“Every year, these annual meetings are a celebration of the potential that exists within our community because of caring people like you. By being here, you are reaffirming your faith in our community and the work of the Community Foundation,” said Doug Wilson, Foundation President, at the Community Foundation’s 2013 annual meeting and awards luncheon.
Almost 300 people gathered at The Fountains Conference Center on November 1 to celebrate the Foundation’s charitable leadership and accomplishments during the past year. “Philanthropy is contagious…CATCH IT!” was the Foundation’s theme for the meeting.
The Foundation reported on its activities during the past year to promote and support philanthropy on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Wilson noted that “2013 was a remarkable year with the Foundation awarding over $5.4 million in grants and scholarships.”
Wilson reported that since its founding in 1984, more than $89 million dollars has been invested with the Foundation – and just over $50 million of that has been granted back to the Community. Yet, at the close of the fiscal year, the Foundation still held assets of more than $88 million.
Over the past year, the Foundation distributed 1,128 grants to nonprofits and received $6.2 million in new gifts from donors. The Foundation currently holds almost 600 charitable funds that benefit the community.
Doug Wilson, President & CEO, Community Foundation, presented the 2013 Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award to Alexis P. Dashield, Fruitland Community Center Volunteer.
The highlight of the Foundation’s annual meeting is the presentation of honors and awards. Three major Foundation Awards were announced at the meeting: the 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award that recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, sustained, and unselfish contributions in the field of direct community service; the Richard A. Henson Award of Nonprofit Excellence honoring the year’s most outstanding nonprofit organization; and the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award honoring an individual for uncommon philanthropic service to the community.
The 2012 Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to Alexis P. Dashield who volunteers at the Fruitland Community Center. For 25 years, Dashield has monitored the progress of her children in her community, coordinated volunteers for the After School Program and provided assistance with homework and special projects.
The Community Foundation’s Richard A. Henson Award for Nonprofit Excellence was presented to Coastal Hospice as the region’s outstanding nonprofit organization. Coastal Hospice is a private nonprofit community program that provides traditional hospice services, palliative care, bereavement support, education and training to residents in the tri-county area.
Deborah S. Abbott was awarded the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award. Her lifetime commitment to community service, quiet but steady leadership and generosity of time and talents reflects the humanitarian ideals and human values
Deborah Abbott received the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award at the Community Foundation 2013 Annual Meeting
that epitomized Frank Morris’ life. Ms. Abbott is a leader and participant in making this community a better place to live.
The Annual Report & Annual Meeting sponsors include PNC Bank, Mason Investment Advisory Services, Inc., Bank of Delmarva, BB&T Bank, Comcast Spotlight, First Shore Federal Savings and Loan, Francis Scott Key Family Resort, Hebron Savings Bank, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Raymond C. Shockley, and Pam and Macky Stansell. A special note of thanks to Jackie Cassidy for providing the table arrangements, Walt Warren, Owner of Peninsula Printing, for the donation of printing of programs and to Comcast Spotlight and PAC 14 for the donation of video production services.