The CalvertHealth Rising Star Program encourages, salutes and recognizes the philanthropic efforts of our youth. They may attend different high schools, but they are united by their passion for giving back to their community.
Prince Frederick, MD – CalvertHealth Honors Local Rising Stars for Philanthropy
CalvertHealth Foundation along with medical center leadership, family members, friends, coaches and school administrators celebrated and recognized local students as Rising Stars for 2018 for their philanthropic efforts.
The honorees who were present included: Dara Baxter, Nicolette Colona, Chayna Jackson and Abby Kingsbury of Northern High School Poms; Tiffany Lyon and Chloe Papanicolas of Patuxent High School cheerleaders, Kathleen McClellan, Emily Young and Brooke Young of Calvert High School girls’ volleyball team; Jackson Blackburn, Darrien Coates, Ethan Gharst, Carter Kuntz, Drew Moreland and Danny Russell of Huntingtown High School boys’ varsity soccer team ,Spotlight Music Series performer Jonay Boylan and Ben Nussbaumer of Building Better Days.
Unable to attend were members of the teams included above, as well as the CHS girls’ basketball team, NHS girls’ soccer team and Spotlight performers Andrew Jones, Shelby Gash, Levi Shaw, Alyssa Melton, Jack Dickson-Burke, Angelique Almuete and Wyatt Garrett.
Launched last year, the Rising Star program is sponsored by the CalvertHealth Foundation. The program provides an avenue to showcase local youth whose contributions to the medical center are making a difference in our community.
“Our vision at Calvert is to make a difference in every life we touch” said CalvertHealth President and CEO Dean Teague at the inaugural appreciation event held April 26. “And you have helped us in that effort. So, congratulations.”
Teague also praised their families and friends who joined them at the ceremony, “Our youth are our future and your commitment to helping them become our next generation of leaders is why we are here.
“Someone showed them the power they have within to make a difference,” he said. “Someone told them there are others in Calvert County in need and then provided a path for them. That someone is you and I just can’t thank you enough for enabling these fine students to be a part of our CalvertHealth family.”
In total, the efforts of these young philanthropists have helped raise almost $6,000 toward breast cancer, capital projects and other major initiatives for the medical center.
Calvert High School Principal Steven Lucas told the Rising Stars “the impact you are having on our local hospital fills me with a sense of pride. I am grateful for this opportunity to be here to celebrate you and honor this noble work you are doing to help people and to help the hospital.”
Foundation Board Member Brian Martin said it was his “his love of youth potential and my dedication to giving back that led me to create the Rising Star program as an outlet to bring together these two passions.”
To all of the students in attendance, he said, “I thank you for your gifts to the CalvertHealth Foundation – you are making a difference! To the friends and families who empower these fine young people, I thank you for your dedication to helping your children become their best!”
Gharst, a senior at HHS, offered a student’s perspective on the Rising Star program. “As students, I think we sometimes feel like we don’t have this level of connection to make such an important difference in our community, but we do have this ability.”
He went on to add, “Let’s make a promise to ourselves to leave here today and not only continue to be givers, but to encourage others to join us as we carry out this work.”
Following his remarks, the Rising Star awards were presented by Foundation Board Member Brian Lazarchick along with Martin and Teague. After the ceremony, the students were given a tour of the replica of the private patient rooms, which are being built as part of the $51-million expansion project underway at the medical center.
About CalvertHealth and CalvertHealth Foundation
CalvertHealth is a private, not-for-profit, community health system. Founded in 1919, CalvertHealth has been taking care of Southern Maryland families for nearly a century. In addition to the medical center campus, medical office buildings in Dunkirk, Twin Beaches, Prince Frederick, Lusby and Solomons ensure that quality care is no more than 15 minutes from anywhere in Calvert County. CalvertHealth’s trusted team provides residents with safe, high quality health care and promotes wellness for a healthy community – all while making a difference in every life we touch.
The CalvertHealth Foundation was founded in 1989 and provides philanthropic support to CalvertHealth Medical Center. The Foundation has raised over $8 million to assist with new equipment, technology, facilities and programs to serve the Calvert community.