The Prince George's Community Foundation Announces National Harbor Grants 2007

LANDOVER, Md., Jan. 15, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Prince George's Community
Foundation (PGCF), a regional affiliate of The Community Foundation for the
National Capital Region, has approved 30 grants totaling $329,000 from the
National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund for 2008. The grants, ranging from
$5,000 to $15,800, will support 30 nonprofit organizations in the areas of
workforce development, arts and culture, education, recreation and social
services for children, youth, young adults and senior citizens.

Artis Hampshire-Cowan, President of PGCF's board remarked, "As a Board of
Directors, we are very proud to be a part of the important movement of helping
organizations reaching out in our Prince George's County neighborhoods to better
serve our people in need. The National Harbor Community Outreach Grant Fund
helps us to expand our services to nonprofit organizations. We are grateful to
our County Executive, Mr. Jack Johnson, our County Council under the leadership
of Ms. Camille Exum, and Mr. Milt Peterson, Founder of The Peterson Companies,
for agreeing to the management of the fund by The Prince George's Community
Foundation. The fund has been managed in a professional manner and with complete
transparency. We congratulate the organizations that were best able to meet the
criteria and we look forward to continued excellent programs in our county."
"The application review was rigorous," noted PGCF Executive Director Desiree
Griffin-Moore. "We received 223 proposals submitted by large and small nonprofit
organizations, requesting a total of $5 million. With $329,000 available, the
selection process was very tough." Proposals were received from a wide array of
organizations working in the areas of recreation, education, social services,
leadership development, and arts and culture, among others.

The most important criteria were based upon standard "indicators of
effectiveness", as defined by Grantmakers for Effective Organizations. The
indicators utilized to evaluate proposals included: 1) a sound strategy for
achieving realistic goals; 2) collaboration in the delivery of services; 3)
leveraging support so that resources can be maximized; 4) leadership and
governance that reflect sound management practices; 5) outcomes that are
specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, cost effective and relevant; 6) an
evaluation process that measures and maintains outcomes and accomplishments; and
7) sound financial health that reflects a realistic budget and organizational
systems that are in compliance with state, federal and foundation reporting
systems.

In addition, in 2007 PGCF held an informational meeting on September 20th and a
daylong technical assistance session on September 29th. Close to 200
participants attended each session. Organizations learned about the National
Harbor Fund grants program and its expectations, providing nonprofits with
best-practices information and standards for writing grant proposals. "We felt
that it was critical to offer technical assistance to organizations seeking help
in writing their proposals," said Griffin-Moore.

PGCF is committed to helping nonprofits build their capacity to secure funding
from a range of sources. Along with the Washington Regional Association of
Grantmakers, PGCF has initiated the Partnership for Prince George's County. This
is the first time that PGCF has been engaged in a strategic effort to galvanize
local and regional philanthropic support of the county's nonprofit community.
The ultimate goal is to help Prince George's County nonprofit organizations grow
stronger and obtain significant financial support for their programs from many
of the larger corporate and philanthropic organizations throughout the area.

Following is a complete list of 2007 National Harbor Community Outreach Grant
Fund grantees.

Accokeek Foundation
Accokeek, MD
$15,000
To support expansion of the African American interpretation program
at National Colonial Farm

Alexandria Seaport Foundation
Alexandria, VA
$10,000
To support boat-building apprenticeships for two residents of Prince
George's County

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the National Capital Area
Lanham, MD
$15,000
To support one-on-one mentoring and family support services

Christmas in April Prince George's County
Clinton, MD
$10,000
To support the purchase of supplies and materials needed to repair
the homes of elderly and/or disabled homeowners

Community Legal Services of Prince George's County, Inc.
Hyattsville, MD
$5,000
To support free legal advice to residents of Oxon Hill, MD, and
legal representation to special education students, ensuring
appropriate school placement

Community Services Agency of the Metropolitan Washington Council
Washington, DC
$5,920
To support the Building Futures Apprenticeship Outreach and
Recruitment Project, which provides apprenticeship and training
opportunities for 30 Prince George's County residents ages 17 and
older

