The Caroline Foundation celebrated its 10th year of community grantmaking by awarding $1 million to 26 nonprofit organizations during the annual Caroline Foundation Awards Breakfast held Nov. 6 at the Chesapeake Culinary Center.
This year’s cycle was the most competitive in the foundation’s history. According to Caroline Foundation Board President Terry Mead, the foundation received 33 grant requests totaling $1,658,627 and was able to fund 26 of them.
“Every year we have more need than money to give,” Mead told attendees. “But the good news is that each dollar we invest touches hundreds of lives across Caroline County.”
The Caroline Foundation was established in 2015, following the sale of the Caroline Nursing Home and The Gables, which was originally incorporated in 1967. The $14 million proceeds from the sale were invested to create a sustainable fund to benefit the health-related needs of Caroline County residents.
The foundation has no physical office and no paid staff. The 13-member volunteer board of directors is composed of Caroline County residents and manages the foundation, partnering with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation for administrative services.
To date, the foundation has awarded 194 grants totaling about $6.8 million, while increasing its assets to about $18.6 million through investment income and donations.
Mead emphasized that the foundation’s model is designed for permanence. “If we continue following the 5-percent-per-year rule and keep costs below one percent,” he said, “the fund will serve the citizens of Caroline County forever.”
The foundation awarded Compass Regional Hospice — Caroline County Hospice Care a grant to support its hospice care, supportive care, and grief support services. Caroline Hospice and YMCA of the Chesapeake were the foundation’s first two grant recipients and have received funding each year since.
During the breakfast, representatives from each grantee had two minutes to describe their work. Highlights included:
- Upper Shore Aging – expanding Meals on Wheels and home-care support for seniors.
- Choptank Community Health System – introducing new technology to assist rural medical providers.
- Caroline County Department of Emergency Services – creating a whole-blood transfusion program for trauma patients.
- Aaron’s Place – feeding more than 4,000 people in a single day before Thanksgiving last year.
- Critical Repairs Caroline County – installing ramps and safety equipment so seniors can remain in their homes.
- For All Seasons – expanding same-day mental-health access through its Open Access program.
- Adkins Arboretum – offering free admission for Caroline County residents and new wellness programs.
- Martin’s House & Barn – providing shelter and food for families in crisis.
Additional recipients included Channel Marker, Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore, Federalsburg Activity Center, Restoring Hope for Women, and other community organizations serving the health-related needs of children, families and seniors.
The Caroline Foundation works through the Mid-Shore Community Foundation to ensure that every dollar donated benefits local residents. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to:
The Caroline Foundation, P.O. Box 607, Denton, MD 21629. For more information about the Caroline Foundation or other funds managed by the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, visit www.midshorecommunityfoundation.org
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.