Governor Moore Announces $1.5 Million in Philanthropic Awards to Bolster Education and Child Care in Maryland Communities

Governor Wes Moore has announced the allocation of $1.5 million in philanthropic funding to enhance educational opportunities and child care accessibility within nine Maryland communities designated as ENOUGH communities. These areas are characterized by a significant concentration of childhood poverty. The funding originates from the ENOUGH Community Support Fund, a private initiative established to channel philanthropic contributions directly to Maryland’s ENOUGH award recipients. This fund receives support from The Sherman Family Foundation, The Bainum Family Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and The Rockefeller Foundation, all of which are members of the ENOUGH Alliance. The ENOUGH Alliance is an independent coalition comprising philanthropic and private sector organizations dedicated to supporting the current administration’s comprehensive strategy to combat child poverty.

The awards are intended to support the launch and ongoing operation of programs aimed at strengthening education and child care services. Initiatives funded by these grants will focus on critical areas such as reducing chronic absenteeism through the provision of safe transportation to school, implementing after-school programs designed to improve literacy rates, and expanding access to child care facilities. This recent disbursement represents a portion of the broader $19 million in state and private funding initially announced in December 2025 for the second year of Maryland’s ENOUGH Initiative. The Governor’s Office for Children plays a role in informing potential funders about areas where their contributions can have the greatest impact, working to align investments with the state’s ongoing efforts to support ENOUGH-eligible jurisdictions.

The impact of these grants is expected to be felt across several communities. In Hagerstown, funds will be utilized to acquire school buses, which are anticipated to serve up to 150 elementary school students. In Waverly, Baltimore City, the funding will facilitate an increase in enrollment for the Childcare Apprenticeship Program at Mergenthaler High School. This expansion will allow an additional ten students to participate in a year-long apprenticeship, training them to become credentialed child care providers. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn Park, Anne Arundel County, the awards will support a “two-generation” case management program. This program aims to provide both child care subsidies and financial incentives to families, while also focusing on recruiting and preparing local residents to become licensed family child care providers, thereby increasing the availability of these services within the community.

A comprehensive list of the organizations receiving these funds includes Latin America Youth Center / Project ERASE, Park Heights Renaissance, Bester Community of Hope San Mar (South End) Hagerstown, Cherry Hill Strong, Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families, The Y in Central MD, Central Baltimore Partnership, Child First Authority, and Elev8 Baltimore. These organizations are integral to the ENOUGH Initiative’s mission, which, since its inception in January 2025, has seen ENOUGH Alliance members commit to providing aligned funding to nonprofit organizations in eligible jurisdictions or contributing directly to the ENOUGH Community Support Fund. This fund, in turn, directs resources to communities participating in the ENOUGH Initiative to address its core objectives: high-quality child care and education, healthy and economically secure families, and safe and thriving communities. The current awards mark the first distribution of ECSF funds to ENOUGH grantees.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from The Office of Governor Wes Moore

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