Covenant House
Washington, DC
$15,800
To support the Street and Community Outreach Program, which assists
youth living on the streets in finding safe and appropriate living
environments, and provides them with a range of support services

Cultural Academy for Excellence
Hyattsville, MD
$12,500
To support a music-based academic and life skills enrichment
out-of-school program for 80 at-risk youth between the ages of
7 and 18

From Rags to Riches Inc.
Riverdale, MD
$10,000
To support community-based supervision and therapeutic services to
female ex-offenders in Prince George's County

Functional Fitness 4 Kids, Inc.
Fort Washington, MD
$14,680
To support providing a safe, fun and nondiscriminatory environment
in which children can exercise, build relationships and gain
nutritional information

Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.
Hyattsville, MD
$10,000
To support the improvement and expansion of the Family Literacy
Program, which serves primarily African immigrant and Latino
children from low-income households

International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation
Washington, DC
$10,000
To support implementation of the TAKE 10! Program, which introduces
grade-specific concepts with age-appropriate movement to elementary
school teachers and students

Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation of Maryland, Inc.
Hyattsville/Landover, MD
$6,000
To support implementation of the Saturday Academy A-MAN Program
at the Samuel Massie School in Forestville, MD

Little Foot Daycare, Inc.
Accokeek, MD
$10,000
To support purchase of a van for transporting children to
recreational, cultural and arts activities

Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region
Washington, DC
$10,000
To support augmentation of the science curriculum and expansion of
recreational opportunities for Prince George's County school children

Minority Access, Inc.
Hyattsville, MD
$12,500
To support two, three-week arts camps

Our Black Authors Foundation
Largo, MD
$10,000
To support expansion of the writing camp and other writing
activities, including web platforms and technology, for 80 students

Prince George's Child Resource Center, Inc.
Largo, MD
$10,000
To support eight, 10-week series of Baby Arts Play and Wolftrap
Residency at the organization's Adelphi/Langley Park Family Support
Center

Prince George's Tennis and Education Foundation
Largo, MD
$10,000
To support tennis instruction, fitness training, academic assistance
and college preparation training to 450 youth

Reaching Objectives Through Joint Action
Suitland, MD
$15,000
To support academic programs and activities for youth and parents
from low-income households

Shabach Ministries
Landover, MD
$5,000
To support educational and enrichment opportunities for youth in the
graphics production industry

Soul in Motion Players, Inc.
Rockville, MD
$15,000
To support Fort Washington, MD-based BodyMoves, LLC, providing
enrichment opportunities to 20 youth and teens in the performing
arts and fitness areas

St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home
Hyattsville, MD
$10,800
To support comprehensive residential services to young, single
mothers in Prince George's County, MD

Donald M. Taylor Aeronautical Academy
Fort Washington, MD
$10,000
To support the implementation of formal planning pertaining to
staff, curriculum design and selection of instructional materials
and resources

Top Banana Home Delivered Groceries, Inc.
Brandywine, MD
$15,000
To support helping more than 200 Prince George's County seniors
maintain involvement in community life

Training Source
Seat Pleasant, MD
$10,000
To support the planning and implementation of an eight-week Life
and and Ability Skills Training Program assisting developmentally
disabled youth who are exiting the public schools

United Communities Against Poverty, Inc.
Capital Heights, MD
$5,800
To support adult basic education, job readiness and job search
assistance to unemployed and/or underemployed residents ages
17 to 24

Paul Lawrence Vann Foundation
Fort Washington, MD
$15,000
To support financial literacy and authorship for 120 youth

World Arts Focus
Mount Ranier, MD
$10,000
To support arts education, cultural enrichment, mentoring and
outreach activities in Mount Ranier, MD, and neighboring
municipalities in the Prince George's Gateway Arts District/Route 1
corridor

YMCA of Metropolitan Washington
Washington, DC
$15,000
To support expansion of the Zesty Trailblazers Program for seniors
at the organization's Potomac Overlook branch in Fort Washington,
MD
The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region logo is available at
http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3032

The Prince George's Community Foundation logo is available at
http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4591

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CONTACT: The Prince George's Community Foundation
Media:
Lucenia Dunn
(301) 980-3296