Ascensions Community Service, Inc. serves Prince George’s County and southeast Washington, D.C. through quality therapeutic services and social initiatives. The TowerCares grant supports the Ascending Veterans River Therapy Program, which uses boating as a rehabilitative and therapeutic tool to help Veterans with PTSD cope with daily life, experience the healing power of water and enjoy the camaraderie and support of other Veterans. Funds will be used to help pay for boat fuel and to buy therapeutic supplies, such as workbooks, journals, interactive games and art supplies.

Sasha Bruce Youthwork provides emergency and long-term services for homeless youth and families in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Md. The TowerCares grant helps fund the Prince George’s Drop-In Center Learning Lab in Mount Rainier, Md., which provides emergency services for homeless, abused and neglected youth. Services include van pick-up from anywhere, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, counseling, health education, school reengagement and food resources. The TowerCares grant will help create up to seven Learning Lab workstations, so homeless youth can search for jobs and participate in distance learning.

House of Ruth empowers women, children and families to rebuild their lives and heal from trauma, abuse and homelessness. The TowerCares grant will support Kidspace, a children’s play center located at the House of Ruth that helps young children overcome trauma-related developmental delays and prepare them for success in school. The program provides speech and occupational therapy and encourages parents to become actively engaged in their child’s positive development. House of Ruth can serve 88 children at Kidspace, including 64 infants and toddlers. Grant funds will help assist in the purchase of swing sets and structures to provide shade on the playground.

American Corporate Partners is a national non-profit organization focused on helping returning Veterans and active-duty spouses find their next careers through one-on-one mentoring, networking, and online career advice. Mentors provide year-long career guidance and professional development to help Veterans seek meaningful employment and avoid underemployment. The TowerCares grant will help fund mentorships between Veterans or military spouses and a professional who shares their same career interest.

Casey Cares provides ongoing, uplifting palliative support to children diagnosed with critical illness and their families. Hundreds of families have reached out to Casey Cares for support as their already stretched finances are near the breaking point due to the necessary care for their child and the ongoing effects of COVID-19. The TowerCares grant will help provide gift cards for groceries, food delivery and streaming services for families in need in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

The mission of Operation Homefront is to build strong, stable and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities that they have worked so hard to protect. The TowerCares grant will support Operation Homefront Village, a transitional housing program in Gaithersburg, Md. The program provides rent-free apartments to wounded, ill and injured active duty and Veterans and their families as they transition from the military. The goal of this program is to rebuild stability, including financial, employment, education and housing. Caseworkers assist clients and their families to locate the resources they need.

Neighbor Ride enhances the health and quality of life for seniors living in Howard County, Md., by providing affordable, passenger-focused transportation services through a reliable, volunteer-based system. The TowerCares grant will help fund the Driving Heroes program, which provides subsidized transportation for local low-income Veterans, ages 60 and over. Rides are available for essential needs like medical, social, wellness, education and employment. Many of the program’s volunteer drivers are also Veterans.

The mission of Leadership Howard County is to empower individuals so we can strengthen and transform our community. The TowerCares grant will provide tuition subsidies to students in need of financial assistance so they can attend Leadership U, a four-month experiential leadership development and community service program for current high school sophomores who either live or attend school in Howard County, Md. Subjects include: team building, health and human services, diversity and inclusion, local government, criminal justice, and leadership skills workshops. Students also participate in interactive workshops on networking, communication skills, listening and more. Adult mentors are assigned to help facilitate and connect the students with community resources.

Arundel House of Hope provides emergency, transitional and permanent affordable housing for those experiencing homelessness, including Veterans, in Anne Arundel County, Md. The TowerCares grant will support Patriot House, a facility for homeless Veterans. Arundel House of Hope provides employment, training and education for the Veterans, along with support for health-related matters. Veterans can live at Patriot House for up to 18 months, with the goal of transitioning to permanent housing.

Junior Achievement’s purpose is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in the global economy, and to empower, enrich and inspire the next generation of innovators. The TowerCares grant supports BizTown, a program for elementary school students that combines classroom lessons with a day-long visit to a simulated city. BizTown is free of charge to students that can’t afford to pay. The funds will be used to help pay for at-risk elementary students in Anne Arundel County, Md. to attend BizTown, and for the costs of program materials, curriculum, evaluation, transportation, teacher training and volunteer recruitment/training.