News & Event
The Community Foundation of Frederick County is appalled and deeply concerned about what is taking place in our country. Recent events involving violence and threats against African American citizens have laid bare the racism, prejudice, and oppression that exist in our society.
We must do better, and it starts with us. These recent events are contrary to everything that the Community Foundation stands for and what our staff, donors, trustees, and volunteers work toward every day. We must do our part at the Community Foundation to ensure that Frederick County is an inclusive community where every person is treated with humanity, dignity, and respect. We have an obligation to enhance our efforts in supporting the economic security, health, and well-being of all Frederick County citizens today and well into the future.
Our mission is being dedicated to connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in Frederick County now and for future generations. This mission has taken on a renewed level of urgency. We are committed to working with the community as we begin to heal and move forward. We must all work together to create meaningful and systemic change.
Again, we must do better, and it starts with us.
Each year, The Community Foundation of Frederick County recognizes people who are dedicated to their community and are selfless in their contributions of time, energy, and talents. They are Frederick County residents who want to make a difference in the lives of others. Do you know someone who fits this description? We are pleased to announce that the Community Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2020 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism and Youth in Action Awards through May 31, 2020.
The Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism Awards Program is now in its 18th year and honors the legacy of the late Janis Miller Wertheimer, a well-known Frederick businesswoman and prolific volunteer. The program is made possible through The Janis Miller Wertheimer Endowment Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation. The Wertheimer Youth in Action Award is now in its ninth year.
The Community Foundation has recognized outstanding members of our community over the years who are difference makers and are dedicated to the people and causes they serve.
Dr. Peter Kremers received a 2019 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award for his inspirational work in helping to improve his community. Dr. Kremers is the man behind Color on the Creek and Sailing into the Winter Solstice, which has resulted in beautiful blooming water plants that line Carroll Creek and the elaborately decorated and lighted boats in the winter months. Dr. Kremers was frustrated by the unattractive algae growth in the water along Carroll Creek and researched ways to limit its growth. He worked with the City of Frederick to obtain necessary approvals and set up a test garden in 2012. With its success, he established the nonprofit Color on the Creek to raise funds to support the project and in 2013, he worked with a group of volunteers to install hundreds of metal stands holding more than 1,000 perennial and tropical plants. The collection has grown over the years, and now Frederick County residents and thousands of tourists each year can enjoy the spectacular color provided by the plants and the clean water surrounding them.
Turning his attention to the winter months, Dr. Kremers started building decorative boats, sponsored by local businesses, to add color along Carroll Creek. Each year, the public is encouraged to vote for their favorite boat and raise money for community nonprofits. With his award, Dr. Kremers established The Color on the Creek Fund with the Community Foundation to support the ongoing development of the water garden and boat display.
Ronald Layman, Sr. received a 2019 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award for his tireless work, commitment, and passion for the Boy Scout program. He joined Cub Scouts at age ten and advanced through the program to become an Eagle Scout. He has served as Scoutmaster for Troop 274 and led this Troop for 34 years. He has mentored more than 100 young men in Frederick County, including his two sons, to become Eagle Scouts and has positively influenced countless others. Mr. Layman has served on several Boy Scout committees and has been the visionary, administrator, and caretaker of the 210-acre Walkersville watershed property which has been used to host thousands of Boy and Girl Scouts and other youth organizations for events and outdoor adventures. Mr. Layman’s other volunteer work has included serving on memorial committees and he has been design chairman for several veteran monuments in Memorial Park in downtown Frederick. He has also been a member of the Shangri-La Marine Corps League Detachment for more than 50 years. With his award, Mr. Layman established The Ron Layman Family Fund to provide grants to a variety of local nonprofits.
