We are delighted to announce that Many Hands' Focus Area Committees have chosen four organizations to receive this year's grants:

Beacon House provides children in the Edgewood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC with a safe, nurturing, and life-expanding community in which to increase their academic achievement, discover their talents, and grow into healthy adults who achieve their greatest potential.

Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB) creates opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals in the greater DC region to build financial security, savings, and wealth for the future. CAAB's goal is to create a community that provides everyone with incentives and opportunities to save for the future.

My Sister's Place (MSP) shelters, supports and empowers survivors of domestic violence and their children, while providing leadership and education to build a supportive community. MSP offers a full continuum of care from emergency shelter through transitional-to-permanent housing in Washington, DC.

Nueva Vida informs, supports, and empowers Latinas in the greater DC region whose lives are affected by cancer and advocates for and facilitates timely access to state of the art cancer care. Nueva Vida believes that no physical, financial, or structural barrier should block the care of any person.

Members and their guests are invited to hear presentations from the executive directors of all four organizations at the Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 12 (details below). Following the presentations, members will vote to allocate the 2022 grants. One organization will receive the Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant; three will receive Partner Grants of at least $60,000.

We invite you to join us in supporting the work of all four grantees. We are still welcoming new members, as well as non-member gifts. Your contribution of any size will go directly to this year's grantees to help support and empower women, children, and families in socioeconomic need in the greater Washington region.

To become a Many Hands member and vote in this grant cycle, please ensure that we receive your membership gift by Monday, May 9 (if you mail a check) and by Thursday, May 12 (if you make your gift online). We will also happily accept membership gifts at the Annual Meeting. For more information about membership, visit our website or email Lynne Battle and Wendy Gray at membership@manyhandsdc.org.

Many Hands members and their guests are warmly invited to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 12. Doors will open at 6:30 pm for check-in and light refreshments; the program will begin at 7:00 pm. The event will take place in person at Chevy Chase Village Hall and be livestreamed on our website. Learn more and register for both options at manyhandsdc.org/events.

The Annual Meeting is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the work of Many Hands grantees and the generosity of our community, as well as the perfect way to introduce Many Hands to a friend. Invite a guest to discover the power of collective giving!

In preparation for the meeting, all members should have received an email on Tuesday with the grantees' proposals and information about voting. If you did not do so, or if you have any other questions about the Annual Meeting, please email us at membership@manyhandsdc.org. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Elizabeth Whitmore joined Many Hands in 2020 and has served on the Economic Empowerment and Health Focus Area Committees, as well as the Financial Review Committee. Elizabeth is a managing director of Jackson Partners, a private equity firm that acquires middle market operating businesses. Prior to co-founding Jackson Partners, she worked in non-profit management at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City.

Why did you join Many Hands? I was looking for a way to make a hands-on contribution to the nonprofit community in Washington, DC. As a long-time resident of the District, I have supported a number of organizations financially but am always looking for opportunities to contribute my time and experience. In Many Hands, I have found a dedicated group of women working together to bring real, lasting improvement to the lives of women and children in the area. It is inspiring to watch and even more inspiring to participate!

Which focus area attracts you most? In my first year with Many Hands, I joined the Economic Empowerment Committee because I felt that my professional experience would allow me to make the largest contribution to the vetting of the applicants. I loved the experience! The following year, I joined the Health Committee because I saw that diverse perspectives, as well as relevant background, are part of what makes the grantmaking process so powerful. I hope to have the opportunity to serve on all the Focus Area Committees.

How do you stay inspired? I am inspired by entrepreneurship. Since joining Many Hands, I have been introduced to a wide variety of passionate individuals dedicated to tackling some of the largest social problems in the city. It is their drive and commitment that inspire me to contribute not only my financial resources, but also my time and experience.

Many Hands is a women's grantmaking organization committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of Washington, DC area women, children, and families in socioeconomic need and to helping its members become well-informed donors. Many Hands is a 501(c)(3) organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN: 51-0486987. Mailing address: Many Hands Inc., PO Box 15048, Chevy Chase, MD 20825.