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A Letter From Our Founder
Dear Friends,
As I sit down to reflect on the past few months, my heart is overflowing with gratitude. This summer reminded me once again why Empower4Life exists and how deeply your support impacts children and families in our community.
We saw pure joy in the faces of the kids who joined us at Camp Quest’s first overnight camp. These were children who might not otherwise have had the chance to experience the simple, yet powerful, gift of play, friendship, and belonging. We teed off together at our golf outing, where laughter and generosity carried across the course. And just a few weeks ago, we walked alongside families preparing for the new school year making sure their children had clothes that fit, backpacks that will last, and the confidence to step into their classrooms ready to thrive.
None of this happens without you. Your giving, your showing up, your belief in our mission…this is what makes the difference.
And now, as we head into fall, we are preparing for our biggest night of the year, our Annual Little Kids, Big Dreams Gala on October 16th. It’s more than just a fundraiser; it’s a celebration of ten years of walking this journey together, of seeing transformation unfold, and of leaning into the hope that every child deserves. I hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a powerful evening or consider supporting in other ways through volunteering your time, donating a service or gift for our silent auction, or becoming a sponsor.
This summer, we reached an incredible milestone: our very first overnight Camp Quest! Thanks to the generosity of our supporters and the dedication of volunteers and staff, 20 amazing kids experienced four days filled with resilience, perseverance, gratitude, and pure joy.
For many, it was a week of firsts… swimming lessons, canoeing, goat yoga, tie-dye, campfires, and even glow dance parties. More importantly, it was a chance for our campers to simply be kids: laughing, playing, building friendships, and cheering each other on. One of the most unforgettable moments was hearing the entire camp erupt in cheers as a camper who couldn’t swim bravely retook the swim test and PASSED!
One volunteer shared:
“Camp was only Sunday to Wednesday… and it cracked my heart wide open. In just a few short days, I watched kids who have every reason to keep their guard up let it down. I watched them laugh from their bellies, splash in the pool (some for the first time), dance with glow sticks, braid each other’s hair, whisper secrets over s’mores, and run to us with messy hands and giant smiles like we’d known them forever. What a sacred thing, being trusted by a child who’s been through more than most adults ever will.”
That trust, those smiles, and those breakthroughs are what made Camp Quest 2025 truly life-changing not only for the kids, but for every volunteer and staff member who witnessed their courage and joy.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who made this dream a reality. Your support helped us create memories that will stay with these children for a lifetime and reminded each of them that they are capable, valued, and loved.
Back-to-School 2025: 137 Kids Ready to Shine!
Our 2025 Back-to-School Project is officially in the books and what a success it was! Thanks to the generosity of our donors, supply drive coordinators, hardworking volunteers, and delivery drivers, we provided 137 children experiencing homelessness with a brand-new backpack filled with supplies and a first-day outfit to start the school year with confidence. We also stocked our partner shelters (and even a few local low-income schools) with extra backpacks and supplies.
A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible groups who made this possible, and a special shoutout to Ashley Fallon & Amanda Shields for leading the way. Together, we’re making sure every child has the tools to learn, grow, and shine!
A Grateful Parent Shares…
“I truly can’t say enough about how thankful I am for the support we’ve received as we got ready for back-to-school. Thanks to your help, both of my children were able to attend Sneak-A-Peek feeling excited and confident — equipped with new shoes that fit, sturdy backpacks and lunchboxes, and even a special first-day outfit. These are things I never could have provided on my own, and it brought me to tears. My oldest, who had been feeling anxious about returning, is now looking forward to the school year. The kindness shown to our family — from the school staff to your team — has been overwhelming in the best way. Even my youngest said, ‘Wow… someone really cares about us!’”
Staff Spotlight: Heather Radebaugh
Heather not only serves as one of our lead educators at our partner shelters, but she has been a part of the organization for MANY years. This year she took her engagement to a whole new level! She was heavily involved in our summer camp planning and execution, doing everything from meeting with families to complete paperwork, placing countless phone calls to obtain information, calling doctors offices to try to understand complex medical issues, and even rallying a group of volunteers from Calvert Hall to help make our inaugural overnight camp the most enjoyable experience for our 20 campers! She stayed overnight, working camp the ENTIRE time--from setup to break down. Everything Heather does, she does it with the most genuine love and compassion one can muster up. Words cannot express how much she has brought to the organization and the impact she has had on the children that we support.
Volunteer Opportunities
We’re always looking for passionate volunteers to help make a difference! Here are some upcoming opportunities:
Gala: Day before and day of support needed (10/15 & 10/16) for our event.
Thanksgiving Meal Mission: Be on the lookout at the end of October for volunteer opportunities to prepare and/or deliver for our Thanksgiving meal mission!
Holiday Project 2025: Mark your calendars for 12/20. More details to come!
General Volunteering: Have a group interested in volunteering? Email Ashley at ashley@empower4lifemd.org for more information. We’d love to have you on board!
Be part of one of our biggest annual fundraisers and help us support our programs for children experiencing homelessness across Baltimore, Cecil, and Harford Counties.
When: Thurs. Oct. 16, 2025
Where: Boumi Temple, Rosedale, MD
Ticket sales close on Sep. 25th!
Can't make it? There are plenty of ways to get involved. You can bid in our online silent auction, sign up to volunteer, or make a donation to Fund the Mission. Every action makes a difference and we’d love for you to celebrate with us in spirit!
Each year, we work to provide homeless children in Baltimore, Cecil, & Harford County shelters with a holiday they'll remember.
You’ll have the chance to sponsor a child by shopping for a gift for them and/or volunteer to help pack and deliver the gifts (our wrapping party is one of the best volunteer events!). It’s a rewarding way to make a direct impact in a child’s life—more details coming soon!
Glam Giveaway for a Cause!
We’ve partnered with some incredible local businesses to bring you the ultimate beauty package and the best part is, every entry helps support Empower4Life’s mission!
One lucky winner will receive this full glam experience to help them feel absolutely flawless like they deserve!(You could use it for the gala if you are going!)
Like & share the giveaway post on IG (will be posted on Sep 4th!)
Tag 3 friends in the comments
Bonus entries for gala tickets or donations! - just send a screenshot of your purchase confirmation or donation confirmation to our giveaway director, Genna, at @genn_andsnap
Giveaway closes on September 24th and winner announced September 25!
Teeing Up for Impact: 2025 Golf Tournament Raises $39,106
Our 2025 Empower4Life Charity Golf Tournament was a huge success! Thanks to the incredible support of our golfers, sponsors, and volunteers, we raised $39,106 to benefit children experiencing homelessness in Baltimore and Harford. The day was filled with fun on the course, great food and drinks, exciting contests, and plenty of community spirit. These funds will go directly toward Empower4Life programs that provide critical resources, life skills, and wellness education to the youth we serve. Check a video of the event below!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for taking the time to celebrate these moments with us. Your presence, whether through reading, sharing, giving, or showing up, fuels everything we do. Together, we are not just meeting needs; we are creating experiences, lifting burdens, and planting seeds of hope for children and families who need it most. As we look toward our gala and the season ahead, we’re grateful to have you walking this path with us.
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