Recognized for her extensive volunteer work serving her community, Leila Ghaffari received a 2019 Wertheimer Youth in Action Award. She participated in United Way’s Summer Serve Program and Leadership Week, an intense program about Frederick County government, history, the business community, education system, and nonprofits. Through her experience, she accepted a volunteer intern position with the Office of the Mayor, City of Frederick. In this role, she focused on making a difference in combating sexual harassment, increasing young adult participation in local government, and bringing more art to Frederick. Leila has been recognized for her “intrinsic motivation to help” and has been described as dedicated, focused, kind, and an incredible asset to the Frederick County community. With her award, Leila provided a grant to United Way of Frederick County, with support to Heartly House, and a grant to Frederick Children’s Chorus.
If you know someone like Dr. Peter Kremers, Ronald Layman, or Leila Ghaffari who fits the criteria for this award, the online nomination forms can be found at www.FrederickCountyGives.org/WertheimerAwards. Nominations must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on May 31, 2020. No paper applications will be accepted.
The honorees will be recognized at the Community Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community in November 2020. Wertheimer Fellows are awarded $25,000 to establish or add to a permanent fund with the Community Foundation for the nonprofit or charitable endeavor of their choice. The Wertheimer Youth in Action honoree will receive a $2,000 grant to support a Frederick County nonprofit organization of their choice. We look forward to recognizing our next group of outstanding volunteers this fall.
FREDERICK, MD – May 7, 2020: To support nonprofits that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, The Community Foundation of Frederick County announces its fourth round of COVID-19 emergency relief grants totaling $50,600, bringing its combined total of emergency grantmaking to $336,100.
The Community Foundation is partnering with United Way of Frederick County, Ausherman Family Foundation, Delaplaine Foundation, Inc., Helen J. Serini Foundation, Women’s Giving Circle of Frederick County, The Kahlert Foundation, Our Heavenly Cause Foundation, The William Cross Foundation, The Mark and Susan Butt Saturday Mornings Fund, and others as part of the COVID-19 Philanthropic Funders Collaborative (COVID Collaborative) to support nonprofits that directly help those adversely affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
With its latest round of funding, the Community Foundation is providing grants to 14 nonprofits to support family sustainability, the arts, food insecurity, information and referral services, animal care, and behavioral health services.
COVID-19 emergency relief grants will be provided to:
Centro Hispano de Frederick: $5,220 to support essential staff and services during the COVID-19 crisis.
Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry: $2,500 to support the provision of meat sources of protein to area food banks during the COVID-19 crisis.
February Star Sanctuary: $3,500 to support a cat and horse sanctuary for animals displaced due to housing instability, including homelessness or domestic violence.
Frederick Community College Foundation: $2,000 to assist current FCC students with emergency aid related to loss of employment and remote learning during the COVID-19 crisis.
Frederick County Government/Montevue Assisted Living: $6,578 for the purchase of meal trays and carts to provide timely and safe in-room meals due to the COVID-19 suspension of communal dining.
I Believe in Me, Inc.: $4,400 for providing a selection of quality groceries for food distributions in culturally diverse and heavily impacted populations within Frederick, in coordination with other food distribution providers.
Life & Discovery, Inc.: $6,602 for support of essential staff to address community health needs.
New Spire Arts: $2,000 to support general operating expenses while performance venues are closed due to COVID-19.
Other Voices: $2,000 to support general operating expenses while performance venues are closed due to COVID-19.
Project LIFELINE: $5,800 to support the recovery community during the COVID-19 crisis.
Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland, Inc.: $3,500 to support essential staff and services during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Delaplaine Arts Center: $2,000 for supporting general operating expenses while fee-for-service programs are closed during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Endangered Species Theatre Project: $2,000 to support the Teen Mentorship Production, rent, and the development of online platforms.
The Frederick Center: $2,500 to support mental health needs of the LGBTQ+ community during the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 has caused significant hardship for so many in Frederick County, but the Community Foundation has been working quickly and decisively with our partners to help bring relief to those who need it most.
Your support has and will help ensure the Community Foundation and COVID Collaborative can continue to respond to Frederick County's greatest needs not only now, but well into the future.
There are several ways to give and support emergency funding for COVID-19. Visit our COVID-19 emergency funding support webpage to learn more.
