Foundation News Spring 2016 - Community Foundation of

To inspire philanthropy for the benefit of
Washington County.
Foundation News
Spring 2016
The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. is a tax-exempt public charity
created by and for the people of Washington County, MD.
Scholarship Awards
Did you know the Community Foundation has more than 50 awards available to local students
preparing for a post-secondary education? We wor k with families, fr iends and or ganizations to cr eate
lasting legacies through endowed scholarship funds that make awards forever. You can create a scholarship to
memorialize or honor someone, celebrate your alma mater or promote a chosen career field. You can also
contribute to any of our existing scholarships at any time. Here are two examples of how scholarships can
make a difference to the donor as much as the recipient.
In January, the Forrest Family created the Melissa Collins Memorial Scholarship at the Foundation to memorialize Melissa who passed away last May at the age of 17. Melissa attended North Hagerstown High School,
participating in her school’s chorus, drama club, show choir and women’s ensemble. After graduating from
high school, she planned to attend HCC and major in music therapy or music education. This scholarship will
award students graduating from North Hagerstown High School who participated in a music or drama program
offered at the school. The Forrest Family, which includes Melissa’s boyfriend, Ben, hopes this fund will help
the community remember Melissa for her sweet spirit, and not for the tragic way in which her life ended.
Last month, the Farnen Family presented Grace Lowe with the Andrew Bryan Farnen Award for Gifted and
Talented Youth. Andrew’s family created this fund in memory of him and his love of both the arts and
sciences, particularly mathematics. It is intended for students between the ages of 14 and 21 residing in
Washington, Frederick, Carroll, Howard or Baltimore Counties to assist with the purchase of musical
instruments, art supplies, computers, books and other
educational materials. This year’s recipient, Grace
Lowe, takes AP classes, is in marching band, the
Thespian society and chorus. She plays the flute, cello
and ukulele. Grace will use her award towards her
attendance at a prestigious summer music program in
Boston.
For more information on our scholarships, visit our
website at www.cfwcmd.org.
1
Executive Director Notes
Greetings! First and foremost, I would like to welcome our newest board member to the
Community Foundation: Brandon Younger, who serves as president of the Younger
Auto Group, which consists of Younger Toyota/Scion, Younger Nissan, Younger
Mitsubishi and Mercedes-Benz of Hagerstown.
I also wanted to let you know that for the fourth year in a row, the Community Foundation will sponsor Washington County Gives, a 24-hour online giving event to help raise
unrestricted dollars for local nonprofits. Please mark your calendars now to donate on
Tuesday, May 3 to one or mor e of the 73 par ticipating or ganizations!
Did you know the Endow Maryland Tax Credit starts anew for 2016? This
credit once again allows Washington County residents to claim a 25% state tax credit
when they create or contribute to an unrestricted community endowment fund at the Community Foundation.
The Endow Maryland Tax Credit allows every community foundation in the state to distribute $15,000 worth
of tax credits ($60,000 worth of contributions) on a first-come, first-served basis to its local donors who
contribute a minimum gift of $500. All community foundations in the state have until June 30 th to claim their
allocation. After that, any unclaimed credits become available to any foundation on a first-come, first-served
basis. Once again, we have limited the first $15,000 in tax credits to unrestricted community funds since we try
to affect positive change in our communities to local nonprofits through our unrestricted granting program.
Our board feels this tax credit provides the perfect opportunity to increase our available granting dollars while
helping donors create a family legacy of giving. The Foundation’s minimum for a named endowment fund is
$5,000, which we hope will incentivize many in our community to create a family fund. Please call me at
(301) 745-5210 or e-mail me at [email protected] if you have any questions.
With warmest regards,
What Legacy Will You Leave?
Including a charitable bequest in your will is a simple way to make a lasting gift to your community. When
you make this gift through the Community Foundation, we establish a special fund that benefits the community
forever and becomes your personal legacy.
As a legacy donor, you would simply include the Community Foundation of Washington County MD in your
will as a bequest and specify an amount or percent of your estate. You then work with the Foundation to
determine the type of fund or funds you would like to establish with your gift. You can name a specific nonprofit to benefit from your fund or create an unrestricted fund where the Foundation’s professional staff
considers your charitable wishes and determines the areas of community need that would benefit the most
from it. Upon your passing, the Foundation sets up a special fund in the name you chose. It could be your
name, your family’s name, or in honor of any person or organization.
Thus, instead of setting up multiple agreements with different organizations, you have one bequest pointing to
the Community Foundation. Based on your wishes, the Foundation will make contributions from your fund for
you forever, fulfilling your legacy of giving.
2
New Funds of the Foundation
Our donors have created the following 16 new funds since November 2015:

