Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board

Uniting students' growing understanding of the critical issues facing the Baltimore community with the opportunity to effect positive change, the Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board (PLB) is one of many programs our students can engage in as a means of leading for the greater good in the world around them.Participants on this board are the decision-makers who oversee the grant proposal process, defining their mission and evaluating applications from Baltimore-area organizations.

Student board members research the local organizations and then develop a Request for Proposals that they send to those organizations. PLB members then evaluate applicants and choose which organizations they feel should be awarded the funds. Organizations that have been awarded funds in previous years are invited back to help the PLB members understand the impact of the PLB’s award on the organization’s work.

2023 Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board Announcement

Grant Application Window Opens November 22, 2022

Deadline for applications is January 12, 2023. You will be notified by March 9, 2023 of the grant decisions.

apply here!

Philanthropic Literacy Board and Baltimore Safe Haven check presentation — *The 2022 Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board presents their grant to Baltimore Safe Haven.*

Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board Annual Announcements

2022 Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board Grant Recipient Announcement: Baltimore Safe Haven

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 this organization 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."

2021 Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board Announcement: Black Mental Health Alliance

Roland Park Country School’s student-run Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board is pleased to announce that the Black Mental Health Alliance is the recipient of this year's grant.
Despite hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board worked diligently to determine the recipients of the 2021 grant money. In the fall, students defined their area of focus, crafted a mission statement, and began researching organizations that might be a good fit for the grant money. After winter break the students doubled their efforts, creating the board’s first ever logo and electronic application form. After finalizing their organization research and outreach, the 2021 Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board received the most applications in a single year in the history of the program. Students carefully reviewed and presented each application to the whole board, then discussed and debated what would be the best use of their grant money.

“The RPCS Philanthropic Literacy Board 2021 mission statement is to assist Baltimore City's Black youth by providing funds for mental health resources," said board member Camille Lawson, 2021. "The Board first met following a summer of nationwide social justice efforts and concerns about Wellness in the Black community was at the forefront of our minds. Members on the board were in agreement about focusing our mission statement this year around this issue.”

"We chose this focus because we wanted to benefit our Baltimore community," said board member Grace Sarkar, 2021. "We agreed that our concentration should revolve around young adults because aiding the next generation is essential to positively impacting any society. In a year with so much pain and uncertainty, mental health resources and education are integral. It is important that everyone has an outlet to maintain their well-being because, as the common saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

The Black Mental Health Alliance will use the funds to help launch their My Mind is Art program.

In their grant application, the Black Mental Health Alliance wrote:

In response to the emotional and mental distress experienced during the coronavirus pandemic, the Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) will create programming where art therapy plays an evidence-based role in improving the mental health and wellness of Black children.

Involvement in the arts can help manage mental health conditions trigged by stress, trauma, and grief, as well as offer support for long-term recovery and stability. The My Mind is Art program will be led by clinicians artists, writers, and musicians who deliver health benefits through participation in their artistic activities.

The My Mind is Art program will include visual and performing arts, traditional craft, digital art, dance, spoken word, creative writing and storytelling, film, literature, music, singing, rap/hip hop, gardening and creative landscaping, and a special segment in the culinary arts. There will be an arts based activity each month the will lead to the participating youth to:

Gain insight and self-awareness through the creative process
Process feelings and release emotions through artistic expression
Reduce stress and anxiety in a healthy and productive manner in a safe environment
Receive psycho-education about mental health disorders, trauma, post-traumatic stress, and grief

“We are hopeful that the Black Mental Health Alliance’s My Mind is Art Program will be a great success," said board member Caroline Adams, 2021. "The 2022 Philanthropic Literacy Board will be eager to hear about the program’s rollout and outcomes.”

2020 Philanthropic Literacy Board Announcement: Environmental Action and Education

Cleaning the Harbor and the Bay: Saving Baltimore’s Ecosystem. This year’s board members are concerned about the damage being done to our planet. We believe that it is our responsibility to take action and that, as a city in an ecosystem tied to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, Baltimore’s water systems should be at the center of our efforts. We also believe that educating our city’s youth on environmental issues (such as climate change, pollution, and our water system’s vital contribution to the larger ecosystem) will help create a more informed population better able to protect our local natural resources. Ultimately, we are seeking grant applications from organizations focused on protecting our local bodies of water (the Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay) and/or focused on providing effective and easily accessible environmental education for Baltimore City residents.

Winners: Phillips Wharf Environmental Center for their Fishmobile and Oyster Reef programs and Environment Maryland for their Plastic Reduction and Reusable Bags programs.

2019 Philanthropic Literacy Board Announcement: Youth Wellness

Providing After School Community Resources for Baltimore City Youth. This year's board members endeavor to uplift and provide support to underprivileged youthseeking after school extra-curricular programs in Baltimore city. We believe that all students deserve access to a wide range of learning opportunities, but not every child isafforded a diverse range of educational experiences that enhance their talents and skills. We are concerned about the impact a lack of enrichment opportunities can have on a child's future and are seeking grant applications from non-profits that are focused on providing high quality afterschool programs-including tutoring, athletics, and the arts-in order to enrich the lives of our youth in Baltimore.

3 winners:

https://www.gilman.edu/community/bridges-at-gilman

https://www.strongcitybaltimore.org/our-work/club-collington-square/

https://parksandpeople.org/programs/middle-school-sports/

Founded in the fall of 2017, the Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board at RPCS has supported the following organizations:

The 2021 board sought grant applications from Baltimore-based organizations that work with the city’s Black youth. "The Board first met following a summer of nationwide social justice efforts and concerns about Wellness in the Black community was at the forefront of our minds. Members on the board were in agreement about focusing our mission statement this year around this issue,” said board member Camille Lawson, 2021. "We chose this focus because we wanted to benefit our Baltimore community," said board member Grace Sarkar, 2021. "We agreed that our concentration should revolve around young adults because aiding the next generation is essential to positively impacting any society. In a year with so much pain and uncertainty, mental health resources and education are integral. It is important that everyone has an outlet to maintain their well-being because, as the common saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.” The 2021 grant recipient was The Black Mental Health Alliance.

The 2020 board sought grant applications from organizations focused on protecting local bodies of water (the Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay) and/or focused on providing effective and easily accessible environmental education for Baltimore City residents. The 2020 grant recipients were Environment Maryland and Phillips Wharf Environmental Center.

The 2019 board sought grant applications from organizations supporting youth wellness by providing after school community resources for Baltimore City Youth. The 2019 grant recipients were Bridges at Gilman School, The Club at Collington Square, and Parks & People Foundation.

The 2018 board sought grant applications from organizations focused on empowering women and children who are survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The 2018 grant recipient was House of Ruth.

Students work with Head of School Caroline Blatti on a PLB grant proposal.

The Smith philanthropic literacy board endowment fund

The Smith Philanthropic Literacy Board Endowment Fund was established and endowed by Cheryl Bernard-Smith and Chip Smith P’24 in 2018 as part of the This is Our Moment Campaign. The funds from this endowment support the student run organization that administers grants annually using the interest generated by the endowment. Each year, students choose a topic, research the topic, solicit requests for proposals and evaluate applicants before ultimately selecting an organization that best fits that year’s criteria. Students also learn about the composition of non-profits and their revenue streams as part of the program.

“Chip and I strongly believe in the value of connecting with our local and broader communities and giving back in whatever ways we can. We were excited to support the Philanthropic Literacy Board to not only help cultivate the leadership capacity of the students at RPCS, but also to encourage opportunities for learning at an early age how thoughtful decision making can truly change our world for the better.” – Cheryl Bernard Smith, P’24

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