ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore yesterday applauded the formation of the
ENOUGH Alliance and a multi-million dollar investment from the philanthropic community dedicated to investing in children and families to end child poverty. To amplify the impact of the
ENOUGH Act, philanthropic and private sector institutions are coming together with an initial commitment of more than $100 million to form the ENOUGH Alliance and calling on other institutions to join their efforts.
Here’s what local stakeholders and elected officials are saying about the ENOUGH initiative, which was authorized by the ENOUGH Act, to address historic inequities in the state and tackle the root causes of poverty:
"This isn’t just funding—it’s a blueprint for transformation," said The Family League of Baltimore President and Chief Executive Officer Demaune Millard. "We’re moving beyond isolated interventions to a holistic approach that amplifies community voices and local expertise. The ENOUGH initiative represents a pivotal moment in our city’s ongoing commitment to creating pathways of opportunity for every child. ENOUGH is more than producing more programming. ENOUGH is about constructing pathways to economic mobility, access to a quality education, and enhancing the vibrancy of community. These organizations represent the heart of Baltimore—resilient, innovative, and deeply committed to creating lasting change."
"I fully endorse funding to continue supporting ENOUGH communities in Governor Moore's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget," said Prince George’s County Public Schools Superintendent Millard House II. "I was proud to join Governor Moore in December as he announced the state’s Fiscal Year 2025 investment through the ENOUGH Program to end child poverty in 27 communities across the state including four Prince George’s County communities. Governor Moore’s leadership has been vital in fostering partnerships that prioritize the well-being of our neighborhoods. Through his work, we have seen firsthand how collaborative action can support students and families both inside and outside of the classroom — making it possible for families to build better futures and break the cycle of poverty."
"The ENOUGH Act represents a transformative opportunity to address the entrenched legacy of poverty that has gripped South Baltimore communities for generations," said Baltimore City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter. "For thousands of children, families, and neighborhoods, this legislation is more than a policy—it is a lifeline to equity, opportunity, and empowerment. By investing in systemic solutions that tackle poverty’s root causes, from inadequate housing and underfunded schools to food insecurity and limited access to healthcare, the ENOUGH Act charts a path toward sustainable growth and community revitalization. It honors the resilience of South Baltimore's residents while providing the tools and resources necessary to break the cycle of poverty, ensuring that future generations can thrive in neighborhoods filled with promise, not despair. This is not just about repairing the present; it is about correcting historical wrongs and building a foundation of justice and prosperity for the future."
"The ENOUGH Act is a bold, visionary, and necessary step toward dismantling the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty in our communities," said Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System Vice President for Economic Development Alicia Wilson, Esq,. "Governor Moore’s tremendous leadership in launching this initiative highlights a commitment to equity and a brighter future for all Marylanders. By focusing on place-based interventions and fostering partnerships across sectors, this legislation will not only address the root causes of poverty but also empower communities to thrive."
"When we say 'enough,' we declare that every community deserves the dignity of safety, the strength of support, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow," said Delegate Gary Simmons. "The ENOUGH Act, a first-in-the-nation state-level effort to end concentrated poverty, transforms this declaration into action and hope for generations to come."
"As a proud advocate for equity and opportunity, I fully support the ENOUGH Act," said Senator Shaneka Henson. "This legislation is a bold step toward addressing the systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty in our communities. By fostering collaboration and targeting resources where they are needed most, we can create lasting change and brighter futures for all Marylanders."
"The ENOUGH Act is unifying Marylanders everywhere—we are working together, taking a bold stand against something we all know has no place in Maryland—childhood poverty," said Cherry Hill Strong Founder and Executive Director Zeevelle Nottingham-Lemon. "In Cherry Hill, this investment will fund the work of community members and other experts who are executing the vision set forth in the transformation plan. Truly seeing our community’s plans through to fruition will require committed partnership and sustainable support. We begin this great work now, with great hope that the ENOUGH Act program will continue to lead the way in showing the value of this type of deep commitment and support for Maryland communities. The ENOUGH Act is vital to Cherry Hill's self determined transformation, a transformation we believe will inspire communities across the rest of Maryland."
"As a long serving local elected official in Baltimore City, I always felt something was still missing in our communities of need," said Baltimore City Councilwoman and Vice President Sharon Green Middleton. "Something was just not sufficient. Then the ENOUGH program, created by Governor Wes Moore came along. This program gets to the heart of our suffering neighborhoods by bringing together partners that have been doing individual outreach efforts for a few years, as well as many decades. Finally merging caring, diverse groups through collaboration, and providing more resources. Connecting families and children this way is awesome. It truly gets many overlooked, traumatized families and children in communities to that next level of success, health, and opportunity. We must continue to keep this transformative momentum moving forward."
"The board and staff of Maryland Philanthropy Network are excited about the opportunity to work in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Children on behalf of and for children and to bring national, state, and local resources to bear on their well-being and for their futures," said Maryland Philanthropy Network President and Chief Executive Officer Danista E. Hunte. "We are encouraged by the political will in place to build the necessary infrastructure through public-private partnerships to eliminate child poverty in Maryland. Maryland Philanthropy Network is organized to do this work through our many issue-based affinity groups and collaborative tables spanning from education to health, to workforce development and beyond. Our members are poised to continue to make investments in children and families and we, as a network, have built the muscle to support our member engagement in multiple strategies in the policy realm. The ENOUGH initiative will build upon those efforts with a cross-sector approach to addressing an interdisciplinary problem which has structural and racial implications. Partnering on the ENOUGH initiative is an opportunity for all of us to bring to bear our human resources, intellectual capital, and financial resources for collective impact to address poverty in the state."
"The reality is it's time to scale up, we need to go further than we've gone before to break the cycle of generational poverty, to build bridges from surviving to thriving," said San Mar Family and Community Services President & Chief Executive Officer Keith Fanjoy. "This ENOUGH investment is cheaper, more sustainable and better than the alternative. It's such a logical decision, because it starts and ends with people in their own neighborhood. This opportunity has emboldened our community and given us courage to continue to face many of the obstacles facing the families who live here."
"The Maryland Association of Local Management Boards and the 24 Local Management Boards that it comprises and represents, stand united in our support for the continued and ongoing support for Governor Moore's ENOUGH Act initiative," said Maryland Association of Local Management Boards Co-Chair Kimberly Eisenreich. "While we all are concerned about the state's projected fiscal deficit, we remain far more concerned with the potential elimination of the groundbreaking work and impetus behind the ENOUGH Act. What we do know is that our most marginalized and impoverished communities will not recover equitably with additional cuts to programming and approaches meant to foster their wellbeing and access to economic mobility. The growing wealth gap will never shrink without continued investments in trailblazing work such as the ENOUGH Act initiative."
"United Way has seen first-hand the incredible value that collective impact efforts, such as those being incubated and implemented through the ENOUGH Initiative, can have on our communities," said United Way of Central Maryland President and Chief Executive Officer Franklyn Baker. "This type of investment and support is now more important than ever, as it leverages the power of partnerships to multiply the impact on core community needs."
###