Photo caption: The Wills Group employee volunteers and Rebuilding Together Charles County team pictured with homeowner Mrs. Burton in Indian Head, Maryland. Photo credit: Ana Isabel Photography.
STEVENSVILLE, MD – Chesapeake Charities announced the honorees to be recognized during their November 15 luncheon, “A Celebration of Charity” at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. This year’s event will highlight innovative approaches to breaking the cycle of poverty and Dr. Ben Carson, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Secretary, is the invited guest of honor.
Linda Kohler, Chesapeake Charities Executive Director commented, “The luncheon is a way to raise awareness about issues and solutions that impact our lives and recognize the people and organizations making a real difference. The 2018 honorees are doing incredible work to end childhood hunger, prevent homelessness and provide basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter.”
Philanthropist of the Year will be awarded to The Wills Group, a family-owned company headquartered in La Plata, Maryland, for its community engagement efforts focused on eliminating childhood hunger and ensuring safe and healthy homes. The parent company of several retail, convenience, and home comfort business units, including Dash In Food Stores, Splash In Car Washes, SMO Motor Fuels, and SMO Energy, the Wills Group has donated more than $2.5 million to various nonprofit organizations since 2006, as well as countless volunteer hours and in-kind donations. In 2016, as part of its 90th anniversary celebration, The Wills Group increased their commitment and deepened their impact in the community through the establishment of the Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund at Chesapeake Charities. At the inaugural Blackie Wills Golf Classic and Gala in 2017, The Wills Group raised more than $500,000 to carry on their commitment to community and civic engagement.
“The nominating committee was most impressed with the way in which The Wills Group leads by example, encouraging its business associates to join forces to eliminate childhood hunger in Southern Maryland,” said Kohler, “For The Wills Group, corporate responsibility isn’t just good business, it is at the heart of every decision they make.”
The Light House Homeless Prevention Support Center in Annapolis, Maryland will be honored as Nonprofit of the Year for their dedication to providing emergency shelter, transitional and supportive housing, and homelessness prevention services to empower people as they transition toward housing, employment and self-sufficiency. In 2017 they launched The Light House Bistro, a self-sustaining and revenue-generating social enterprise that supports the ongoing workforce development and housing programs at The Light House. The full-service restaurant in downtown Annapolis provides employment opportunities for graduates of its Building Employment Success Training (“BEST”) program. BEST provides valuable employment skills which allow graduates to make a living wage so they can afford permanent housing. “Their vision is to be a national model for how a community cares for its neighbors experiencing homelessness,” said Chesapeake Charities board member Michael LaFortune, “The Light House strives to break the cycle of homelessness by providing a place of belonging and life-changing programs.”
Mark Freestate of Centreville, Maryland has been selected as Volunteer of the Year for his work with Saint Martin’s Ministries, whose mission is to provide a safety net to individuals and families living in poverty on the Eastern Shore. Saint Martin’s has a 33-year history of building trust and delivering needed services to a vulnerable segment of the population in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties. As Board Chair, Freestate kept Saint Martin’s on course through challenging times and because of his vision, determination and leadership, the board, staff and donors of Saint Martin’s Ministries have a renewed focus and commitment. “Mark rolled up his sleeves and dug into the difficult task of redefining and diversifying Saint Martin’s Ministries’ revenue streams,” said Deborah Hudson Vornbrock, Saint Martin’s Executive Director.
Sponsorships for this event are available. For more information, visit chesapeakecharities.org/event or send an email to info@chesapeakecharities.org.
Located in Stevensville, Maryland, Chesapeake Charities is a community foundation that supports over 90 nonprofit funds that impact a range of charitable causes including animal welfare, arts, education, health and human services, and the environment. To date they have generated more than $25 million in investment and grant funding for charitable projects in eight counties: Anne Arundel, Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot. For more information, contact Chesapeake Charities at (410) 643-4020 or info@chesapeakecharities.org, or visit www.chesapeakecharities.org. Chesapeake Charities is accredited by the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.