FREDERICK, MD –December 17, 2019: During its recent FY2020 strategic grantmaking cycle, The Community Foundation of Frederick County provided $423,335.30 to 29 area nonprofits dedicated to improving lives and enhancing Frederick County. These grants focus on the Community Foundation’s strategic grant areas supporting children and youth, health care, basic human needs, preparing for an aging population, responding to substance use disorder, and supporting families with children.
Strategic grant funding supporting school readiness for children and youth was provided to:
Blessings in a Backpack: $500 for weekend backpacks of supplemental nutrition for pre-K
The Delaplaine Arts Center: $2,270 for its ArtStart program.
Family Partnership of Frederick County: $30,785 for Bright Futures 2020 program.
The Housing Authority of the City of Frederick: $20,000 for Early Learning and Thriving Families: Keys to School Success program.
Mental Health Association of Frederick County: $21,200 for Healthy Families Frederick program.
The Frederick Center: $5,480 for youth programs supporting the behavioral health of LGBTQ+ youth. Frederick Community Action Agency: $15,000 for primary health care services for low income residents and $15,000 for school-based health care. Frederick Memorial Hospital: $10,460.70 for medication management program.
Mission of Mercy: $15,000 for patient partnership referrals from Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Partners in Care: $10,000 for partnership with Frederick Memorial Hospital to increase transportation for those age 50+ and reduce emergency department visits.
The Religious Coalition for Emergency Human Needs: $10,000 for prescription assistance program.
Strategic grant funding supporting basic human needs was provided to:
Advocates for Homeless Families: $20,000 for partial case manager salaries, $5,000 for emergency financial assistance, and $5,000 for transportation and childcare assistance for program participants.
Frederick Rescue Mission: $20,000 for Changed Life Recovery program case manager salaries and $20,000 for Faith House case manager salary.
Second Chances Garage: $10,000 for homeless household car placement and vehicle repairs.
Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP): $12,515.12 for the New Horizons Academy for Homeless Youth.
Strategic grant funding for capacity building supporting preparing for an aging population was provided to:
Advocates for the Aging of Frederick County: $5,682.79 for a service coordination model to help address the needs of low-income seniors.
Centro Hispano de Frederick: $10,000 for new data collection plan to assist limited English proficiency individuals age 60+ age-in-place.
Daybreak Adult Day Services: $9,950 for phone system upgrade.
Frederick Memorial Hospital: $10,000 for medication management program.
Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County, MD: $10,000 for A Brush With Kindness program.
Partners in Care: $10,000 for strengthening its Rides and Relationships for a Lifetime program.
Strategic grant funding for capacity building supporting responding to substance use disorder was provided to:
CR Freedom Center: $8,000 for building repairs for the men’s house.
Crossed Bridges, LLC: $5,000 for Frederick County Goes Purple program.
Frederick Rescue Mission: $9,006 for its Changed Life Recovery program.
Mission of Mercy: $10,000 for opioid/controlled substance use safety and patient education.
Strategic grant funding for capacity building supporting families with children was provided to:
Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership: $9,593.89 for capacity building through permanent office space and tracking software.
City Youth Matrix: $8,500 for transportation service expansion.
Family Partnership of Frederick County: $6,916.54 for capacity building strategic planning and $6,398.26 for staff development and training.
Frederick Rescue Mission: $10,000 for Faith House transitional housing program.
Heartly House: $5,500 for increasing counseling capacity to support families.
Housing Authority of The City of Frederick: $2,400 for management tools to support school readiness for children tracking.
Interfaith Housing Alliance: $5,500 for technological capacity building.
Asian American Center: $5,000 for technology support for integrated community services program.
Literacy Council of Frederick County: $6,000 for volunteer capacity building to meet the literacy needs of families with children.
Second Chances Garage: $10,000 for capacity building to support ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) families.
Seton Center: $10,000 for ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) families.
Spanish Speaking Community of Maryland: $1,677 for employment assistance for low-income residents of Frederick County.
