Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County

Our community is raising money to benefit Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County, and any donation will help make an impact. On Saturday, October 5, 2024, volunteers will come dressed up like Witches, Warlocks or whatever they fancy and hop on their Stand Up Paddle Boards or Kayaks and ride parade style across Lake Linganore!

 Thanks in advance for your contribution to this awesome non-profit that does so much good for the community. The experience of homelessness inhibits the physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and behavioral development of children. By the time homeless children reach school age, their homelessness affects their social, physical, and academic lives. Homeless children are not simply at risk; most suffer specific physical, psychological, and emotional damage due to the circumstances that accompany episodes of homelessness. The Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership builds capacity in students to reduce housing insecurity, homelessness, and their impact by breaking the systemic barriers facing Frederick County youth.

Your donation does a lot of good! $40- A child receives a new pair of shoes; $50- A child will receive a new outfit for school; $75- A child will receive necessary technology to be successful in the classroom throughout the academic year; $200- A child will receive a full month of safety and security in one of SHIPs Thrive Host Homes.

 All funds go directly to SHIP. This event will raise money to benefit Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County, and any donation will help make an impact. More information about Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County: Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County provides urgent resources and critical services to the hundreds of Frederick County youth experiencing homelessness each year.

Why Donate to SHIP of Frederick County?

Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County provides urgent resources and critical services to the hundreds of Frederick County youth experiencing homelessness each year. The non-profit has been a reliable and respected partner of Frederick County Public Schools and the Frederick County community since 2014 in helping school children in our community through the complexities of homelessness.

Mission Statement:

SHIP of Frederick County believes in the power and positive impact of education that will alter the trajectory of a life. Operating at the intersection of education and homelessness, SHIP works to reduce barriers to academic attainment for youth experiencing homelessness by connecting them to community, resources, and youth-centric programming, while advocating for equality in the systems that serve young people.

With your support, we can help to solve for the following:

1.) Providing basic essentials (e.g. access to food, clothing and safety).

2.) Student mental health and safety, particularly for those who are unaccompanied.

3.) Reducing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences in your county

Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Adverse Childhood Experiences have been linked to

– risky health behaviors
– chronic health conditions
– low life potential, and early death.

As the number of ACEs increase in a child’s life, so do the risk for these outcomes.

SHIP is working to help alleviate the impact of poverty and homeless upon our local students.

Please consider a donation to provide a positive ripple effect on your community. No amount is too small.



A bit about donations:

100% of all proceeds go to SHIP of Frederick County.  All trip costs are funded out of my own pocket, donations to this page go directly to SHIP and are tax deductible.

Do you ride yourself? Donations of $300 or more will be rewarded with a complementary Basic Tune-Up at ReCycles Bikes in Frederick, as well as a logo water bottle.




About Matt's tours:

I always had a pipe dream of crossing the US ocean to ocean by bike. After years of mental preparation I set off just after college on May 1st, 2017 from Rehoboth Beach, DE. 46 days and a lifetime of memories later, I rolled onto Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, CA. I fell in love with traveling that summer and knew it would become a regular part of my life.

I've since completed trips in Japan, Korea, New Zealand and Mexico

Next trip is July 2022, I'm excited to have two of my brothers Nick and Brandon joining me for a ride around the ring road in Iceland.

Each tour has been different and presented new challenges.  Daily (or almost daily) updates will be posted to the Facebook page below. I'm excited to be partnering with SHIP and utilizing these trips to raise funds for a great local cause.

https://www.facebook.com/Mattbikestheworld

Thanks for your support!

Together We Rise. Help Raise Money for Our Students in Need.
I will attempt to ride a bicycle repeatedly up one hill, without sleep, in a single activity, until I climb 29,029ft (the equivalent height of Mt Everest) to raise money for the Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County. 

I invite you to join me by donating to this cause. Due to Maryland’s executive order on social distancing and limiting large gatherings, the event date and climb location will not be announced because this is a solo effort. However, the effort will take place before June 15, 2020 on a climb that is about 0.98 mile with an average gradient of 13%. 100% of the funds will go to SHIP to tackle the challenges brought on by COVID-19, and its impact on the growing number of students and their families affected in the Frederick County community. You are welcome to donate a total amount to my ride effort, or you can commit to a dollar amount for every lap I complete. Post-ride, I'll send all donors a ride report so you know how much your contribution helped my effort —and collectively, the total funds raised that will impact students. ZERO percent of your money donated will go to my preparation for, or the act of Everesting. I'll take care of the muscle soreness, coffee, carbs, and gels so that we can give all for the kids. Everything we raise is 100% for the kids. 


