The Calvert County Commissioners saluted 21 county residents and one group of volunteers Tuesday, Sept. 20. The citizens were cited by their peers for their voluntary participation in making Calvert a better community.
The “Calvert You Are Beautiful” awards are given out annually. The program is the county’s continuation of a recognition initiative started statewide over a quarter century ago by then-Governor William Donald Schaefer. Although the state program has been quietly discontinued, Calvert continues to salute peer-selected volunteers and a panel of judges selects one of the nominees as Calvert’s “Most Beautiful.” The program is well publicized and adeptly administered by Calvert County Government’s Department of Economic Development. The afternoon ceremony was held at Calvert Pines Senior Center auditorium in Prince Frederick.
The judges’ decision this year was to name Project Echo volunteer William “Bill” Stanton the county’s “Most Beautiful” recipient.
Project Echo is a faith-based organization that provides transitional housing, job counseling and some daycare services to individuals and families who are homeless.
In nominating Stanton this past summer, Project Echo Executive Director Trisha Gipson revealed that “Bill has worked the 6 to 10 a.m. shift [at the organization’s shelter] every Monday” since 1997. “Four hours of weekly volunteer time soon turned into a full-time volunteer obsession for Bill.”
In 2005, Stanton spearheaded the effort to have a larger, modern shelter built to serve the transitional needs of Calvert’s homeless. In October 2009, the new 40-bed facility was opened.
“Through his efforts, the ECHO House provided over 12,000 bed-nights and over 18,000 warm meals to the homeless of the county in 2010,” Gipson stated.
“Everybody’s a winner,” declared Commissioners’ President Susan Shaw[R] as Stanton was presented with a proclamation and a huge basket filled with “Calvert County goodies.”
The board president became misty-eyed as she thanked the nominees for their altruism. “The gift you have given us is priceless,” said Shaw. “You’ve given your time and energy very generously.”
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