region. The organization delivers approximately 500,000 meals annually to over 1,300 individuals who are medically compromised and have diseases that are impacted by nutrition. In addition, 40% of its clients receive medical nutrition therapy to help them make lasting changes to their diets to support improved health. Beyond direct services, Moveable Feast is an active participant in the national Food Is Medicine coalition, an association of nonprofit food and nutrition service providers that collaborate to advance public policy, promote research, and share best practices on the provision of medically tailored meals and nutrition education. This grant provides general support for Moveable Feast’s operations.
Maryland Family Network
“Maryland Child Care Boost” is a pilot program that aims to improve the sustainability of childcare by helping providers maintain full program enrollment; implement sound financial management practices; and achieve economies of scale through participation in a shared services network. It will serve a total of 120 family and center-based child care providers: 40 from Baltimore City, 40 from Montgomery County, and 40 from Prince George’s County. This grant supports the staffing required at the Baltimore City Child Care Resource and Referral Center (BCCCRC) to coordinate the cohorts of Baltimore City childcare providers.