Media inquiries

Contact Gigi Wirtz, Director of Communications, by phone: 410-332-4172 ext 180, or by email.
Click here to subscribe to News & Notes, the weekly e-mail from BCF.

What is BCF?

The Baltimore Community Foundation

• Helps donors plan and carry out their charitable giving in Baltimore and beyond,
• Distributes grants which anticipate as well as respond to community needs,
• Works to build a civic endowment, a permanent source of philanthropic funding for the greater Baltimore region.

What’s more, BCF works in partnership with other foundations, public agencies and the business sector, bringing a consistent voice of leadership to critical civic issues. Learn more

BCF Quick Facts

• Over 600 different charitable funds under management. 
• 2009 preliminary statistics: year-end assets of $148 million; grants distributed totaling $22 million;
  gifts received totaling $28 million.

Expert resource on topics relating to philanthropy and civic affairs, including:

• Philanthropic planning, donor-advised funds, endowment, legacy and planned giving
• Philanthropic and nonprofit sector 
• Community / economic development, neighborhood vitality, regional transportation 
• Education, child and youth development 
• Arts sector, cultural tourism 
• Health, mental health, substance abuse, human services
• Local environmental issues

Press Releases

• Kresge Arts in Baltimore calls for applications; $80,000 available for community arts projects in Baltimore
• Opportunity to Warm Up with Ed Reed
• BCF celebrates vibrant arts scene with sprinkling of "confetti grants"
• Baltimore Community Foundation announces emergency assistance grants to help struggling Marylanders
• Baltimore Community Foundation Named "Outstanding Foundation of the Year" by AFP Maryland
• Major Gift from Meyerhoff and Becker Will Help Double Teach For America Corps Size
• Kresge Arts in Baltimore Announces $88,500 in First Year of Grants
• Cambridge Associates Selected by Baltimore Community Foundation
• Baltimore Women Join Forces to Award Over $300,000 to 19 Local Nonprofits
• Baltimore Community Foundation Awards $245,000 for Education and Youth Programs
• Kresge Foundation Partners with Baltimore Community Foundation to Provide $200,000 for Arts and Community Grants in Baltimore
• 500-plus Children to Experience Joys of Summer Camp through Fresh Air Fund at BCF
• BCF Meets 1st Goal In $3 Million Goldseker Challenge
• Baltimore Community Foundation Awards $81,500 in College Scholarships
• Baltimore Community Foundation Cultivates City Schools Farm Fund
• Women's Giving Circle to Provide School Uniforms for Needy Students
• Middle Grades Partnership Grants $943,000 to Give City Middle School Students a Boost
• Schaefer Donates Houses to Baltimore Community Foundation
• Baltimore Community Foundation Elects Cestello and Fetting to Board
• PNC Gift of $250,000 Supports Civic Leadership by BCF
• Baltimore Community Foundation Helps Meet Needs of Struggling Marylanders
• Abell Foundation Awards Baltimore City College Speech and Debate Program $100,000
• Baltimore's Unsung Heroes Honored: B'MORE Fund at BCF Announces 2008 Awardees
• Tragedy Begets Generosity: Christopher B. Elser Memorial Fund Awards Inaugural Grant
• BCF’s Quality of Life Giving Circle Helps Local Organizations Do “A Lot
  with a Little”
• A Breath of Fresh Air for More than 500 Baltimore Area Youngsters
• 40 Students Celebrate Scholarship Help from BCF
• Grantmaking by Women, for Women, Tops $1 Million
• BCF Elects New Trustees for 2008
• Endowment to Support City College Debate Team Honors Gil Sandler
• Schaefer Legacy Will Be $5 Million Endowment for Neighborhoods
• Small Neighborhood Grants Make Big Difference

Resources

• Maryland’s community foundations
• What is a community foundation?
  courtesy of www.cof.org 
• U.S. community foundations (locator)
• Top 100 community foundations
  courtesy of www.columbusfoundationcenter.org  

