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MANY HANDS UPDATES
Don't Miss the 2020 Kickoff - Thursday, October 17
Join us to help kick off the 2020 grant cycle! Meet other women who are committed to making a difference in our community and hear Jodi Ovca, executive director of Access Youth, reflect on what the 2019 Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant has meant for her organization's work.

This event is open to anyone interested in learning more about joining Many Hands. Bring a friend!

When: Thursday, October 17 @ 7:00 pm

Where: Chevy Chase Village Hall

Light refreshments will be served. Ample street parking is available.
"Children in Foster Care: Challenges Today and in the Future" - Tuesday, November 5
Our fall panel event will focus on the needs of foster children in the greater Washington region with an expert panel featuring Ann Marie Binsner (pictured), executive director of CASA/Prince George's County, a 2019 Many Hands Partner Grantee; Dr. Sheryl Brissett Chapman, executive director of The National Center for Children and Families; and Lisa Dominguez, director of clinical services at Safe Shores, the 2017 recipient of the Many Hands $100,000 Impact Grant. Jill Rosenbaum Meyer, an award-winning documentary producer and Many Hands Board member, will moderate the discussion.

This event is open to all. Bring a friend!
When: Tuesday, November 5
6:30 pm - Reception
7:00 pm - Program
Where: The Washington College of Law at American University
Washington, DC 20016
The Washington College of Law is accessible by Metro (Tenleytown) and Metrobus. To download directions and parking information, click here.

For discounted parking, please use the code 8701292 , which must be entered along with your license plate number at the kiosk by the elevator WHEN YOU PARK (not when exiting the garage).
Join the Membership Committee
The Membership Committee is always looking for members to help plan events, oversee member recruitment, and steward the Many Hands member experience. The committee meets periodically from September to May and hosts such events as the upcoming fall panel, "Children in Foster Care: Challenges Today and in the Future," and last spring’s book discussion focused on mass incarceration. If you are a Many Hands member who would like more information or wish to volunteer, please email Membership Co-Chairs Lynne Battle, Marianne MacDonald, and Anna Pfeiffer at [email protected] . 
Grant Applications Due November 15
We are now accepting applications for the 2020 grant cycle. Details on our eligibility requirements and application process are available at manyhandsdc.org/grants. All grant applications must be submitted through our online portal by 11:59 pm on Friday, November 15.

As part of our transition to an online grant management system, the Grants Committee, which has traditionally reviewed applications for adherence to our eligibility requirements, will not meet this year. We thank Grants Committee veterans for their support and encourage them to make their gift by December 31 and sign up for a Focus Area Committee in January.
Ways to Give
Did you know that if you are 70+ years young, you may be able to use your IRA for a tax-free donation to Many Hands? Using a charitable IRA rollover to make your donation can count toward the annual required minimum distribution of your IRA. It could provide tax savings while immediately supporting Many Hands grants. Ask your financial advisor for details. 
NEWS FROM OUR GRANTEES
Goodbye, DC Diaper Tax!
As of October 1, sales of diapers and incontinence products are no longer taxed in the District of Columbia, thanks in part to Greater DC Diaper Bank, a two-time recipient of the Many Hands Partner Grant, which has advocated for this change in the tax code since 2016. Last month, Diaper Bank founder and Executive Director Corinne Cannon was at the Costco in DC's Ward 5, together with Mayor Muriel Bowser, Council Member Anita Bonds, and others, to celebrate and spread the word about the change.

As Cannon explains: "Eliminating the sales tax will allow parents to buy 12 more diapers than they would have been able to otherwise or use the money on other essentials. In our research into diaper need in this region, we learned from moms that they most often fell about 10 to 13 diapers short per week, so being able to buy 12 additional diapers each month will reduce a family’s average shortfall and help the physical and financial health of families."

Sales taxes hit low-income families the hardest. Eliminating the sales tax on essential items will not lift families out of poverty, but it is an important step in the right direction.
 
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 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.