The Ripple Fund
Donor advised funds managed by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
Created in 2023 by HD Enterprises’ co-founder Nicole Hassannia, The Ripple Fund was born to create “ripples of change” in areas where she has both passion and a personal connection. This charitable fund is designed to drive meaningful change across four primary areas of focus: (1) the advancement and empowerment of women, (2) supporting veterans, (3) aiding immigrants, and (4) fostering the recognition of the healing power of music.
Managed by The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, The Ripple Fund is funded by a combination of self-funding and the generous financial (and time) contributions of others. Since its inception, the fund has already made meaningful impacts to individuals in the community.
The impetus for the creation of The Ripple Fund was Nicole’s desire to help others see their potential and learn how to love themselves. She survived years of emotional and physical abuse and knows that it is possible to overcome trauma and rebuild a healthy, confident, and thriving life. Nicole often masked this hurt to the outside world—hence The Ripple Fund’s hand drawn logo of a mask. It was drawn by Nicole in childhood for a school art project, seeking to cover the pain and hurt she was experiencing below the surface. Now, Nicole leverages The Ripple Fund as one way to help others discover a healthy and thriving life.
Learn more about our four key areas of focus below.
Advancement and Empowerment of Women
Advancing and encouraging women has always been at the heart of our mission. At the outset of the Ripple Fund’s inception, we helped several women regain confidence and courage by removing physical and aesthetic hindrances that held them back from thriving. One inspiring recipient was Starr, who had her chipped front tooth repaired because of The Ripple Fund. Starr triumphed over tragedy and turned it into a treasure trove of lessons to help others and give back. Read more about Starr’s story here.
Today, this aspect of The Ripple Fund paves the way for women by supporting initiatives that propel their progress and amplify their voices. We want to help women forge their own path and pass the baton on to future generations, like Nicole is pictured doing with her daughters. While women’s rights and opportunities have made significant strides, our focus is on the future—championing possibilities rather than dwelling on past challenges. Though the future is unpredictable, we believe true liberation comes from embracing women’s unique talents and qualities, encouraging them to apply these strengths in ways that uplift themselves and their communities.
Advancing women goes beyond enablement; we want to cater to the needs of today’s evolving women and create pathways for women to achieve their fullest potential while advancing society. We are actively exploring and looking for new ways to distribute funds that align with this philosophy. If you have suggestions for initiatives we should support, drop us a line.
Veterans Support
For Americans that are currently serving in the armed forces or who are veterans, their sacrifices have often been marginalized and underappreciated. While many organizations do wonderful things to support them, is it truly enough? Nicole and her husband Jeff understand this situation from a first-hand perspective – Jeff is a veteran himself and they both currently own an Aerospace and Defense consulting company called Aerospace BD.
Support for our current and former military members can take many forms – whether it’s easing the transition from military to civilian life, financial education, workforce counseling, PTSD counseling, physical and mental support, or rehabilitation, the list goes on. The Ripple Fund seeks to support charitable organizations and other venues that are focused in such areas, with reputable track records. The Ripple Fund doesn’t blindly write checks, but rather conducts hands-on due diligence to ensure the money and time given to these supporting organizations truly gets to the veterans in need.
As just one example, the Ripple Fund contributes to an organization that provides support dogs to our veterans. These dogs provide invaluable benefits to veterans, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical help that significantly enhances their quality of life. These specially trained dogs can help mitigate symptoms of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) by providing comfort during anxiety-inducing situations and helping to interrupt nightmares. These canines also assist with physical tasks such as retrieving items, opening doors, and navigating crowded spaces, which promotes greater independence and confidence. Beyond these tangible aids, support dogs foster a sense of security and unconditional love, creating a strong bond that alleviates feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Aiding Immigrants
The power of America is in its foundation and global recognition as a country where you can lawfully enter, work hard, make money, speak your mind, and practice your beliefs, all while knowing that you are safe and secure to do so with both order and predictability. America = immigrants. These immigrants are often ready and willing to work and contribute to the growth of America, yet just need a little support in doing so. This support may include areas such as language training, vocational schooling, education on how employment works in this country, financial literacy, and more.
The Ripple Fund seeks opportunities to support such situations. This small step can help immigrants merge into the workforce quicker, build more successful careers, and contribute to the economy and their families. By fostering empowerment, we create pathways to a brighter future for all.
The Healing Power of Music
Music has the power to inspire, heal, and transform lives. It transcends boundaries, cultures, and languages, serving as a universal language to bridge divides and inspire creativity. The Ripple Fund’s commitment to music is in funding initiatives that incorporate music to heal the mind and body. Music is far more powerful than we acknowledge, and we want to cultivate physical and emotional healing through music’s powerful melodies and notes. of Form
Music acts as a natural pain reliever by releasing endorphins and lowering cortisol levels, which reduces pain, stress, blood pressure, heart rate, and muscle tension. This enhances the immune system and improves sleep quality by calming the nervous system. Music therapy has been effective in neurological recovery, aiding in motor and cognitive function through reorganizing neural networks.
Emotionally, music helps process and express difficult feelings, triggers dopamine release to improve mood, and evokes powerful memories, fostering happiness and well-being.
Join The Ripple Fund in making a lasting impact in these vital areas. Together, we can build a more inclusive and harmonious world. Explore our initiatives and partner with us to create change that will leave a legacy for years to come. If you operate an organization or initiative that fits one of the areas above, let’s explore the collaborative possibilities. Drop us a note today.