News

View the complete news archive.
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FIRST "IGNITION GRANTS" AWARDED

March 10, 2010
Social innovation projects given a boost with small grants facilitated by BCF
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MORE GREAT NEWS FOR HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS

February 26, 2010
Goldseker Foundation announces $435,000 in neighborhood-school partnership grants
Learn More

BCF'S POSITION PAPER ON MARYLAND'S RACE TO THE TOP

February 24, 2010
Changes are prerequisite to state's competitive bid for $250m in federal education funding
Learn More

CLEANER. GREENER. COOLER.

February 23, 2010
Baltimore Office of Sustainability launches cool new interactive website
Learn More

WANTED: CREATIVE THINKING

February 4, 2010
Ignite Baltimore to award small grant for big idea
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ROCK TO REBUILD HAITI

February 3, 2010
Gala benefit concert for Haiti at the Meyerhoff postponed
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HAITI RELIEF DONATIONS CAN BE CLAIMED ON 2009 TAXES

February 2, 2010
Taxpayers have option of choosing 2009 or 2010 returns for gifts before March 1
Learn More

KRESGE IS BACK!

February 2, 2010
$80,000 available for community arts projects
Learn More

GRANTS BY YOUTH, FOR YOUTH

January 29, 2010
Youth As Resources announces its 2009 fall grantees
Learn More

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE...FOR ART!

January 28, 2010
Voting for Baker Artist Awards ends February 15
Learn More

NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS PROGRAM KICKS OFF 2010 WITH TWO APPLICANT WORKSHOPS

January 20, 2010
Bring your neighborhood strengthening ideas February 1
Learn More

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 20, 2010
Transit-oriented Development Summit- 3/11

Money Power Day- 3/13
Learn More

IT'S HERE!

January 7, 2010
Charm City Circulator rolls into Baltimore January 11
Learn More

"CONFETTI GRANTS" SPRINKLE NEW YEAR'S CHEER

December 29, 2009
BCF celebrates vibrant arts scene with $30,400 in small grants
Learn More

EMERGENCY GRANTS BRING RELIEF

December 21, 2009
BCF's Kelly People's Emergency Fund helps strugging Marylanders
Learn More

HEALTHIER HOMES

December 9, 2009
New thinking goes beyond weatherization with holistic approach to improve kids' lives
Learn More

MCENROE AND DAVENPORT JOIN KILLER LINE UP

November 30, 2009
Pam Shriver's Tennis Challenge hits 1st Mariner Arena on December 9!
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BALTIMORE DEBATERS TEAM UP

November 17, 2009
Johns Hopkins University debaters form working relationship with City College debating societies
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FIGHT FOR THE IRA ROLLOVER

November 4, 2009
Urge your senators to expand the charitable IRA rollover
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YOU MADE IT HAPPEN!

October 27, 2009
BCF named 2009 Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the Year
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GREAT GIFT BRINGS MORE GREAT TEACHERS

October 23, 2009
Major gift from Meyerhoff and Becker will help double Teach For America corps size
Learn More

BGE'S $1 MILLION GIFT WARMS HOMES, SAVES ENERGY

October 22, 2009
New Heating System Fund at BCF will replace furnaces for needy families
Learn More

CHARITABLE IRA ROLLOVER IS AVAILABLE AGAIN IN 2009

October 20, 2009
A unique opportunity to make a significant gift with retirement plan assets for those 70 ½ or older
Learn More

COMMUNITY ARTS GRANTS ANNOUNCED

October 20, 2009
Kresge Arts in Baltimore awards $88,500 in first year of grants
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GOT TALENT?