Melissa Collins Memorial Scholarship

Blanton Croft Fund for Meals on Wheels

Dolina Phelan Family Fund

R. Lee & Ann Marie Downey Fund

John & Susan Itell Family Fund

Bernie & Marguerite Lesky Family Fund

Betty Jane Miller Fund

Mir Family Charitable Fund

Miss Washington County/Miss Western Maryland Pageant Fund

National Road Heritage Foundation Endowment Fund

Evan Price Music Scholarship

Odell Rosen Scholarship Fund

Ernie Truax Fund for Hancock Rescue Squad

Rodney Scott Turner Scholarship

Gary Weaver Fund for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Western Maryland FCA Endowment Fund
Help us save on trees and expenses—send an email to [email protected] and type NEWSLETTER in the
Subject line. We will send the newsletter to you electronically in the future!
3
2015 People’s Choice Awards
The Foundation’s annual People’s Choice Awards honors individuals from the community who exemplify the
term “unsung hero,” people who give generously of their time and talents to make Washington County a better
place to live. This year we honored Blanton Croft, Ernest Truax and Gary Weaver. In addition to recognizing
these individuals at the annual dinner, we create a $5,000 designated endowment fund in honor of each recipient. We established the following funds for this year’s winners: Blanton Croft Fund for Meals on Wheels,
Ernie Truax Fund for the Hancock Rescue Squad and Gary Weaver Fund for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
We appreciate the generous support of the following businesses that help make the People’s Choice
Awards possible: Albright Crumbacker Moul &
Itell, LLC; BB&T; The Family Heritage Trust
Company; The Hershey-Fitzsimmons Group of
RBC Wealth Management; M&T Bank; Mason
Investment Advisory Services, Inc.; WPS, Inc.;
William Dutton Family Fund; Marshfield Associates; Herald-Mail Media; Valley Mall & WHAG.
Washington County Gives 2016
Mark your calendars now for Washington County Gives 2016 on Tuesday, May 3! This event provides
participating, local nonprofits with the chance to receive unrestricted dollars as well as have the opportunity
for matching dollars and prizes throughout the 24-hours. We have 73 nonprofit organizations participating and
$76,000 in matching funds and prizes.
Last year’s event brought in $364,080 in online donations, matching
funds and prizes for 68 organizations. This year we have added a
celebration event taking place on Wednesday, May 4 from 4:30-6:00
pm at the USMH Plaza. Please join us to celebrate everyone’s
successes!
Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping make this event possible: Hershey Family Foundation, The Fletcher Foundation, Pauline
Anderson Foundation, Howard Bowen Family Fund, Thompson Gas
and Mathias Trust. We would also like to thank our media sponsors
for helping us get the word out: VerStandig Broadcasting (104.7,
101.5, 92.1 & 1380 AM), Herald-Mail, What’s NXT, High Rock
Studios and Leitersburg Cinemas.
For a full list of participating organizations, visit
www.washingtoncountygives.org.
4
Community Needs
Sometimes, the Community Foundation receives specific, urgent needs from our local nonprofit organizations.
To meet one or more of these needs, please contact the person listed next to the organization’s name
directly. Thank you for your assistance!
BISFA: Dance costumes for spring concert; Cost = $1,170 ($30 x 39 dancers); Contact Mimi Dickinson
at (240) 347-4934.
Brave HEART: Equicizer, a mechanical horse simulation to reduce anxiety for veterans participating
in equine therapy; Cost = $1,500; Contact Laura J. Lane-Unsworth at (301) 730-6343.
