Suzanne Giacalone came to Hearts & Homes today on behalf of Brandeis National Committee with a large donation of household items. The donation is greatly appreciated as we are always in need of household items for the youth who come through our doors.

Brandeis National Committee is dedicated to providing philanthropic support to Brandeis University, a distinguished liberal arts and research university founded by the American Jewish community. Its membership is connected to the university through fundraising and through activities that reflect the values on which the university was founded: academic excellence, social justice, nonsectarianism and service to the community.

History of Brandeis National Committee

Founded in 1948, Brandeis is the first Jewish sponsored, nonsectarian university in the United States. Brandeis reached the pinnacle of American higher education by earning Phi Beta Kappa recognition for 13 years, the youngest university to be honored in this manner since the 18th century.

The life of the mind is central to this institution. As a small, vigorous research university, Brandeis combines the education and teaching normally found at small selective colleges with superb facilities and renowned faculty usually found on the at the largest research universities.

As one of the youngest and smallest of the research universities, it has a remarkable record of accomplishment. The Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center’s interdisciplinary approach to combating diseases has greatly expanded the scope of leukemia research, pinpointed an on/off switch in diphtheria and rendered more effective mammography machines. Research in the Volen Center’s Memory and Cognition Lab focuses on how memory and mental processes change across the adult lifespan. The Hadassah-Brandeis Institute develops fresh ways of thinking about Jews and gender worldwide by producing and promoting scholarly research, artistic projects and public engagement.

Our Greater Washington Chapter is one of 1 00 chapters across the continental United States and Hawaii. Through fundraising ventures, we share the common goal of encouraging the growth of Brandeis and its libraries in addition to the Science for Life Center. Our strong leadership and membership, with close to 800 members, enable us to be a highly successful chapter of the Brandeis National Committee. This year, our chapter specifically is prioritizing fundraising for research on neurodegenerative diseases.

Food Lion donated a gift certificate to Hearts & Homes for Youth on Wednesday afternoon at the Robert Oliver Place Food Lion in Columbia, MD. The donation came after community relations director Caitlin Buckley submitted a  request for support at the store.

The managers and employees at Robert Oliver Place Food Lion were glad to support Hearts & Homes for Youth and build another partnership in the community.

Food Lion strives to be a good neighbor and responsible corporate citizen in the communities it serves. An example of their dedication to community welfare is the “Groceries for Good” campaign Food Lion is holding through March 17. Through the campaign, when customers use their MVP card to buy five participating items, Food Lion will help provide five meals to local food banks.

Over 800 specially marked participating products in the “Groceries for Good” campaign are available for customers to buy and 100 percent of the donations benefit Feeding America. Feeding America is the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States.

Food lion aims to provide 500 million meals by the end of 2020 to help solve the issue of hunger that affects many  people; so far Food Lion has donated nearly 600 million meals through in-store campaigns like “Groceries for Good,” through its food donation program, and through volunteerism.

Hearts & Homes is grateful to Most Valuable Kids (MVK) for giving our youth tickets for various games! Recently, the Hearts & Homes youth at Kemp Mill Group Home for Boys enjoyed a Georgetown basketball game!

Hearts & Homes depends on generosity from the community to provide boys and girls with unique recreational activities and outings that support their growth and development.

MVK is an organization with locations across the country that offers children’s organizations access to professional and collegiate sports and entertainment events through an online ticket donation and reward system. MVK believe that sports and entertainment provide a positive source of inspiration for children in a world where there are many negative alternatives.

In early December 2014, the QED Group, LLC  provided a grant of $9,000 to Hearts and Homes for Youth through the QED Foundation as part of their long-term commitment to community engagement. Hearts & Homes is one of three non-profits in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area that QED identified as a long-term partner in its charitable giving approach that is focused on support locally.

QED President and CEO Jeffrey Singer said, “we share many of the same values and approaches as Hearts & Homes for Youth, such as poverty alleviation and improved health services. Through our partnership with Hearts & Homes, QED is able to strengthen our ties and increase our impact with the local community.”

Hearts & Homes is greatly appreciative of the committed support from QED. Since 2008, the company has provided Hearts & Homes with generous donations on an annual basis. In addition, over the past few years, QED has donated a number of computers, laptops, and printers for Hearts & Homes youth, which they have used to print resumes, do homework, familiarize themselves with technology, and develop technical skills. QED employees have also volunteered their time and turned out at some of Hearts & Homes’ events to support the youth.

“We are so fortunate to have the support of this well-respected, international consulting firm that shares our community values,” said Caitlin Buckley, Hearts & Homes’ Director of Community Relations. “We look forward to continuing and enriching this partnership with the QED Group, LLC.”

Hair Cuttery has a long history of charitable giving, with Hearts & Homes and other local and national causes. Once a year, Hair Cuttery launches the Share a Haircut campaign to benefit the underprivileged. For every haircut purchased on February 2nd or 3rd, a free haircut certificated was donated to a homeless or underprivileged member of the community through local social services organization.

In 2014, thanks to everyone who came out for the Share-a-Haircut event at Hair Cuttery, 200 hairstyle certificates were donated to Hearts & Homes. This year,  Hair Cuttery sent 300 hairstyle certificates for Hearts & Homes youth!

Often the boys and girls at Hearts & Homes ask if they can get their hair cut or styled by professionals. Thanks to Hair Cuttery, all of the children and youth in Hearts & Homes programs will get a fresh look to bring to school or work! Nothing builds confidence more than feeling good about your appearance.

Hearts & Homes appreciates the support from members of the community who came out to share a haircut with Hearts & Homes youth. Hearts & Homes also appreciates Hair Cuttery for continuing to give back to the communities they serve.

Aronson LLC, an accounting and consulting firm based in the Washington, DC metro area, recently raised more than $6,000 for Hearts & Homes. Aronson employees selected Hearts & Homes to be the beneficiary of the proceeds of the firm’s Annual Silent Auction and Early Bird Gift Sale, which featured items donated or made by Aronson partners and staff.

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