Pat Kepferle

In his short 18 years, Pat Kepferle managed to inspire a phenomenal sense of community togetherness.  After his passing, those close to him decided to honor him with a pro-youth and pro-community organization called Tap’s Community Brotherhood.

TCB’s Board of Directors consists of 11 members, including Kepferle’s two sisters, Kaci and Megan.  Board President, Alex David, forged an unforgettable friendship with Pat while attending Esperanza Middle School and Great Mills High School with him.  David remembers, “Pat had that certain movie star charisma that everyone wanted to be around, [while] he also possessed a gentle, encouraging and thoughtful side”.

In 2006, the TCB was established, determined to make a difference in the lives of the St. Mary’s County youth.  David said, “It takes a community effort to help uplift our youth.”  This is the idea behind the group’s events and outreach program.

On August 1, the TCB will host its second annual Back to School Picnic at Nicolet Park from noon to 4 p.m.  David called this event, “a time where community members from all backgrounds can get together for good times, free food and assistance with school supplies”.

In an effort to offset the extra costs of necessary back to school gear for lower income and larger families, drawstring backpacks full of school supplies will be available for the first 300 students in attendance. This free to the public event will also include a kid-pleasing Super Magic Man show, a Kimflatables moonbounce, complimentary admission to the Sprayground and other great activities. 

The TCB “encourages students to excel in school and maximize their potential,” said David, adding they also encourage participation in extracurricular activities, organizations and community events, “as they are great outlets for people with similar passions to combine forces and achieve something bigger than [themselves]”.

TCB’s board members and volunteers host many community events, like the upcoming picnic, its May Madness 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, and an Epicurean event.  All of which are sure to be a good time and support the group’s motto, “Community Growth Through Brotherhood”.

“What better way to celebrate the life of Patrick than to use his memory as a venue for giving back to the community and ensuring our youth are given opportunities to grow,” expressed board member Jessica Sarratt.

David said, “Our hope is that these events become a staple in Southern Maryland, like stuffed ham or the County Fair”. 

This grassroots organization has a youth-focused outreach program, scholarships, and their events are becoming more popular each year. 

For more information about Tap’s Community Brotherhood, what they do for the community and how to offer support, check out http://www.thetcb.org/