Monday, November 01, 2010

Community Foundation of Carroll County honors

Philanthropists of the Year

Community Foundation of Carroll County honors Philanthropists of the Year

By Kevin Dayhoff 10/21/10

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/11/community-foundation-of-carroll-county.html

Over 250 community leaders filled the

Portico social hall at St. John Catholic
Church early Wednesday morning to
honor the recipients of the fifth annual
Carroll County Philanthropists of the
Year awards.

After a breakfast catered by Harry’s

Main Street Grille; master of
ceremonies, Wayne Wrightson, of WTTR
radio in Westminster brought the
ceremonies to order.

Steven Loy sang the national anthem

and Audrey Cimino, the executive director of the Community Foundation of
Carroll County welcomed those attending the
annual event.

The coordinator of this year’s event, Jaclyn

Mathias, was seen throughout the morning
making sure everything ran smoothly. The
table centerpieces arranged by the Stewart N.
Dutterer Flower Shop at the fifth annual Carroll
County Philanthropists of the Year awards on
October 20, 2010 were done extremely well. It
is this attention to detail that makes the annual
Philanthropists of the Year so successful.

Among the many introductions, Wrightson gave

a special acknowledgment to the sponsors for
this year’s ceremonies, Harry Sirinakis of
Harry’s Main St. Grill; Lehigh Cement,
represented by Mike Fox; Constellation Energy,
represented by Mike Fowler.
Also helping sponsor the event were Eileen Gist, Lori Graham, and Jalna
Brown of Dutterer’s Florist; Lyndi McNulty of GIZMOS Art; Glenn S. Bair,
Support Services, LLC and Martin Hill; and Village Printing and Dean Douglas.
“We can’t produce great events like this without the support of involved
businesses,” said Wrightson.

In spite of a national economy that continues to lag, local giving

in Carroll County appears to be holding it own, according to several folks
attending awards ceremony.

An October 17 article in The Chronicle of Philanthropy, a national non-profit

news and information publication located in Washington D.C. recently noted:

“Donations to the nation’s biggest

charities dropped 11 percent last
year, a decline that was the worst
in the two decades since The
Chronicle started its Philanthropy
400 ranking of the organizations
that raise the most from private
sources…

“The 400 institutions in the survey raised $68.6-billion in 2009. The drop they
suffered in contributions was nearly four times as great as the next biggest
annual decrease: 2.8 percent in 2001, when charities also struggled to raise
money from recession-battered donors.”

According to Cimino, “Beginning with a gift of

$60,000 (over fifteen years-ago) from the
Estate of Rosa B. Null, a
Hampstead, Maryland resident, the
Community Foundation has grown to (over $4
million dollars) in endowments, operations
funds, scholarships, and funds managed for
other community organizations.

“It is no news to anyone that there are an

overwhelming number of organizations and
programs now desperately searching for
funds. For people with a strong sense of
community and personal commitment to
make significant contributions to the community in which they live, the choices
can be especially demanding.”

Last year, 2009 the recipients were: Family of the Year: Skip and Pat Amass;
Business of the Year: Lehigh Cement; Legacy Award: Loring B. Yingling; Non-
Profit of the Year: Westminster Lions Club; and Youth of the Year: Chris
Anderson.

This year The Community Foundation of Carroll County honored Mr. and Mrs.
Robert Bare; the Carroll County Times; the ARC of Carroll County; Msfr. Arthur
Valenzano and Josie Grant.

The legacy award recipient was St. John Catholic Church Msgr. Arthur
Valenzano who was nominated by Teresa Richardson. Valenzano was the
pastor of St. John Church for over 17 years, observed Wrightson.

“During his tenure as pastor, he has taken the St. John community and
increased its awareness within the Carroll community,” continued Wrightson.

After a long list of accomplishments and accolades, Wrightson noted that

Valenzano has recently moved-on from his responsibilities in Westminster “to
take a position as rector of the Basilica of Baltimore.”

This year’s youth award went to Josie Grant, who was nominated by Amy Zepp.

“Josie Grant began her quest to make a difference in the lives of pediatric
patients at Carroll Hospital Center in August 2008 for personal and community
reasons,” said Wrightson.

“Josie initially contributed $75 of her own money, which was matched by
family and friends, to begin her foundation called, “Josie’s Smiles for
Pediatrics,” explained Wrightson.

The non-profit recipient this year is The Arc of Carroll County. Wrightson
noted that “Webster’s define philanthropy as goodwill to fellowmen, especially
in an active effort to promote human welfare.”

As an example of the work that ARC does for our community, Wrightson
introduced Jamie Davis, the daughter of Gary Davis, who nominated ARC for
this year’s award because of the opportunities that have been made available to
Jamie as a result of her training at ARC.

“Jamie is autistic, and is 27-years old,” explained Wrightson. “To her ARC is
her job. Six years ago when she started with ARC, we were told that they
would first get to know Jamie and based on what they thought she would
accomplish, and what was available … they would get her involved. Well, they
kept their promise…

They got her a job. She works at the Best Western Hotel in Westminster and
she is doing quite well. However, she still thinks that the Ravens are just big
men who stay at her hotel once a year…”
The Carroll County Times’ Newspapers in Education (NIE) program was this
year’s business award winner. A special fund of the Community Foundation,
NIE “supports literacy by offering free newspapers and curriculum guides to
all Carroll County schools…” said Wrightson.

“Newspapers and study guides are used to help teach students…

throughout Carroll County… During the 2009-2010 school year, NIE provided
622,990 newspapers to students. The program is funded by local businesses,”
Wrightson further explained.

The last of the five awards was given to Bob and Ruth Bare of Hampstead for
the family philanthropist of the year.
Edith Winters, along with a number of
individuals and businesses in the
community nominated the Bare family.

“Those who know Bob and Ruth know that

they are very modest people. They have
and continue to donate to many charities
and do it anonymously,” said Wrightson.
It was also noted that both Ruth and Bob
Bare are 87-years-old, which prompted a
wave of murmurs throughout the morning
audience as the Bares displayed a great
deal of youthful vigor as they walked to the
front of the room.

“I hope I have that much energy at that

age,” observed Sherri Hosfeld Joseph to no
one in particular as the Bares approached
the podium to receive their award.

See also: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/2005/01/20051229-

community-foundation-of.html

Labels: Dayhoff writing essays, Non-profits-Carroll Community Found

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Posted by Kevin Dayhoff at 11/01/2010 04:48:00 PM Labels: Dayhoff writing essays, Non-profits-Carroll Community
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