Horizon Foundation announces $300,000 in grants to groups
Noting the impending state budget deficit and increased community needs in a slow economy, Richard M. Krieg, Horizon Foundation president and chief executive officer, announced more than $300,000 in grants to help about 25 local organizations and agencies identify and reach out to people at risk.
The awards include a grant of $31,000 to an emerging program, Parish Nurse Health Ministry of Howard County, to expand parish nursing programs from 29 churches to other faith communities, and a grant of $15,000 to the Howard County Police Department for an outreach program to the Hispanic community, which includes increasing the availability of bilingual police officers.
Grantees include FISH of Howard County, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, the Foreign-born Information and Referral Network (FIRN). A grant to Alianza de la Comunidad will start a grass-roots program to identify Hispanic county residents who lack access to health care. A grant of $18,500 to the Women's Giving Circle will help increase services to women and girls.
Horizon recently launched HorizonHelp, a community-service Web site that provides information about resources for health care and other services to Howard County residents and service professionals.
The site, www.horizonhelp. org, was developed by a consortium of community organizations working with Horizon Foundation. The site's address will be posted at public computers in Howard County libraries.
Columbia citizens group launches a Web site
The Alliance for a Better Columbia, a 15-year-old citizens organization, has launched a Web site, www.abettercolumbia.org or www.abettercolumbia.com, to reach out more effectively to the community. The site will be a one-stop source of information about issues of concern to Columbia residents.
The site provides information about the Columbia Association, its meetings and policies, as well as hot topics and decisions that will affect the lives of Columbia residents. Citizens can comment via e-mail and use links to Columbia's village associations and Howard County government.
Visitors to the site can also join the organization, read about its views and provide feedback.