FREDERICK, MD – August 5, 2020: To support the community’s greatest needs, The Gordon and Teresa Cooley Unrestricted Fund has been established with The Community Foundation of Frederick County and becomes one of its more than 720 component funds.
Founded by Gordon M. and Teresa Warfield Cooley, the fund’s purpose is to support Frederick County nonprofit organizations at the discretion of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooley are deeply involved in the Frederick County community and care about its future success. By establishing their fund with the Community Foundation, they are helping to ensure that local nonprofit organizations will receive support well into the future. The fund will support the Community Foundation’s strategic grantmaking as part of its Forever Frederick County campaign. The campaign is creating funds to provide strategic grants to address Frederick County’s most pressing needs for generations to come.
FREDERICK, MD – July 28, 2017: The Community Foundation of Frederick County recognized its FY2017 Strategic Funding Partners who supported its strategic grantsmaking through donor-advised funds and direct contributions in the areas of health care, services to the homeless and precariously housed, and school-readiness for children. Pictured, from left: Harry George, The Harry George and Dee Dolan Fund and Community Foundation trustee; David Maloney, The Kiwanis Club of Suburban Frederick Fund; Dottie Etzler, The Norman W., Edna V. and Dorothy L. Etzler Memorial Fund; Fred Genau, The PNC Fund, and Stacey Collins, The PNC Fund and Community Foundation Trustee. Not pictured are representatives of The Caroline and Jimmy Atkins Fund, The Steve and PJ Barger Family Endowment Fund, The Samuel W. and Joan J. Barrick Fund, The Mark and Susan Butt Saturday Mornings Fund, The Marion D. and Alice E. Carmack Endowment Fund, The Robert G. DeLauter Fund, The FoodPRO CORP Fund, The Lyons Family Fund, The Robert and Ardeth Moler Family Fund, and The David and Kay Stauffer Family Fund. Individuals who contributed but are not pictured are: Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Hooper, Drs. Robert C. and Jane Ladner, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Rauh, Mr. and Mrs. Tod P. Salisbury, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred P. Shockley. Individuals or businesses interested in supporting the Community Foundation’s strategic grantsmaking are invited to contact the Community Foundation office at 301.695.7660.
FREDERICK, MD – January 4, 2018: Grants totaling more than $65,000 have been provided from five funds that were created specifically to benefit Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center, and Montevue Assisted Living. The funds are managed by The Community Foundation of Frederick County, and grants from the funds will be used for projects that improve the quality of life for residents at both facilities.
Grants from The Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center and Montevue Assisted Living Fund will provide two new upright pianos, and will support the addition of hand railings in the Memory Garden.
A grant from The Friends of Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center and Montevue Assisted Living Fund will support the addition of hand railings in the Memory Garden.
A grant from The Donald L. Lewis Staff Education Fund for Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center and Montevue Assisted Living Fund will assist with the cost of tuition, resource materials, and professional development for staff.
A grant from The Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center and Montevue Assisted Living Special Projects Fund will be used to support staff training and other projects that enhance medical care for residents.
A grant from The Grace Brashear Winpigler Dental Healthcare Fund will help provide dental care and treatment for residents who have financial need.
“The partnership between Frederick County Government and the Community Foundation to support our seniors in these facilities has been excellent,” said Elizabeth Y. Day, president and CEO. “I am especially grateful to the donors who created these funds. They care very much about enhancing the lives of Citizens and Montevue residents.”
“Citizens and Montevue have always represented something good and something special in our community,” County Executive Jan Gardner said. “These grants help ensure that our seniors enjoy the quality of life they deserve.”
As a leader in grant and scholarship funding, The Community Foundation of Frederick County has given back more than $53 million to the community since 1986. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit www.FrederickCountyGives.org.
Pictured, from left: Donors Charles Trunk, Kay Sheiss, Linda Turbyville, president, Montevue/Citizens Auxiliaries, and Donald Linton; County Executive Gardner; Dr. Sonja Sperlich, donor; Pilar Olivo, former Director of Community Impact, Community Foundation, and Elizabeth Y. Day, Community Foundation president and CEO.
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