Past Grants

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

For continued support of the Baltimore CASH (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope) Campaign. The initiative, a free income tax preparation service, is designed to increase the use of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a work incentive and poverty-alleviation tool. Its goal is to increase the number of tax returns prepared for low-income taxpayers eligible to receive the EITC tax refunds. The campaign will focus on asset development strategies, including targeting refunds toward individual development accounts, savings for homeownership, and tuition.

Maryland Center for Arts and Technology, Inc. (MCAT)

For support of the Customized Customer Service CVS training program for entry-level positions at CVS pharmacies. The goal of the program is to recruit, select, and train 150 individuals; CVS is committed to hiring at least 150 new employees.

Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.

Sixth-year funding of the Child Support/Barriers to Employment Project, an initiative designed to address the financial needs of noncustodial parents with child support obligations. The program provides individual representation to at least 200 noncustodial parents, addressing systemic problems within the child support enforcement system.

The Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies

Third-year funding for staffing costs of a Senior Research Analyst position for the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board. The analyst will determine the effectiveness of the ex-offender Re-Entry Center at Mondawmin Mall.

Homeless Persons Representation Project

Two grants for continued support of an initiative designed to reduce employment discrimination against ex-offenders in Maryland, by promoting legal representation for Baltimore City ex-offenders, and helping to remove past convictions from the records. The program educates ex-offenders about the ramifications of their criminal records, sentencing procedures, probation and parole, and waiver of filing fees.