October 16, 2009
Calling all artists: Baker gears up for round two
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GIANT KILLERS COMING TO BALTIMORE

October 16, 2009
No. 1 Bryan Brothers, Melanie Oudin, and John Isner Headline Pam Shrivers BCF Tennis Challenge
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BCF CHOOSES CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATES FOR INVESTMENTS

October 6, 2009
Experienced global investment consulting firm to bring its expertise to BCF
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CITY SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO RISE

September 23, 2009
New data shows fewer dropouts, increased HSA passage for city students
Learn More

BCF SCORES TWO WINS

September 16, 2009
Baker Artist Awards and Kresge Arts in Baltimore get nods in City Paper's "best" issue
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NEIGHBORHOODS GET GREEN LIGHT TO SAVE

August 14, 2009
Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge gets rolling
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OVER $300K FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN POVERTY

August 11, 2009
Baltimore Women's Giving Circle announces 2009 grantees
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BCF SONDHEIM FUND MAKES SPLASH AT HARBOR

August 6, 2009
Walter Sondheim Fountain at Inner Harbor honors civic innovator
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SETTING THE STANDARD

August 5, 2009
New National Standards Board strengthens community foundation field
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TURN OFF, TUNE IN, DROP BY

August 4, 2009
Baltimore launches Neighborhood Energy Challenge--come and celebrate!
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READY FOR SCHOOL? OUR GRANTEES ARE!

July 15, 2009
BCF awards $245,000 for education and youth programs
Learn More

ART FOR COMMUNITIES' SAKE

July 10, 2009
BCF partners with Kresge Foundation to administer neighborhood arts grant program
Learn More

CREATIVE NEIGHBORHOODS GET A BOOST FROM BCF

July 6, 2009
Neighborhood Grants Program awards over $100,000 to fuel neighborhood action
Learn More

GRANTS BY YOUTH, FOR YOUTH

June 26, 2009
Youth As Resources announces its 2009 spring grantees
Learn More

500-PLUS MARYLAND KIDS GET BREATH OF FRESH AIR

June 23, 2009
Fresh Air Fund at BCF sends 529 Baltimore area youngsters to summer camp
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BCF MEETS 1ST GOAL IN $3 MILLION GOLDSEKER CHALLENGE

June 10, 2009
Endowment will address community needs for generations to come
Learn More

BCF AWARDS $81,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

June 4, 2009
55 Maryland students get boost for college
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PLANTING A SEED FOR CITY SCHOOLS

June 2, 2009
BCF announces creation of the Great Kids Farm Fund
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PRESIDENT OBAMA COMMENDS BALTIMORE YOUTH

June 1, 2009
Youth Advisory Group for Baltimore Office of Sustainability honored with President's Environmental Youth Award
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WOMENS GIVING CIRCLE TO PROVIDE SCHOOL UNIFORMS

May 26, 2009
Anonymous donors $10,000 gift goes to BCPS school uniform fund
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$943K BOOSTS CITY STUDENTS

May 8, 2009
The Middle Grades Partnership announces grants to power academic success
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1+1 ADDS UP

May 7, 2009
Speak out in support of City's 1+1 proposal
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GROWING RECYCLING BLOCK BY BLOCK

April 23, 2009
BCF grants fuel neighborhood recycling efforts
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BCF FAMILY VOLUNTEER DAY, MAY 9

April 21, 2009
BCF invites its donor-advisors and their families to participate in a day of service and fun on May 9
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BAKER WINS A WEBBY

April 15, 2009
Baker Artist Awards site named a 2009 Webby Awards Honoree
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GOVERNOR SCHAEFER DONATES HOUSES TO BCF

April 1, 2009
Sale will support Neighborhood Grants Program
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CITY SCHOOLS STUDENTS SHINE AT ACADEMIC TOURNAMENTS

March 25, 2009
City College debate team and others rack up first-place wins and national tournament berths
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BCF ELECTS CESTELLO AND FETTING TO BOARD

March 24, 2009
Finney Named Honorary Trustee; Bank Elected Treasurer
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PNC GIFT OF $250,000 SUPPORTS CIVIC LEADERSHIP BY BCF

March 19, 2009
Three-year pledge illustrates confidence in Invest in Baltimore
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THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE...

