Soccer Champs Define GM STRONG!
The first invitational Middle School World Cup Soccer Tournament ended with the Gaithersburg semi-finalists teams declining to play each other and, instead, declaring themselves the “GM Strong” winner. “GM Strong” is a reference to the Trawick Foundation TeamUp 2015 program, a collaboration among three Montgomery County nonprofits* serving students of Gaithersburg Middle School.

The contest was initiated by Gaithersburg Middle School Principal Ann Dolan and teams from Forest Oak, Neelsville, Montgomery Village, and Redland middle schools competed on Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2017. Two Gaithersburg Middle School teams of 6-8th graders prevailed over the others, made up of 7th and 8th graders. Pride in themselves and their school was the winner of the day!

  

*Participating nonprofits include: National Alliance for Mental Illness, Project Change, Retouch International Ministries, Linkages to Learning and Identity, Inc.

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

TRAWICK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $150,000 GRANT AWARD TO FUND A PILOT PROJECT FOR RISING 9th GRADERS AT WATKINS MILL HIGH SCHOOL. 

​

Watch ArtAbility middle schoolers "just dance, dance, dance." 

​

TRAWICK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $300,000 IN TEAMUP GRANT AWARDS TO TWO MONTGOMERY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS. 

​

OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS
The Olney Theater plans to support five local nonprofits during its 2016-17 programming season with free tickets and publicity. Each selected nonprofit will receive $2500 of complementary theater tickets and will be a featured at Olney’s community-wide Summer Celebration on August 20th. More than 3,000 people attend the open house annually. Additionally, selected nonprofits will have the opportunity to promote their cause in Olney's show programs.

 “This could be excellent exposure for a Montgomery County nonprofit,” said Trawick Foundation President Carol Trawick. “I encourage anyone who is interested to contact Olney Theater ASAP!” she added. The theater tickets can be resold by the nonprofit or given to donors, according to Olney Theater Artistic Director Jason Loewith. For more information, contact Wesley Meekins at wmeekins@olneytheatre.org    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEAMUP 2016 KICKS OFF FOR COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Twelve Montgomery County middle schools joined four dozen local nonprofits at the Trawick Foundation TeamUp 2016 briefing on Thursday, January 14.  Associate Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Dr. Daryl Williams greeted the group and applauded their interest in collaborating.

                                                                                                                

The first year grant is for $150,000 followed by two option years for a possible total of $450,000.   Ms. Trawick said that if the review panel finds another equally exceptional project then a second award will be given in the same amount, for a potential total of $900,000.

 

The TeamUp concept emphasizes developing holistic strategies that integrate nonprofit out of school programs with the individual middle school's needs, especially for their at-risk student populations.  First year evaluation of the 2014 awardee, Sligo Middle School project, shows increases in GPA, fewer absences, rises in confidence and a renewed interest in science and team work among student participants.

 

At the briefing, Trawick Foundation founder, Carol Trawick reminded everyone that "it's about the youth" and encouraged attendees to come up with uniquely creative strategies that keep that focus. 

 

After each of the middle school principals presented a “dream objective” for their school, the nonprofits shared their own missions in a "speed dating" format.  Armed with biographical sketches on all participating organizations and information from the speed dating, the principals and nonprofit executive directors were encouraged to build teams with a minimum of four partners over the next two weeks leaving them a month to develop their concept in a letter of interest, due February 25.

 

Benjamin Banneker Middle School Principal, Dr. Otis Lee, presented the needs of the students in an acronym for TeamUp:  

            T = Transformational leadership for teachers and students,

            E = Expressions of creativity and talent,  

            A = Action, not verbiage and talk,  

            M=Making a difference for children,

            U= Understanding the needs of youth, 

            P= Producing results for families in need.

 

APPLICATIONS TO THE CATALOGUE FOR PHILANTHROPY: GREATER WASHINGTON

ARE NOW OPEN!

Being part of the Catalogue network means you will be recognized as "one of the best" high-impact, community-based nonprofits in the region - something that means so much to supporters, both existing and new. The Catalogue's track record shows that when nonprofits engage in a committed partnership with CFP, they receive both financial and other returns. (The Catalogue has helped raise over $30 million since 2003 for its network of over 300 charities.) Applications are due by 11:59 pm on Sunday, February 28th.  Learn more.

