OMMUNITY FOUNDATION COMMEMORATES 30th ANNIVERSARY AT ANNUAL MEETING
& AWARDS LUNCHEON
Two nonprofit agencies and two local humanitarians honored at annual event
“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 Dr. Doug Wilson, Foundation President & CEO, at the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore’s (CFES) 2014 annual meeting and awards luncheon.
Over 300 people gathered at The Fountains Wedding & Conference Center on November 7 to celebrate the Foundation’s charitable leadership and accomplishments during the past year. The annual meeting and luncheon theme was “Planting seeds for good in our community.”
The Foundation reported on its activities during the past year to promote and support philanthropy on Maryland’s Lower Eastern Shore. Wilson noted, “2014 was a remarkable year with the Foundation awarding over $4.8 million in grants and scholarships.”
Over the past year, the Foundation distributed 1,281 grants to nonprofits and received $6.4 million in new gifts from donors. The Foundation currently holds over 600 charitable funds that benefit the community.
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 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 Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award was awarded to David Duitscher. Since 1985, David has volunteered as chaplain at Deer’s Head Hospital Center in Salisbury. He has also provided thousands of volunteer hours to Coastal Hospice as a Patient Care volunteer.
The Community Foundation’s Richard A. Henson Award for Nonprofit Excellence was presented to Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council and The Magi Fund, Inc. as the region’s outstanding two nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1967, the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council is a nonprofit organization that coordinates, promotes and sustains the activities of other nonprofit art entities in Wicomico County. The Magi Fund, Inc. was founded for the sole purpose of raising funds for the Joseph House Center and Christian Shelter, two nonprofit organizations meeting critical needs on the Lower Eastern Shore.
Arthur M. Cooley was awarded the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award. His lifetime commitment to community service, quiet but steady leadership and generosity of time and talents reflects the humanitarian ideals and human values that epitomized Frank Morris’ life. Mr. Cooley 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 & Loan, Hebron Savings Bank, Pepsi Bottling Ventures, Raymond C. Shockley. A special note of thanks to Jackies Flowers and More for providing the flower arrangements and to Walt Warren, Owner of Peninsula Printing, for the donation of printing of programs.
Photo captions:
Featured Image:
David Duitcher (center), volunteer chaplain at Deer’s Head Hospital Center, receives the Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year Award from Melody Nelson, CFES Board Chair and Dr. Doug Wilson, CFES President & CEO
Left to right are: Melody Nelson, CFES Board Chair and Dr. Doug Wilson, CFES President & CEO with Bonnie Luna, Director, Magi Fund, Inc. and Therese Hamilton, Executive Director, Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council, both recipients of the Richard A. Henson Award for Nonprofit Excellence
Arthur M. Cooley received the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award at the Community Foundation 2014 Annual Meeting from Melody Nelson, CFES Board Chair and Dr. Doug Wilson, CFES President & CEO
