The Trustees of The Salisbury Award are pleased to announce the presentation of The Salisbury Award to Don Taylor. The recognition took place on July 16, 2023, at an Appalachian Service Project 50 Year Celebration at Asbury United Methodist Church. In addition to presenting a plaque to memorialize the selection, the Trustees will donate $500 to Don Taylor to support a program of his choice.
Don Taylor is recognized for a long record of leadership on behalf of youth, volunteerism, and service to the less fortunate. Don volunteered with the Appalachian Service Project (ASP) where he participated in over 25 trips and served as a leader on many trips. Additionally, Don saw an opportunity to address an urgent need in our community and give kids and volunteer crews a training opportunity at the same time. In 2009, he took the lead in establishing the Chesapeake Housing Mission which builds wheelchair ramps for people in need. A little more than a decade later, its growth has been remarkable, and its achievements are impressive: 787 projects, 111 in 2022 alone; 2,187 family members helped; over 12,000 volunteers who have committed nearly 80,000 volunteer hours. Chesapeake Housing Mission’s footprint now stretches from Crisfield to Federalsburg, Berlin to Hooper’s Island, with 43% of its projects right here in Wicomico County.
The Salisbury Award is the community’s oldest and most prestigious independent civic award. First given in 1926, the award was established and originally endowed by local businessman G. William Phillips to recognize “service that has been the greatest benefit to the happiness, prosperity, intellectual advancement or moral growth of the community”.
This ceremony marks the 73rd time The Salisbury Award has been presented to an individual or an organization since the Award’s inception. Previous honorees include James M. Bennett, Avery Hall, Richard Henson, Frank Perdue, Dick Hazel, Sam Seidel, Paul Martin, Virginia Layfield, Mitzi Perdue, Lewis Riley, Pete Cooper, George Whitehead, Tony Sarbanes, Bill Ahtes, Ben’s Red Swings, and The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, The Magi Fund, Norm Conway, Bob Cook, The Greater Salisbury Committee, The Fruitland Community Center, Perdue Farms, The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, the Wicomico Rotary Club, Marty Neat and MAC, Inc.
To learn more about The Salisbury Award and its history, including a list of all the honorees since 1926, please visit our Facebook page.
