Winds of Leadership
Mission Statement
The Winds of Leadership will find projects in Harford County and assemble the leaders necessary to accomplish them, thus leaving behind us an improved county and a legacy of leadership.
Vision Statement
The Winds of Leadership is committed to exploring and applying the force of united leadership to achieve the tasks that leave a legacy. As a sail catches the force of the wind for speed and direction, so the Winds of Leadership will catch the force of a leader to go and do all good tasks in Harford County.
Who We Are
We are an open group of leaders. Currently, all of the leaders participating are Harford Leadership Academy graduates. There are no dues and there are no membership requirements. Winds of Leadership (WINDS) is the 501 (c ) (3) philanthropic arm of HLA.
Winds of Leadership Grant
The Winds of Leadership is now focusing on assisting nonprofits in their efforts to build leaders in our community. Direct costs related to projects/programs, such as but not limited to, personnel, equipment, materials and supplies, and administration and must support Leadership Development for an employee, client services, or development of future leaders are some of the criteria established for this new support effort. Funds must be for services that have a direct impact in Harford County, Maryland.
We will begin accepting applications July1, 2022.
Types of Support Funds
The Dawn Hamilton Event Specific Fund (in honor of Dawn Hamilton and her service to
WINDS)
Proceeds from WINDS sponsored events.
Dawn is a 2005 graduate of The Harford Leadership Academy (HLA) and was a founding member of the WINDS of Leadership in 2007. She served as Treasurer, Vice President, President and continues to provide service as Past President. Her commitment to the WINDS has brought leaders together through annual events and fundraisers and led to the completion of the sculpture, "Uplifting", to recognize the importance of leadership. Dawn inspired leaders to use their energy and power to accomplish one project at a time. Dawn's personal commitment to the WINDS has helped to leave a legacy in Harford County.
The Marlene Lieb Emergency Fund (in honor of Marlene Lieb and her service to the community through WINDS) - Emergent and unanticipated needs will be awarded up to $500
Marlene followed Joe Brooks as the second coordinator of The Harford Leadership Academy (HLA) from 2001-2006, and organized and directed The HLA Ambassador group from 2007 -2012. The WINDS of Leadership was the brainchild of the HLA class of 2006. Marlene encouraged and supported that class in their efforts, believing in the power of local leaders to use their resources and connections to increase community philanthropy. Hoping to encourage others to financially support WINDS, she made a significant personal contribution. Marlene has been on the WINDS board roster since 2007.
Joe Brooks Program Fund (in honor of Joe Brooks for his vision and starting the Harford Leadership Academy)
Assist with funding programs (including matching dollars) $500 or more All Requests must be submitted for review. Please see application for further details.
Major General Joe Brooks dedicated most of his adult life to service in this community. After a successful military and civilian career he settled in Bel Air, where he served two terms as the town mayor. In 1991, Harford Community College took advantage of Joe's strong leadership abilities and experience by recruiting him to help establish a local Leadership Academy. He worked closely with the Harford County Chamber of Commerce and Harford Community College to develop the structure and mission of the Academy. Joe coordinated the Harford Leadership Academy for the first ten years from 1991-2000. His knowledge and influence laid the foundation for the respected program that is evident today.
What we have done?
The first designated task was to replace the main sail on the Skipjack Martha Lewis. This was accomplished.
The second task was to erect a sculpture to leadership, a symbol, on the Harford Community College property. It is a modern rendition of a sail. Why? Why build a visual symbol for leadership? Some may say, “It’s just a sculpture.” We believe it is more. Visual symbols are important in this modern world, where there is so much competition for our attention. Our hope and desire is that this symbol will be a graphic picture for the WINDS philosophy. We want it to:
- Affect and influence people to unite as leaders in support of Harford County
- Bind us together
- Reinforce our philosophy
- Point people beyond themselves
The sculpture is also a fitting tribute to the county and the college for the formation of the Leadership Academy
We raised support for the Maryland Center of the Arts with Game on: Harford Has Talent. This was a successful event, and we thank everyone that helped, participated, and came out to support this effort!
what we are doing?
Winds of Leadership Supports Student Emergency Assistance Fund at Harford Community College
January 2021
Winds of Leadership, the philanthropic arm of the Harford Leadership Academy, gave a $1,000 gift to the Harford Community College Foundation, Inc. in support of Harford Community College’s Student Emergency Assistance (SEA) Fund. Each year, Winds of Leadership makes charitable donations to local nonprofit organizations that provide services within Harford County, Maryland. The SEA Fund gift was awarded through the Marlene Lieb Emergency Fund.
The SEA Fund was established in 2016 by former HCC President, Dr. Dennis Golladay, to provide emergency financial assistance to currently enrolled HCC students who are facing a short-term financial emergency. Students can apply for up to $500 of aid to cover emergent expenses outside of tuition costs, such as rent, utilities, and groceries. The goal is to help Harford students remain in school to continue on their path to pursue a higher education.
Winds of Leadership was established in 2007. The mission of the 501(c)(3) organization is to find projects in Harford County and to assemble the leaders necessary to accomplish them. The goal is to leave behind an improved county and a legacy of leadership.
“We are pleased to support Harford Community College Foundation’s Student Emergency Assistance Fund during these unprecedented times,” said Hugh McCarthy, President of the Winds of Leadership.
From March 2020 (the beginning of the pandemic) through August 2020, 50 Harford students were awarded $25,000 in SEA aid. The success of the initiative is clear, as 70% of those awarded students were able to re-enroll for the fall 2020 semester.
The gift to the SEA Fund places Winds of Leadership in the HCC President’s Circle of Giving, which recognizes donors who make charitable contributions of $1,000 or more within the fiscal year to the HCC Foundation.