Community Bridges Receives Grant from Walmart Foundation

The Walmart Foundation’s Maryland State Giving Council has awarded a $35,000 grant to Community Bridges, Incorporated, a Montgomery County-based non-profit organization that empowers girls from diverse backgrounds attending Montgomery County Public Schools to become exceptional students, positive leaders, and healthy young women.

“At Walmart, we understand that non-profit organizations like Community Bridges are absolutely essential in building stronger communities in Montgomery County and throughout Maryland,” says Nina Albert, Director, Community Affairs, for Walmart. “We are proud to give back to the communities we serve and confident this grant will help Community Bridges in its ongoing efforts to help girls throughout Montgomery County succeed in school and throughout their lives.”

Founded in 1997, Community Bridges believes that every girl has the potential to succeed if provided with the resources and exposure to opportunities within her reach. Through a variety of programs, the organization supports low-income, immigrant, and/or minority girls from fourth grade through high school and their families, providing them with access to the experiences, opportunities, people, and ideas that will help them to be successful in their lives. 

“By bridging schools, communities, families, and non-profits together, we support each girl in achieving her goals,” explains Community Bridges Executive Director Cynthia L. James.

According to James, Walmart’s grant will be the foundational gift for Community Bridges’ new “Sponsor-A-Girl” program. To be formally launched this fall, Sponsor-A-Girl allows area organizations to provide the financial support that will enable girls from low-income or immigrant backgrounds to participate in the Community Bridges program.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Walmart Foundation and hope other area organizations will follow their lead by sponsoring local girls so that all girls in our participating schools have an opportunity to take part in the Community Bridges program,” says James.

The Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program supports organizations like Community Bridges that create opportunities so people can live better, awarding grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

To be considered for support, perspective grantee organizations must submit applications through the Walmart Foundation Maryland State Giving Program's online grant application. Applicants must have a current 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in order to meet the program's minimum eligibility criteria. Additional information about the program’s funding guidelines and application process are available online at www.walmartfoundation.org/stategiving.