Your Impact on Student Needs: Safety, Wellness and Hope 
On February 28, 2020 there were 919 Frederick County Public School (FCPS) students identified by Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) as having experienced homelessness during this school year. This number has grown exponentially since school closures on March 13, 2020. Over the last 10 weeks, SHIP has been working in partnership with school-based personnel to provide basic needs for students by harnessing school counselors, psychologists, social workers, and community liaisons to conduct outreach to check on student wellness and identify needs. Given the impact of COVID-19, SHIP needs resources and funding to meet the needs of the growing number of students affected in the Frederick County community. With your support, we can help to solve for the following:
1. Student mental health and safety, particularly for those who are unaccompanied.
2. Having basic essentials is a major concern (e.g. access to food, supplies, money, and safety). Due to school closures, there is uncertainty as to where children will receive regular nutrition. 
3. Parents are out of work and are worried about being able to pay for rent and other necessities, causing stress among families.
4. Safety is a concern because homeless students and those living in homes with domestic violence are particularly at risk. 
5. Many students relied on schools and school counselors for emotional support. People have lost regular contact with others due to the quarantine and loss of work. This event is inflicting trauma at a societal level.

Why Donate to SHIP of Frederick County?
Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) of Frederick County provides urgent resources and critical services to the hundreds of Frederick County youth experiencing homelessness each year. The non-profit has been a reliable and respected partner of Frederick County Public Schools  and the Frederick County community since 2014 in helping the school children in our community through the complexities of poverty and homelessness. “The impact of poverty on academic achievement is well documented, and school systems across the nation grapple with this issue. One of the most dire circumstances related to poverty is the possibility of homelessness, which can create an even more devastating impact for students. The challenge of poverty and homelessness is not something a school system can resolve alone. In Frederick County, it is so reassuring to have an organization like SHIP that stands ready to offer support and solutions for our students and families.” --Theresa R. Alban // Ph.D. Superintendent // Frederick County Public Schools

About Sean’s Decision to Raise $$$ for the Students of Frederick County.
I used to be a teacher (9th grade, Social Studies) and I currently work in education at Teach For America. I believe that the health and wealth of any community is reflected in the collective wellbeing and achievement of your youth, regardless of their zip-code. I was hoping to participate in the Maryland Endurance Challenge (May 2020) to help with the above cause because it aligned with my desire to help students in our community. But then COVID-19 struck and it was cancelled. Additionally, our students in low income communities are being disproportionately affected by COVD-19. Given social distancing executive orders, I considered how I can use my talents and skills to help alleviate some challenges faced by our most affected students. Though we aren't allowed to volunteer in public settings, I figured that I can still ride alone, yet raise money for a cause. Since the cancellation of the Maryland Endurance Challenge, my training volume may have dropped but the spirit to make an impact for students is motivation enough to dig into the climbing pain cave again and and attempt to Everest (even if ill-prepared).* Given my time to prepare for the 24hr climbing event is brief (3-4 weeks), I'll be testing out some unconventional preparation strategies ranging from intermittent fasting, cutting out caffeine and sugar until the day of the attempt, engaging in lots of core strength work, reducing beer consumption, experimenting with modifications to my equipment, and subjecting myself to frequent-multi-60 min rides daily (to build endurance since I don't have time for prolonged training rides given home schooling, family, and work responsibilities given our new COVID-19 realities). As a bonus, this event is also going to be my ultimate fun, fundraising, extravaganza submission for Bikes & Beers Social Distancing Ride challenge.* And with you a long for the ride, the Everesting will be extra special. Thanks for your donation and helping this effort be a win-win-win on all fronts!
*My longest outdoor ride logged has been a 37 miler with 8,000 feet of elevation. A far cry from the more structured training I engaged in to prepare for my Everesting attempt in 2018 .
**Visit STRAVA  to see my training exploits or INSTAGRAM to experience the antics of Everesting preparation. Learn more about Everesting 
**Bikes & Beers Social Distancing Ride challenge