To great applause, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot today presented RiverArts President Lani Seikaly with the 2015 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award.
Former Mayor Margo Bailey welcomed the standing-room-only crowd to RiverArts gallery and the award ceremony, and Carla Massoni, owner of Carla Massoni Gallery, introduced Comptroller Franchot.
The award was created by Franchot to “honor the legacy of public service exemplified by former Baltimore City Mayor William Donald Schaefer.
“William Donald Schaefer was the kind of person who would give you five dollars if you needed one,” Franchot said. “He had a ‘there but for fortune go I’ attitude and once said ‘I’m only interested in helping people one by one.’”
The award program states “honorees are selected based on their demonstration to improve the community; to promptly respond to a citizen problem; to directly aid those most vulnerable in society, and to improve the lives of fellow Marylanders.”
Seikaly has been instrumental in a long list of arts-related successes in Chestertown, from her leadership at RiverArts and the creation of KidSPOT to her chairmanship of the Greater Chestertown Initiative, and as a driving force in the process to have Chestertown qualify as an arts and entertainment district.
A Kent County native, Seikaly is interested in oral histories as a way of preserving Kent County’s past and has recently exhibited interviews and photographs of 15 local African American who recounted stories about Kent County during the civil rights era. Currently she is working with C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience on a collection of WWII oral histories with a focus on “Kent County as the home front.” She also teaches oral histories at Washington College.
“I don’t know how the previous recipients of this award felt, but now I feel like I have to work twice as hard,” Seikaly said after receiving the award.
“I love the arts community here. It’s amazing what we have accomplished, from theater and literary arts to visual arts and I think we all recognize the arts can help drive our economy,” she said.
“I really don’t think all of this could have been accomplished without the amazing volunteers who help out with all of the arts events and venues throughout town,” she added. “We need to assure that Chestertown can become a place for our young visionaries, where Kent School and Washington College graduates can find work and start families. We want to make sure Kent County isn’t just a great place to retire, but that it’s a great place to begin.”
Eleanor Altman says
Lani is an inspiriation to us all. I am proud to live in a town that nutures her talents and is fortunate to enjoy her many gifts to us all. She is the definition of tireless. How can one person do all that she does? Actually, Leslie Raimond, Carla Massoni, Margo Bailey and Lani (all pictured above) are keeping Chestertown on the map, a destination I am proud to call home. Congratulations, Lani!
Norm Dulak says
Lani is a very special person, and a jewel in our community. Congratulations, Lani!
Liz Clark says
Great news! Hard work rewarded.
william short says
Lani great job !!!Peter Franchot also always a big hit in Chestertown he really knows how to sell success …….
Barbara in den Bosch says
Well done! Very definitely deserved. Thanks, Lani, for all you do for us.
Francesca Raimond says
Congratulations to Lani and the successful impact of the ARTS in the county.
The picture of Carla Massoni, Leslie Raimond, Lani Seikaly and Margo Bailey with Peter Franchot is priceless. I commend everyone’s hard work!