In 2010, a group of Leadership Howard County graduates commemorated the organization’s 25th anniversary by establishing a charitable donor-advised fund. The Leadership Howard County Charitable Fund was established and funded by graduates of the Leadership Premier program and embodies the principal that, by working together and pooling our resources, we can more effectively and more significantly serve the community.
The individuals who donate to the fund are granted one vote for each dollar contributed. Then votes are cast to grant distributions to not-for-profit organizations that serve Howard County. Contributors nominate beneficiary organizations, then vote for the grant recipients each year.
Any Leadership Howard County graduate or friend of a graduate may make a contribution to the LHC Fund, which is hosted by The Columbia Foundation.
The Fund granted four awards in 2011 for a total of $4,250 to these not-for-profit organizations.
• The Bright Minds Foundation
Bright Minds was created in 2006 by the Howard County Board of Education. Bright Minds is an independent, nonprofit foundation formed to address equity and equality, to promote educational innovation and to support skills that serve students throughout their lives. Bright Minds makes grants where funding would otherwise not be available within the system’s budget.
• The Arc of Howard County
Achieving full community life for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, one person at a time, is the mission of The Arc of Howard County. The Arc of Howard County’s programs and services include: employment, family and individual support, respite care, residential, day program and supported retirement.
• The Jenna Katherine Miller Donor Advised Fund
Family members of Jenna Katherine Miller have established the Jenna Katherine Miller Fund, a donor-advised fund at The Columbia Foundation. Jenna, who passed away in 2011, had planned to focus her career on helping individuals and families learn how to overcome the psychological and physical challenges of eating disorders. Her mother, Laura Kittleman, and her two sisters, Lisa and Kelly Catterton, established the fund to support efforts that raise awareness and educate people, especially young women, about the dangers of these illnesses.
The Charitable Fund also made a donation to Leadership Howard County.
The Leadership Fund is now available to receive tax-deductible contributions through The Columbia Foundation by contributing online at: www.columbiafoundation.org/give/donate/fund. When you visit the Columbia Foundation web site, search under the heading Funds for The Leadership Howard County Charitable Fund. Designate The Leadership Fund to be the beneficiary of your tax-deductible gift. Or, mail a check payable to The Columbia Foundation with a notation in the memo line of the check designating your contribution for the Leadership Fund.
The LHC Fund has been established so the contributors directly influence the selection of beneficiaries to receive the proceeds to be distributed annually.
• Contributions will be accepted to the fund by or through “active” LHC members.
• Each contributor will be given “donation” voting rights based on one vote for each $1 contribution made to the fund.
• Any non-Leadership Howard County graduate or entity desiring to may make contributions to the fund may do so and may give the proxy to an active member of LHC for the donation made to the fund.
• Votes must be cast by contributors for no more than five organizations when voting takes place for the designation of beneficiaries each year.
• Contributors will be asked to recommend up to five eligible 501(c)3 charities serving Howard County.
Join the Charitable Fund Committee
For information about joining the LHC Charitable Fund Committee, contact Tim Lewis at tlewis@ccabalt.com or Dottie Paxton at dpaxton@thecolumbiabank.com.