 

TEAMUP ARTABILITY STUDENT WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER APPRECIATIVE

October 17, 2015-- Grant Blasko, a three-year veteran of the ArtAbility drama, music, movement and visual arts program, expressed his gratitude for the program to a crowd gathered at the ArtAbility Gala October 17, 2015, saying, in part, "Do you know how many times I’ve been in a leadership role in my life? Yes, I can probably shock everyone here by saying, not often. This staff made my dream happen." ArtAbility is funded by the Trawick Foundation. 

 

Watch the full video. Read a transcript of his remarks. 

 

TRAWICK FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES  $300,000 IN TEAMUP GRANT AWARDS TO TWO MONTGOMERY COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAMS

 

  Nonprofits Partner with Montgomery County Middle Schools

July 23, 2015--The Trawick Foundation is pleased to announce $300,000 in grant awards to fund two projects serving Montgomery County middle school students. GMStrong! will provide a comprehensive in and after school program to positively impact the health and well-being of all Gaithersburg Middle School students. Wellness for Success will combine the experiential learning of food gardening with academic enrichment, healthy eating and physical fitness for a corps of students at Francis Scott Key Middle School.

 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness of Montgomery County [NAMI MC] is the GMStrong!  lead organization with partners Project Change, Retouch International Ministries, and Gaithersburg Middle School.  The project seeks to increase connectedness and resiliency and tackle issues of mental health and the repercussions of poverty among their students.

 

 Montgomery Victory Gardens leads Wellness for Success, partnering with Big Learning, YMCA Youth and Family Services, and Francis Scott Key Middle School.  The project combines three distinct, yet related disciplines (science and math, physical education and food gardening) to promote students physical and social emotional health that can help foster success in school.

 

“It is our middle school principals who know the most pressing needs of their students.  Linking the in and out of school time programs to address these needs in an integrated, holistic manner makes sense.  This is an exciting development for TeamUp,” said Carol Trawick, President. 

 

The TeamUp grant program encourages nonprofits to work in partnership in order to maximize the utilization of their resources and to employ best business practices.   The participating nonprofits and schools were required to attend a briefing session, seminars on budget development and outcomes, and meetings with a Foundation consultant to develop and enhance their collaborative process.  Further consulting support will be given to the GM Strong! and Wellness for Success team members to assure adequate program evaluation.  

 

 

YOUTH IN TRANSITION FULL CIRCLE BROTHERHOOD CLOSING CEREMONY PHOTO GALLERY [June 2015]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEAMUP PROJECT WINS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

May 17, 2015-- Foundation President Carol Trawick attended a TeamUp ArtAbility Spring Family Day Workshop at Glen Echo Park on May 17, 2015.  The TeamUp project serves middle-school youth on the autism spectrum. 

 

“It is inspiring to see the students and family members so thoroughly engaged in the drama and movement activities,” said Ms. Trawick.  She congratulated the ArtAbility TeamUp partners for recognition by BroadwayWorld.com, a website that provides national arts coverage. To see the article, click here. 

 

ArtAbility TeamUp partners include Imagination Stage, Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture, Ivymount School and The Puppet Co. The ArtAbility Spring Family Series featured performances and experiences at each of the four partner organizations which was a prelude to the three week, full day Summer program. The program will culminate in an original performance created by the students with guidance from their teaching artists on July 2, 2015 at Glen Echo Park.

 

MD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS HONORED

April 28, 2015— Trawick Foundation President Carol Trawick accepted a National Planning Achievement Award for Economic Planning and Development on behalf of the Maryland State Arts Council [MSAC] April 20, 2015. MSAC administers the state’s Arts and Entertainment [A&E] districts which have attracted artists, art patrons, and entrepreneurs to the state. The A&E districts have generated thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenues since the program’s inception in 2001. The national award was presented to MSAC Chair Carol Trawick by the American Planning Association.   

 

The economic and community-building success of the A&E districts program has become a model for other states. Three of the state’s A&E districts are in Montgomery County: Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.

 

 Maryland was the first state to implement the program and, under the direction of the MSAC, worked with legislators to provide three incentives to attract artists and entrepreneurs to the districts: a property tax credit for renovation or new construction of A&E enterprises, an abatement of the Admissions and Amusement Tax for A&E enterprises, and an income tax subtraction for income derived from the sale of art by qualified residing artists.

