CHESTERTOWN — The United Way of Kent County has awarded more than $80,000 to 24 area nonprofits in its first grant cycle, according to a news release that was sent out electronically on Feb. 21.
The beneficiaries are organizations that serve education, health and financial stability arenas.
“These grants will be followed with another matching grant to these same nonprofits in June 2024,” the news release states.
A new partner is Minary’s Dream Alliance Club F.E.A.R. (Face Everything And Rise) program for 12– to 17-year-olds and their families who are impacted by or diagnosed with Opioid Use Disorder. Club F.E.A.R. focuses on providing Substance Use Disorder education, self-care, social skills development and family engagement.
Other partner agencies include American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of the Del-Mar-Va Council, Camp Fairlee Manor/Easterseals, Character Counts/Chesapeake Charities, Chestertown RiverArts’ KidSPOT, Community Food Pantry, Community Mediation Upper Shore, Compass Regional Hospice, Echo Hill Outdoor School, For All Seasons, Good Neighbor Fund/Chester Valley Ministers Association, Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne’s, Kent Association of Riding Therapy, Kent Attainable Housing, Kent County CARES Foundation, Maryland Food Bank, Mid-Shore Council on Family Violence, Open Door Partners in Education, Rock Hall Blessing Bag Program, Rock Hall Yacht Club Sailing School scholarship program, Samaritan Group, Shore Legal Access and Sister to Sister.
According to the news release, each applicant received a detailed review. Applicant leaders were interviewed by an allocations committee chaired by board of directors member Rebecca Murphy.
“We did an in-depth evaluation of each request, with special attention to the financial information and the extent to which each agency specifically proposes to serve Kent County residents,” Murphy said in the news release.
Murphy added that the UWKC board “takes its stewardship of donor funds very seriously.”
According to the website, the mission of United Way of Kent County “is to identify the human service needs of the community; promote member agency programs in an effort to increase public understanding and financial and volunteer support; solicit funds for these agencies by conducting an annual fundraising campaign; and allocate these funds, giving emphasis to those agencies with programs that address community needs prioritized by the Board of Directors.”
To support the United Way of Kent County, go to www.unitedwayofkentcounty.org.
Donations also can be mailed to the United Way of Kent County, Box 594, Chestertown, MD 21620.
Newly appointed Executive Director Amy Meade can be reached by email at
executivedirector@unitedwayofkentcounty.org or by phone at 410-778-3195.