Seven county nonprofits get state grants

By CLARA NIEL

cniel@ newspost. com

Seven Frederick County nonprofits received money this month from Maryland Humanities for general operating expenses in 2024, the statewide nonprofit announced.

This is the second year Maryland Humanities — an educational nonprofit that creates and supports educational experiences in humanities — has given out money under the Hatza Memorial Strengthening the Humanities Investment in Nonprofits for Equity (SHINE) Grant Program, according to a news release from the nonprofit.

The nonprofit gave out $950,000 in general operating grants and all of the organizations received $10,000 each. The money can be used for salaries, rent, utilities, supplies, equipment, programs and other expenses in 2024.

The state’s Maryland Historical Trust funded the grants, according to the release.

Of the 95 nonprofits that received $10,000, seven are in Frederick County.

The organizations are:

¦ African American Resources Cultural and Heritage (AARCH) Society

¦ Catoctin Furnace Historical Society

¦ City Youth Matrix

¦ Global Z Recording

Project

¦ Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area

¦ Maryland Foreign Language Association

¦ Women Solve Elizabeth Comer, president of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, said this was the second year the historical society applied for and received the grant.

This grant is especially helpful since it doesn’t come with any strings attached, Comer said.

“It’s wonderful because it puts it right into, you know, where we need it the most,” she said.

Desirée Tucker, the executive director of Women Solve, which takes on social and community problems, wrote in an email on Tuesday that the nonprofit was “immensely grateful” to receive the grant.

The money would be going toward its social justice and equity initiatives, she wrote, like the annual Seed to Roots Youth Arts program at the Weinberg Center for the Arts, which showcases performances from students to celebrate Black history and culture.

“This funding will be instrumental in broadening the scope of our educational and advocacy initiatives while continuing to focus on empowering women in our communities,” Tucker wrote.

City Youth Matrix, Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area, and AARCH did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

The Maryland Foreign Language Association and Global Z Recording Project could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

Follow Clara Niel on Twitter: @clarasniel