 

The most recent statistics on the economic impact of the Art & Entertainment districts includes:

 

--A&E Districts’ operations supported an estimated 5,144 direct and indirect jobs.

--More than $458.2 million in total state GDP were supported by the A&E districts.

--Nearly $149.2 million in total wages were supported by the A&E districts.

--New businesses formed within A&E districts’ boundaries during FY13 generated nearly $4.2 million in tax revenues.

--The total tax revenue impact of the A&E districts came to approximately $36.3 million during the study period. [statistics provided by the Maryland State Arts Council]

 

DONORS ARE CONTRIBUTING BY CELLPHONE--NONPROFITS MUST BE READY

April 23, 2015—“Most donors want to use cellphones to contribute to their favorite charities. Montgomery County nonprofits urgently need to optimize their websites for mobile users,” said SPARK Experience President Jeff Rum, at a Digital Innovation Workshop for Nonprofits he hosted on April 15, 2015. He emphasized that website innovation and a crystal clear message are essential since mobile presence is most often the first exposure donors have to a nonprofit’s mission.

 

The seminar focused on website development and stressed that the nonprofit sector must “clear the clutter”, simplify donor access, and project a strong, credible organization with a well-crafted brand and mission statement to maximize impact on mobile phones. Rum’s company now utilizes a “Mobile First” web design strategy: mobile site design is prioritized and expanded upon in a traditional website.

 

Trawick Foundation President Carol Trawick, who attended the seminar, noted that Rum’s conclusions echo those drawn at a Trawick- sponsored seminar about online fundraising held last year.  For a summary of the Trawick Foundation Seminar, “Online Fundraising-Examined” click here.

 

AIR PARK THRILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS

April 9, 2015-- Rocket launching and flight simulation captivated nearly 30 middle school boys who visited Montgomery County Air Park April 9th, as participants of the Camp Wings Spring Break Aviation Camp.  Camp Wings partner Takin’ Off hosted the boys, providing multiple aviation-related experiences, such as climbing into planes and meeting pilots and maintenance crew, as well as up-close inspections of the fuel trucks and the hangars.

 

“There’s nothing like these hands-on experiences with flight to really generate enthusiasm for learning,” said Trawick Foundation President Carol Trawick, who attended the Camp Wings family day.

 

The Camp Wings program, a grantee of the Trawick Foundation, is a consortium of Class Acts Arts, Montgomery Housing Partnership, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center, Takin’ Off, and YBSE Pre-Flight, and provides out-of-school opportunities to explore flight in nature, aviation and space. 

 

PROFILE-RAISING OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS

March 24, 2015--The Olney Theater plans to support five local nonprofits during its 2015-16 programming season with free tickets, advertising space, and publicity. Each selected nonprofit will receive complementary theater tickets valued at $2500, and top billing during Olney’s community-wide July 25th open house. More than 5,000 people attend the open house annually. Olney will also provide program advertising space. 

 

“This could be excellent exposure for a Montgomery County nonprofit,” said Trawick Foundation President Carol Trawick. “I encourage anyone who is interested to contact Olney Theater ASAP!” she added. The theater tickets can be resold by the nonprofit or given to their donors, according to Olney Theater Artistic Director Jason Loewith. Interested Nonprofits should contact Wesley Meekins, wmeekins@olneytheatre.org.

 

WEBSITE BUILDERS EXAMINED FOR SMALL NONPROFITS

February 17, 2015—Small nonprofits sometimes struggle with financial limitations that constrain website development and messaging, according to recent Trawick Foundation survey results.  Now, today’s technological development is enabling small nonprofits to build professional websites at greatly reduced cost.

 

Relatively new web building service providers offer easy-to-use design and hosting at an affordable price. Two services were advertised during the Super Bowl in January. [Squarespace and Wix]  A synopsis of each and an analysis of their applicability for small business can be found at www.bizjournals.com.

 

Two highlights from the site referenced above follow:

If you're hiring a professional, you can stop here and defer to their best judgment. Trust your vendor of choice to select the best platform for your needs. Squarespace and Wix aren't the only games in town.[However,]if you're on your own, read on.

 

Both platforms are usable for novice users. Wix tends to provide a better documented system and easier to use documentation, but Squarespace provides live chat and tutorial videos that really shine. If you need the high-touch service, the nod goes to Squarespace.