March 17, 2009
Baker Artist Award winners to be announced 3/25 on MPT
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PAINT THE TOWN GREEN...AND CLEAN!

March 5, 2009
BCF's Casciani leads Sustainability Plan to victory; "Don't Make Excuses" ads debut
Learn More

MEETING ESCALATING HUMAN NEEDS

February 25, 2009
BCF announces grants to help meet needs of struggling Marylanders
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FULL FAIR FUNDING FOR CITY SCHOOLS RESTORED

February 23, 2009
State taps stimulus package to roll back cuts
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A THRIVING ECONOMY REQUIRES FAIR FUNDING FOR CITY SCHOOLS

February 16, 2009
State budget cuts to education threaten Baltimore's long-term economic health
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HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR CITY SCHOOLS

February 10, 2009
How BCF donors helped turn around a troubled city school
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$3 BILLION FOR TRANSIT ONE STEP CLOSER

January 29, 2009
House passes mass-transit funding amendment, Senate to vote next
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YOUTH POWER EXPANDS NETWORK

January 22, 2009
Youth As Resources announces grantees
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GET ON THE BUS!

January 15, 2009
Free shuttle bus system is coming to Baltimore
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$100K BOOSTS CITY COLLEGE DEBATE TEAM

January 13, 2009
Abell Foundation awards $100,000 grant to The Gilbert Sandler Fund for Speech and Debate at City College
Learn More

AL SANDERS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FEATURED ON WJZ-TV

January 7, 2009
One of the first winners now writes songs for Beyonce, others
Learn More

DO ONE THING--EVERYTHING

December 9, 2008
BCF unveils new video at recent "Your Investment in Baltimore" event
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QUICK GIVING TIPS

December 2, 2008
Learn More

RECYCLING BINS BECOME THIS YEAR'S HOLIDAY STOCKING

November 24, 2008
Learn More

CELEBRATING BALTIMORE'S UNSUNG HEROES

November 18, 2008
B'MORE Fund announces 2008 awardees
Learn More

TRAGEDY BEGETS GENEROSITY

November 12, 2008
Christopher B. Elser Memorial Fund awards inaugural grant
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16 BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOODS GET A BOOST FROM BCF

October 22, 2008
BCF's Neighborhood Grants Program announces fall 2008 grantees
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BIONEERS ARE COMING TO BALTIMORE

October 22, 2008
2nd Annual Baltimore Bioneers Conference at MICA, November 7-9, 2008
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GREAT KIDS COME BACK

October 7, 2008
Baltimore City Public Schools' community effort re-enrolls 198 students
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NEIGHBORHOODS LEADING THE WAY TO BETTER TRANSPORTATION

October 2, 2008
60 community leaders and public officials seek light rail lessons on west coast tour
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BALTIMORE GROWS GREENER BY THE BLOCK; CITY RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY

October 2, 2008
Baltimore's Park Lane neighborhood captures 2008 AFRO Clean-Green Block Award; Baltimore named a top 10 sustainable city
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CONGRATULATIONS TO SPRING 2008 YAR Grantees

September 22, 2008
Youth As Resources grants support community organizing projects designed and led by young people working to address critical needs in their communities.
Learn More

HATS OFF TO BCF'S 2008 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!

