Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Gabe Albornoz and members of the Council joined nonprofit and faith leaders this week to announce 61 recipients received grants totaling $700,000 to improve security and deter hate crimes through the County’s Nonprofit Security Grants program.
The County Council approved $700,000 in May 2021 to be available in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget for nonprofit organizations and facilities that have experienced, or are at high risk of experiencing, hate crimes. The grants were made available to augment funds for security personnel or other security planning and training measures. Faith-based facilities at risk of hate crimes were also eligible to apply. The funds are administered by the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS).“Coming on the heels of the terrifying hostage-taking at a synagogue in Texas, recent vandalism at a mosque here in our community, and acts of violence against Asian-Americans across the country, these nonprofit security grants are further affirmation of Montgomery County’s unwavering support for our neighbors of every religion, race and ethnicity, and for those organizations who serve them,” said County Executive Elrich. “These grants demonstrate our steadfast commitment to protect basic human rights. Sadly, hatred, stirred further by dangerous rhetoric and conspiracy theories, continues to engender threats and acts of violence. These grants will provide nonprofit and faith organizations with additional resources to enhance the security of their facilities and the safety of our residents and neighbors.”
Council President Albornoz said: “In the wake of recent attacks of hate and domestic terrorism in communities across our country, we in Montgomery County are stepping up to help our partners who are at risk of violence. By providing additional funding to these organizations, we aim to help and protect them against targeted acts of hate and violence. Our diversity is our strength, and no one should be under attack based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. This is the Montgomery Way.”
Councilmember Andrew Friedson said: “Locally and nationally, we continue to see an alarming rise of abhorrent acts of hate, bigotry and violence, including recent events like the Congregation Beth Israel hostage situation in Colleyville, Texas, and the distribution of antisemitic fliers in the Forest Estates community of Silver Spring. In Montgomery County, we have a community of diverse residents who wish to practice our faiths and cultures freely. Schools and places of worship should be sanctuaries of peace and acceptance, not fear and violence. While we regret that this program is so needed at this time, I am proud to have worked with the Executive Branch and community partners to establish this grant program so we can provide added security for our residents.”
In addition to the grant funding, OEMHS and County Police continue to provide support to all organizations who indicate the need for assistance with security. The County provides classes, assessments and training specifically designed for nonprofit and faith-based facilities. OEMHS regularly offers a Securing Houses of Worship training for local religious facilities.
“These trainings help facilities evaluate and better secure their physical structures, develop plans for responding to threats and emergencies and better prepare to protect themselves and their communities,” said Marianne Sounders, acting director of OEMHS. “Everyone has a right to work, live and worship in safety and security and we are happy to do our part to help.”
Montgomery Police offer Civilian Response to Active Shooter (CRASE) trainings, as well as assistance with security assessments and drills.
For more information on upcoming Securing Houses of Worship trainings, contact OEMHS at emergency.management@montgomerycountymd.gov.
For information on CRASE trainings or facility assessment assistance, contact the Police Dppartment’s Community Engagement Division at MCPD_Engaged@Montgomerycountymd.gov.
To qualify for grant funding, applying facilities were required to be in Montgomery County and be nonprofit organizations or religious facilities experiencing threats or hate crimes or at significant risk of being targets of a hate crime as representatives of frequently targeted groups.
All grant awardees are IRS registered 501(c)3, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations in good standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation or religious organizations in good standing. Funds can only be used to provide security support for facilities located within the County. Organizations with more than one facility in the County were permitted to apply for grants separately for each physical location.
Facility |
Grant Award |
Alef Bet Montessori School |
$16,000.00 |
Alim Academy |
$16,000.00 |
Bender JCC of Greater Washington |
$16,000.00 |
Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah |
$16,000.00 |
Bethesda Jewish Congregation |
$13,392.00 |
B'nai Shalom of Olney |
$16,000.00 |
Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church |
$14,000.00 |
Bridge City Church |
$3,510.00 |
Chabad Lubavitch of Upper Montgomery County |
$8,000.00 |
Chabad of Bethesda |
$13,600.00 |
Chabad of Potomac Village |
$13,600.00 |
Chabad of Silver Spring |
$6,800.00 |
Chabad Shul of Potomac |
$13,600.00 |
Chinese Culture and Community Service Center |
$8,840.00 |
Chinese Culture and Community Service Center Academy |
$2,250.00 |
Colesville United Methodist Church |
$6,750.00 |
Congregation and Talmud Torah B’nai Israel of the Washington DC Metro Area |
$13,600.00 |
Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County |
$16,000.00 |
Congregation B'nai Tzedek |
$16,000.00 |
Congregation Har Tzeon-Agudath Achim |
$8,000.00 |
Ezras Israel Congregation of Rockville |
$13,600.00 |
Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park |
$4,488.00 |
Hebrew Home of Greater Washington |
$13,600.00 |
HIAS |
$3,400.00 |
Islamic Center of Maryland |
$16,000.00 |
Islamic Education Center |
$16,000.00 |
Islamic Society of Germantown |
$3,400.00 |
Jewish Residents of Leisure World |
$5,850.24 |
Kehila Chadasha |
$2,550.00 |
Kehilat Pardes -- The Rock Creek Synagogue |
$13,600.00 |
Kol Shalom |
$15,206.40 |
Kunzang Odsal Palyul Changchub Choling_The World Prayer Center |
$8,800.00 |
Magen David Sephardic Congregation |
$13,600.00 |
Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy |
$13,600.00 |
Menare Foundation |
$10,000.00 |
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless |
$4,500.00 |
Montgomery County Muslim Foundation |
$7,280.00 |
Muslim Community Center |
$16,000.00 |
Ohr Kodesh Congregation |
$16,000.00 |
Orthodox Congregation of Silver Spring |
$14,000.00 |
Shaare Torah |
$13,600.00 |
Southwest Hebrew Congregation |
$9,000.00 |
Temple Beth Ami |
$16,000.00 |
Temple Emanuel |
$13,600.00 |
Temple Shalom |
$3,519.00 |
The Charles E Smith Jewish Day School of Greater Washington - Lower School |
$16,000.00 |
The Charles E Smith Jewish Day School of Greater Washington - Upper School |
$16,000.00 |
The Ivymount School |
$1,350.00 |
The Kemp Mill Synagogue |
$13,600.00 |
Tikvat Israel Congregation |
$13,840.00 |
Torah School of Greater Washington |
$16,000.00 |
US International Development Center |
$9,000.00 |
US Zen Institute |
$16,000.00 |
Woodside Synagogue Ahavat Torah |
$6,500.36 |
Yeshiva of Greater Washington - Boys High School |
$13,600.00 |
Yeshiva of Greater Washington - Boys Middle School |
$13,600.00 |
Yeshiva of Greater Washington - Girls School |
$13,600.00 |
Young Israel of Potomac |
$7,174.00 |
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah |
$16,000.00 |
Young Israel Shomrai Emunah Nursery School |
$13,600.00 |
Zion Baptist Church North Site |
$9,000.00 |