Maryland Association of Social Services Boards Foundation
Impact
Lifting Lives Award & More
Lifting Lives Award
2024 Lifting Lives Awards Winners!
First Place
$1,000 - Caroline County
"Community Assistance Program"
In 2014, the Caroline County Department of Social Services' Advisory Board established the Community Assistance Program to provide essential resources to individuals and families facing financial hardship. By targeting those who are underserved by federal and state assistance programs, we aim to empower community members to achieve self-sufficiency and enhance their overall quality of life. Since its inception, the program has successfully supported approximately 178 adults and 245 children.
Second Place
$750 - Allegany County
"Safe and Snug Program"
Third Place (Tie)
$750 - Calvert County
"Kids Closet"
The Allegany County Department of Social Services (ACDSS) has successfully organized the Safe and Snug Program for the past 24 years. This longstanding initiative, in collaboration with local area business is community-wide collection drive aimed at providing essential winter clothing, including new coats, jackets, sweatshirts, gloves, hats, and scarves to children in Allegany County. The program was specifically designed to benefit children and youth enrolled in the Allegany County Public School system and Head Start. Since inception, the Safe and Snug Program has made a significant community impact by distributing over 400 brand-new coats to students across Head Start, elementary, middle, and high schools in Allegany County annually.
The Calvert County Foster Parents Association's KIDS CLOSET is a vital resource for both resource parents and children entering foster care. Serving as a central hub for essential items, the closet provides newly placed children with the opportunity to choose clothing and other necessities to help them feel comfortable and settled in their new resource home. Furthermore, it acts as a lifeline for resource parents facing urgent needs, offering readily available items like car seats, diapers, and pack-and-plays – crucial supplies that might otherwise require a frantic last-minute search. By alleviating the burden of procuring these essential items, the KIDS CLOSET not only supports resource parents but also frees up valuable time for DSS staff, who no longer need to scramble to find emergency supplies for children in care. This initiative, established with an investment of approximately $4000, has proven its worth and serves as a model for other counties seeking to create a supportive and streamlined system for foster children and their caregivers. The KIDS CLOSET stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and community support, ensuring that children entering care are met with comfort, care, and a sense of belonging.
Third Place (Tie)
$750 - Anne Arundel County
"Community Outreach Program"
The Community Outreach Program, initiated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services in 2018, has significantly impacted families across Northern, Western, and Southern Anne Arundel County. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, we served over 1,200 families through the Brooklyn Park Library, Lula G. Scott Center, Edgewater, Deale, and Annapolis Libraries. Our dedicated team comprises two social workers and two Family Investment Workers who collaboratively address the diverse needs of these families. We have further expanded our reach by partnering with community organizations and the Department of Aging and Disabilities, enhancing our service delivery throughout the community. Recently, we expanded services to the Severn Center and Riviera Branch Library.
Recipient of
fun and excitement
With the generous support of the MASSB Foundation, a group of young students were able to attend camp this summer. We are truly grateful to the Foundation for enriching the lives of these children and our community.
Clothing Recipient
"This clothing grant has been AMAZING! Being able to shop for clothing has been such a tremendous gift to these families and it helps the young students be prepared to learn."
Recipient of
dental aid
“The MASSB Foundation helped my son be able to get the dental work he desperately needed to remove teeth that were causing him an immense amount of pain. They were there when every other person and agency turned us away and could not help. I will be forever grateful for their help in my son’s time of need.”