A Partnership Between
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Pictured individuals: (back row, left to right) James Hobbs, Alexander Langan, Suzanne Patackis, Steven Martinez, Adrienne Thoman, David Wagner, Toan Do; (front row, left to right) Ayanna Cash-Clements, Jolene Leisure, Kimberly Bowman, Catherine Azeles; (not pictured) Melba Twitty.
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and Harrisburg Young Professionals are pleased to announce the graduation of 12 individuals from the inaugural Emerging Philanthropist Program class of 2014. During 2014, participants learned about the local Harrisburg community, its nonprofit organizations, philanthropy and wealth management practices, and grantmaking processes. Participants were provided resources and educational opportunities that encouraged them to make an impact beyond traditional volunteer activities. Participants also learned about the various fundraising methods utilized by nonprofit organizations and how to identify fiscally responsible nonprofit organizations through an analysis of their business models and budgets.
Their culminating experience was to apply their newly learned community and grantmaking skills by awarding a grant to a nonprofit organization in the Harrisburg area. The recipient nonprofit organization must provide programs and services that address family development and engagement with an emphasis on those families with children ages 0-10 years; this topic was chosen by the class after assessing the needs of the Harrisburg community. After a competitive grantmaking process involving reviewing nine applications, interviewing three finalists, and visiting those finalists onsite, the 2014 EPP class has selected their grantee: Samara.
Samara received a $5,000 grant for their Intensive Parenting Program. Samara is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families by providing services that allow parents to move beyond any personal emotional issues and provide a better environment for raising their children. The Intensive Parenting Program creates an environment of emotional safety and warmth that allows parents to reflect on their own experiences and open themselves to new ideas and unfamiliar concepts. This program encourages parents from high-risk families to experience positive and judgment free interactions with activities that promote trust within the group and self-discovery. This gives parents who were traumatized and abused as children the opportunity to confront how those interactions in their childhood are influencing their parenting style. Parents are able to become open and aware of the needs of their children once their own needs for nurture and warmth become realized.
Emerging Philanthropists Fund
The Emerging Philanthropists Fund was created in 2014 by the inaugural class of the Emerging Philanthropists Program (EPP). EPP was established to engage and educate Harrisburg’s emerging business and community leaders so that they developed a deep understanding of the needs of the community and the benefits of philanthropy in perpetuity.
Please click here if you would like to contribute to the Emerging Philanthropists Fund.
