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On a warm October evening, Many Hands members and friends ushered in the 2027 Grant Cycle at the Membership Kickoff. Board President Elizabeth Whitmore recapped last year's outstanding achievements and stressed the power of collective giving. She articulated the ways in which Many Hands provides essential support to DC-area nonprofits facing challenges in these difficult times. She introduced herself as the current Board President, the woefully unqualified head of IT, and the person who answers any email sent to the general mailbox. She explained, "I share with you my full job description to make a point. Many Hands is an all volunteer operation, and it is so much bigger than any one of us."
New Board member Joy Bates Boyle and member Gabriella Newes-Adeyi talked about their journey from friends of members to active participants serving on committees and reviewing grants. Joy shared her perspective — "The magic of Many Hands isn't just the grants we make, it's the people that make them happen. It's the relationships we build, perspectives we share, and what we learn from one another."
Gabby shared that the value for her was learning about smaller nonprofit organizations. "In my career in public health I've always known that much of the front line of keeping communities healthy is done by the many small community-based organizations that work very locally. In years past I rarely had the chance to learn about these organizations. Being part of Many Hands and reviewing grant applications has been very rewarding."
Protecting Children and Families
Elizabeth introduced the featured speaker for the evening, Heather O'Malley, CEO of SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center of Fairfax (2024 Impact Grantee). Heather began by saying it was an honor to speak to the Many Hands audience. Yet, by the end of her remarks, it was clear that the honor was ours.
For 13 years SafeSpot has provided a space where children who have experienced abuse receive support centered on their safety and healing. "They deserve a safe place where they are believed and supported," Heather said, "where adults listen without judgment and where they are defined not by what happened to them in their darkest moments, but by the strength and resilience with which they move forward."
SafeSpot and its partners provide therapy and a broad range of services to children and families. Through a tested child-centered model, SafeSpot protects children from reliving their trauma by having to tell their stories repeatedly to a variety of medical professionals, law enforcement officers, child welfare professionals, advocates, prosecutors, and others. To deepen our understanding, Heather shared stories of three children and families affected.
She described a five-year-old boy with unusual bruises on his arms and legs, a 16- year-old girl sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend and humiliated by his friends, and a 14-year-old girl who accepted a ride from a stranger and spent the next six days held captive while her kidnappers drugged and assaulted her. In these and most other cases children and families need a broad range of services, including therapy, and help addressing practical needs such as rent, food, and transportation.
These are just three of the 555 children served by SafeSpot last year. The Many Hands Impact Grant supported life services and made it possible for SafeSpot to hire an additional therapist. "I dream of a future," Heather said, "where child abuse no longer exists...where every child grows up safe, loved, and protected." Many Hands members share that dream.
Elizabeth Whitmore was visibly moved when she came forward to thank Heather and close the meeting. She shared that these are the kinds of efforts that Many Hands helps to make possible.
If you were unable to attend in person, please visit our website to watch the recording of the Kickoff event.
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