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Greetings!

There’s something about September that always feels like a fresh start. Students are back in school, families are settling into new routines, and across Howard County, we’re turning our attention to a busy fall ahead.

Back-to-school season is also a reminder of how important it is to invest in young people and their futures. This year, the Community Foundation of Howard County awarded more than $41,500 in scholarships to 22 Howard County students representing 13 area high schools, helping them take the next step in their education.

Scholarships do more than help with the cost of college and continued education. They open doors, recognize hard work and potential, and remind students that their community believes in them. We’re grateful to the donors who make these opportunities possible year after year. Learn more about our 2026 scholarship recipients.

That same spirit of generosity is at the heart of so much happening at CFHC this fall.

We’re preparing for our Annual Dinner & Celebration of Philanthropy on November 17, when we’ll come together to honor this year’s Philanthropists of the Year and celebrate the people and organizations helping to make Howard County stronger. I hope you’ll join us by getting your tickets or becoming a sponsor.

We’re also continuing to grow The Fund for Howard County, welcoming people to Athol Manor for community conversations, and helping individuals and families think about how their giving today can create a lasting legacy. You’ll find all of that and more in this month’s eNewsletter.

What I love about these different opportunities is that they remind us there isn’t just one way to be a philanthropist. You can give, volunteer, sponsor, mentor, learn, connect, or simply show up. Each of us has something to contribute.

Thank you for being part of the generosity that makes Howard County such a special place to call home.

Warmly,

Melissa Curtin

President & CEO

mcurtin@cfhoco.org

2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

CFHC Celebrates 2026 Scholarship Recipients! The Community Foundation of Howard County is pleased to congratulate our 2026 scholarship recipients and celebrate the generosity of the donors who make these opportunities possible. This year, CFHC awarded more than $41,500 in scholarships to 22 Howard County students representing 13 area high schools, helping them take the next step in their education.

YOUR COMMUNITY. YOUR CELEBRATION.

2026 Annual Dinner & Celebration of Philanthropy - Each year, the Community Foundation of Howard County brings our community together for the Annual Dinner & Celebration of Philanthropy, an evening dedicated to recognizing the people and organizations whose generosity, leadership, and service are making a meaningful impact in Howard County. Whether you give, volunteer, lead, serve, or simply care about the future of Howard County, you are part of this community and this celebration.

COLLECTIVE GIVING IN ACTION

WGC Welcomes 2026-2027 Young Women's Giving Circle Interns - The Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County kicked off a new year of the YWGC, bringing together 15 of our 16 interns, representing 11 Howard County high schools, and three mentors who will help guide the group throughout the year. The WGC is a fund of the Community Foundation.

LOCAL GIVING, LASTING IMPACT.

The Fund for Howard County When you give to the Fund for Howard County, your gift joins with others to support nonprofits working across Howard County. Rather than choosing one organization, you become part of a community-wide approach to funding nonprofits addressing local needs and opportunities. One Gift. Many Nonprofits. One Stronger Howard County.

YOUR PARTNERS IN PHILANTHROPY

The Greatest Legacy You Leave May Not Be Financial: When people talk about the “Great Wealth Transfer,” the conversation usually centers on money. Over the coming decades, trillions of dollars in assets will pass from one generation to the next through inheritances, businesses, investments, and real estate.

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS

C​FHC's Community Cheers & Chat! Our first CFHC Cheers & Chat is in the books. We loved welcoming the community to Athol Manor last week to catch up, meet someone new, share ideas, and simply connect. As CFHC President & CEO Melissa Curtin said, “Strong communities are built through relationships, and sometimes the best thing we can do is simply create the space for people to come together.”

The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHC) inspires lifelong giving and connects people, places, and purpose to build a stronger, more vibrant Howard County. Since its founding in 1969, CFHC has worked in partnership with donors, nonprofits, and community leaders to strengthen local philanthropy, steward philanthropic resources, and support initiatives that improve the quality of life for all who live and work in our community. Through donor-advised funds, scholarships, grants, and community leadership, CFHC helps individuals, families, and businesses make a meaningful, lasting impact now and for generations to come.

Learn more at www.cfhoco.org