 

FIRST "OPEN TABLE" ASSISTS NONPROFITS WITH BOARD DEVELOPMENT 

Feb. 5, 2015--Nonprofit executives benefitted from the board development expertise of Strathmore CEO Eliot Pfanstiehl at the first “Open Table” held February 5. The forum was established by the Trawick Foundation in response to the perceived need for ongoing support following a Board Development seminar the Foundation sponsored October 21, 2014. Mr. Pfanstiehl advised those present about the basics involved in recruiting and keeping board members who will provide leadership, fundraising and marketing assistance for their organizations.

 

The next “Open Table” will be held at 7:00 am, Friday, March 5, at Panera Bread on Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, exclusively for participants of the Trawick sponsored 2014 Board Development seminar.

 

NONPROFITS MAKE PROGRESS IN ONLINE FUNDRAISING, SURVEY CONCLUDES

Feb, 5, 2015-- Three fourths of respondents to a Trawick Foundation survey reported that they have reworked their organization’s messaging to make it brief, to the point, or more emotional as a result of what they learned at last year’s Foundation-sponsored seminar, “Online Fundraising: Examined.”  Nearly half of attendees participated in the survey, designed to measure the long-term impact of the seminar, held June 26, 2014.

 

Peer-to-peer networking was stressed at the seminar, and more than half of the survey respondents say they have connected with their peers to discuss online fundraising in the past six months.  Half also report using or investigating new platforms for online fundraising. Citing lacks of staff or financial resources, three quarters have not optimized their website for access by mobile devices, which was a primary finding presented at the seminar.

 

FLYING V NAMED OUTSTANDING EMERGING THEATER COMPANY BY HELEN HAYES AWARDS

          Jan. 27, 2015--Flying V will be given the John Aniello Award for Oustanding Emerging

          Theater Company by the Helen Hayes Awards on Monday, April 6, 2015.

 

          The award recognizes theater companies that are just getting started, yet have produced a promising

          body of noteworty and compelling work. Click here for the Flying V press release.

 

TRAWICK BUDGET PRACTICE AFFIRMED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: NONPROFITS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR INDIRECT COSTS

          Jan. 15, 2015--Excerpts from: http://philanthropy.com/article/Nonprofits-Win-Key-Victory- in/151177/

Last month, the federal Office of Management and Budget formally recognized in new rules called the Uniform Guidance that when governments hire nonprofits to provide services, those nonprofits legitimately need to incur and be paid for their "indirect costs"—which is government-speak for overhead and administrative expenses.

 

The new rules say that in general, nonprofits should receive at least 10 percent of the direct costs of their grant or contract to pay indirect costs. Organizations that follow new cost-allocation rules in the Uniform Guidance can negotiate to receive even more than 10 percent.

 

The regulations are already in effect, but the multiple levels and layers of government have not learned about or communicated the existence of the new rules, let alone provided consistent training programs, to employees scattered across these pass-through entities.

 

Nonprofits ... need to learn about and advocate for their rights (individually to enforce their rights and collectively to change state and local laws) and need enhanced accounting skills and systems to manage the financial management and reporting requirements.

 

To seize rather than squander this unique opportunity, nonprofit leadership groups must wage sustained campaigns in every state so organizations become aware of their new responsibilities and rights and then advocate for systemwide changes so state and local laws comply with the federal requirements.

 

To help nonprofits, we [The National Council of Nonprofits] recently published Know Your Rights … and How to Protect Them and posted a form on our website for nonprofits to share their experiences about what they are seeing under the Uniform Guidance—whether positive or negative—to identify trends quickly and build the evidence for approaches that work best and changes that need to be made.

 

THE TRAWICK FOUNDATION WELCOMES Lead4Life, Inc. AS A NEW CO-  

          OCCCUPANT

Jan. 1, 2015 --The Trawick Foundation welcomes Lead4Life as a new co-occupant. Lead4Life empowers individuals using strength-based initiatives to improve their quality of life. They promote empowerment through direct services, advocacy, and education to enhance the individual's ability to make healthy choices, allowing them to grow and become productive.

 

WATCH THE TRAWICK GRANTEE "COMMON GROUND" VIDEO ​ 

Youth participating in the third Common Ground summer program shared their personal  stories of immigration, or those of their parents or grandparents. The short documentary was fully produced by them. Click here to view it.