Roland Park Country School’s student-run Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board is pleased to announce that Baltimore Safe Haven is the recipient of this year's grant.
This year the members of the Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board at Roland Park Country School have worked diligently all year. We began by writing our mission statement, along with revamping the PLB logo. Then we dove into creating the grant application, researching and reaching out to organizations, reading through the applications, and deciding on a recipient. We are so excited to share our efforts with you all.
The RPCS Philanthropic Literacy Board’s 2022 mission statement was to empower LGBQIA+ youth in Baltimore by funding education, healthcare, and legal resources. We picked
Baltimore Safe Haven because in the past, we have focused on black mental health, environmental action, youth wellness, and empowering women. In 2022, LGBTQIA+ communities are still struggling, especially after COVID-19. We decided to turn our focus to LGBTQIA+ youth because as future leaders, we strive to empower one another and provide the same opportunities for all of us, no matter the sexual orientation, preference, or identity.
“We chose this organization because of their impact on the LGBTQIA+ community and their commitment to creating safe spaces, said board member Isabel McFarland, 2022. “Baltimore Safe Haven provides programs for education, healthcare, legal assistance, and more. This organization is dedicated to fostering the environment for the future LGBTQIA+ leaders, and we hope this grant will help provide the resources to do so."
The 2022 Philanthropic Literacy Board is hopeful that the expansion of Baltimore Safe Haven will be a great success. The 2023 Philanthropic Literacy Board will be eager to hear about the rollout and outcomes.
"The 2022 Philanthropic Literacy Board members want to acknowledge and thank the Smith family for endowing the Philanthropic Literacy Board,” said board member Bre’Arra Long, 2022. “Our experience on the board has been eye opening and we are so grateful to be able to be a part of a program that has such a positive, real-life impact."