September 16, 2008
In 2008, BCF awarded $64,000 in scholarships to 40 students from Baltimore City and across the state
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SERENA WILLIAMS AND ELENA DEMENTIEVA TO SCORE A VICTORY FOR BCF

September 9, 2008
Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva will lead an all-star cast of tennis greats at the 2008 PNC Tennis Classic
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CITY HITS RECYCLING MILESTONE

September 8, 2008
City's Single Stream Recycling Program leads to 26% increase in recycling tonnage
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HELPING ORGANIZATIONS DO A LOT WITH A LITTLE

August 26, 2008
BCF's Quality of Life Giving Circle announces 2008 grantees
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BALTIMORE BASEBALL LEGENDS POP THE CORK FOR BCF

July 31, 2008
Eddie Murray and Brooks Robinson charity wines in stores now!
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FUNDING SHIFT TO MASS TRANSIT

July 30, 2008
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board will direct previously unallocated revenue entirely toward mass transit projects
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CITY STUDENTS SOAR

July 15, 2008
Unprecedented gains in standardized test scores at all grade levels
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A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR MORE THAN 500 BALTIMORE AREA YOUNGSTERS

July 10, 2008
Children's Fresh Air Society Fund gives disadvantaged and disabled Baltimore area children the benefits of a summer camp experience
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MAJOR INDICATORS TRUMPET BALTIMORE'S RESURGENCE

July 2, 2008
Deputy Mayor Andy Frank shares encouraging news about Baltimore City
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MIDDLE GRADES PARTNERSHIP KICKS OFF 2008 SUMMER PROGRAM

June 30, 2008
Over 600 Baltimore middle schoolers set to enjoy summer of learning
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40 STUDENTS CELEBRATE SCHOLARSHIP HELP FROM BCF

June 24, 2008
BCF recently awarded $64,000 in college scholarships to 40 Maryland students.
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BCF TRUSTEE BEN CARSON AWARDED PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM

June 12, 2008
Award celebrates doctor's professional and philanthropic achievements
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GRANTMAKING BY WOMEN, FOR WOMEN, TOPS $1 MILLION

June 9, 2008
Baltimore Women's Giving Circle announces 2008 grantees, provides support to Baltimore-area nonprofits serving disadvantaged women and their children.
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SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION'S PUBLIC MEETING DATES SET

June 5, 2008
Join the movement for a cleaner, greener, safer, healthier Baltimore and help develop the citys Sustainability Plan!
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BCF'S CASCIANI NAMED CHAIR OF CITY'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION

May 21, 2008
First public meeting May 27 to focus on process for developing sustainability plan for Baltimore.
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HOMICIDES DOWN 35% IN CITY

May 9, 2008
Murders in Baltimore City were at a 30-year low during the first four months of 2008. Read how you can help curb gun violence.
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WILLIAM CAREY'S GIFT INSPIRES PHILANTHROPHY FOR BALTIMORE

April 29, 2008
Commentary by BCF President and CEO Thomas E. Wilcox
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BCF BOARD CHANGES

April 9, 2008
Bank, Bell-McKoy, Heller and Wilson elected to board; Caplan named honorary trustee; Pinkard named trustee emeritus.
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ENDOWMENT HONORS SANDLER, SUPPORTS CITY COLLEGE DEBATE

April 1, 2008
A new fund honoring Baltimore's beloved historian will support the City College Speech and Debate Team.
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FUND AT BCF WILL BE SCHAEFER'S LIVING LEGACY

March 24, 2008
Announcing the William Donald Schaefer Civic Fund at BCF, Senator Barbara Mikulski declared the endowment for neighborhoods to be "better than bronze" as a lasting legacy.
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BCF SHOWS HOW TO BEAT POVERTY

February 26, 2008
Donors and other guests at BCFs Beat Poverty event learned about three promising strategies .
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CONGRATULATIONS TO FALL 2007 YAR Grantees

February 20, 2008
Youth As Resources (YAR) grants support community organizing projects designed and led by young people working to address critical needs in their communities.
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CITYS YOUTH GET A BOOST

February 11, 2008
High-quality publicly-funded after-school programs are reaching more students than ever in Baltimore City.
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BCF ON WJZ-TV

February 8, 2008
WJZ-TV recently profiled two of our scholarships.
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BCF SCHOLARSHIPS FEATURED ON COMCAST

November 15, 2007
Hear BCF Senior Program Officer Danista Hunte talking about BCF scholarships on Comcast video on demand.
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