Cedar Ridge Children’s Home & School: Ten twin mattresses for residents in residential home for
boys; Cost = $1,400; Contact Beth Schroyer at (301) 582-0828, Ext. 122.
Discovery Station: Free weekly community education program materials & support; Cost = $1,000;
Contact Brittany Wedd at (301) 790-0076.
English & More: Bookshelves and folding tables, may be gently used; Cost = $50 each; Contact
Virginia Wilson at (301) 465-0473.
Hagerstown Choral Arts: 15 lightweight folding stools for easy transportation to different performance
sites; Cost = $400; Contact Charlotte Trout at (301) 791-1716.
Heritage Academy: Automated External Defibrillator to benefit the school & community; Cost = $1,231;
Contact Stephanie Stamper at (301) 582-2600.
The Maryland Theatre: Replace fire escape door at alley entrance; Cost = $1,500; Contact Jessica
Green at (301) 790-3500.
Mason-Dixon Council BSA: Help send a kid to camp; Cost = $167 to fund 50% of a weeklong resident
camp or $75 to fund a day camp at 50%; Contact Mark Barbernitz at (301) 739-1211.
Potomac Case Management: Re-stock food and hygiene supply bank for clients; Cost = $1,000; Contact
Dawn Johns at (301) 791-3087, ext. 203.
REACH: New commercial exhaust fan for men’s bathroom; Cost = $900; Contact Jodie Ostoich at (301)
733-2371.
San Mar Children’s Home: Living room carpet for Anderson House; Cost = $1,600; Contact Terri Siefert
at (301) 733-9067, ext. 101.
Wells House: New bedding & bath linens for residential treatment center; Cost = $1,432; Contact
Cynthia Terl at (301) 739-7748.
Women’s Club Foundation: A new copier; Cost = $1,500; Contact Linda Ogilvie at (301) 739-0870.
YMCA of Hagerstown: Three picnic tables for new outdoor pavilion; Cost = $500 each; Contact Maria
Rubeling at (301) 739-3990 ext. 4213.
Young Life Washington County: Fender Passport Event portable audio system; Cost = $700; Contact
Matthew Seifarth at (301) 991-1697.
5
The Community Foundation offers a wide variety of funds,
allowing donors the greatest flexibility in meeting their
charitable goals. You may establish any of the following
funds with a minimum gift of $1,000, with growth to $5,000
within five years: Community, Field of Interest,
Designated, Scholarship or Memorial.
33 W. Franklin Street, Suite 203
Hagerstown, MD 21740
All funds are managed carefully and prudently by
professional investment managers and administered by
CFWC. We protect donor intent, while at the same time
complying with federal tax requirements. The Foundation
retains the right to make final decisions regarding the
management, administration and distribution of all funds.
(301) 745-5210
www.cfwcmd.org
Facebook.com/cfwashingtoncountymd
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
John P. Itell, Chairman
Did You Know?
Father Stuart Dunnan, Vice Chairman
The Community Foundation’s five-year annualized
investment return makes it one of the top
performing community foundations in the country.
Mitesh B. Kothari, M.D., Past Chairman
2015-16 Corporate Sponsors
Michael G. Day, Vice Chairman
Cynthia Moore, Treasurer
Ted Reeder, III, Secretary
Carol R. Becker
Howard “Blackie” Bowen
Andy Bruns
Rich Daughtridge
Robert Ernst, II
Douglas Fiery
Mark Fulton
Louis J. Giustini
John R. Hershey, III
Constance Manger
Stuart L. Mullendore
Steven P. O’Farrell
Brad Pingrey
Melissa Reabold
Ann Marie Rotz
Elizabeth Schulze
Todd Snook
Mary Helen Strauch
Robin Twigg
Brandon Younger
Staff:
Bradley N. Sell, Executive Director
Kristy Smith,
Programs & Donor Relations Manager
Ally Sirbaugh, Communications Director
6