$60K Award to 2021 Changemaker Challenge Finalists In HoCo

Columbia MD

12 November, 2021

5:19 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A total of $60,000 was awarded at the 2021 Changemaker Challenge, an event designed to spark innovative thinking to address issues in Howard County. Ten finalists presented their ideas for social change to a live virtual audience of more than 700 community members and a panel of judges. The winners of this year's competition are: Alston for Athletes, which won $25,000 to help provide Mental Health First Aid Training to coaches, athletic directors and trainers to support Howard County's youth athletes.The 3rd Inc., which won $15,000 to help create a community co-working space in downtown Columbia that is run by, supplied by and incubates women of color entrepreneurs.Kits to Heart, which won the $10,000 award focusing on supporting women and girls in Howard County. Founded by cancer survivor Sonia Su, Kits to Heart works to improve the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by cancer through an innovative art therapy program.The Community Ecology Institute, which won the $10,000 audience choice award to support its Nourishing Gardens initiative. This program aims to transform lawns in the community into ecologically beneficial food growing spaces and teach people how to grow their own healthy food."This event is always so inspiring and uplifting, and this year was no different," Nikki Highsmith Vernick, president and CEO of the Horizon Foundation, said. "Given the immense challenges we have faced as a community over the past year and a half, our goal for the Changemaker Challenge this year was to launch sustainable actions to help our residents recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the inequities it exposed. We are so proud of all of our Changemakers for their creativity and commitment to help make our community a better place for everyone. We can't wait to see these innovative ideas in action." The Horizon Foundation, United Way of Central Maryland, the Community Foundation of Howard County and the Women's Giving Circle of Howard County awarded the funding.