Benedictine was awarded the Caroline County Best in Business Nonprofit Award for 2021. This award is presented by the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce. The Nonprofit award criteria is based on the organization’s tremendous impact on Caroline County and demonstration of sound business management. Nominations are received by business associates, community members, staff, and, in Benedictine’s case, by the families it serves.

“Benedictine has been part of Caroline County for over 60 years and we are thrilled and honored to receive this award from the Chamber,” shared Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director. “While Benedictine may look unassuming when you drive by our lane – small miracles happen every day in our classrooms, in our group homes, in our residential facilities and in our community,” Evan further commented.

Benedictine shared in this honor with several other Caroline County award recipients. You can view Benedictine’s video here where Scott Evans shares in his gratitude for being selected along with plans for an expansion of the campus in Ridgely.

“Benedictine is on the verge of beginning to implement our “Transforming a Campus to Transform Lives” initiative. This includes renovating and updating our campus facilities to better meet the needs of our students and adults in our programs. This investment will give Benedictine state-of-the-art facilities that will enable us to continue to fulfill our mission far into the future,” stated Evans.

For more information on Benedictine, please go to www.benschool.org. If you would like information on how you can support the children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism at Benedictine reach their greatest potential, please contact Claudia.cunningham@benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization helping more than 200 children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot and Anne Arundel counties. The Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester County public schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Benedictine will be holding its annual spring fundraising gala, themed Benedictine Bond Ball, on Saturday, April 30^th at the Tidewater Inn in Easton. The coveted event brings together community members, families, staff and the students and adults Benedictine serves to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and to raise funds to support the needs of the organization. This year’s event will also include a virtual online silent auction.

“It has been three years since we have gathered for our spring benefit in Easton to celebrate the miracles that happen every day at Benedictine,” stated Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director.“We are looking forward to a wonderful evening – in the sleek style of the infamous secret agent, James Bond. Everyone in the community is invited to celebrate with us!”

The Bond Ball festivities will begin with the “Shaken, Not Stirred” cocktail reception followed by “Meet Me Here At Seven” for dinner, auction, awards and the debut of the Benedictine “Everyday Miracles” video showcasing the dedication, compassion, and dignity demonstrated by staff and the small successes that are big wins every day at Benedictine. The gala will continue with the “007 After Party” in the Gold Room Garden with specialty drinks and dancing.

“While the gala is an important celebratory event for the community, families, and staff, more importantly it raises funds to support Benedictine’s vital work in providing the best care and services for the children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism that we serve, helping them achieve their greatest potential!” commented Claudia Cunningham, Benedictine Chief Advancement Officer.

Gratitude is extended to the Benedictine families that support Benedictine along with our gala sponsors that include The Tidewater Inn; Mullen, Sondberg, Wimbish and Stone; Celadon Design; Cox, Graae and Spack Architects; and Chris Dorr Photography.

The evening prior to the gala is a special time for staff and families to gather and celebrate, and includes the announcement of the Sister Jeannette Award winner. This award is given to a staff member that has gone above and beyond in demonstrating the values and vision of Benedictine. This award was established in honor of Sister Jeannette Murray who served at Benedictine for over 30 years.

“Everyday miracles happen because of the dedication of our employees to the students and adults we support,” stated Evans. “It is that dedication that saw us through the past two years and we owe a huge thank you to all that stood by our mission and kept everyone safe. We look forward to honoring all our staff and congratulating this year’s award winner.”

To purchase tickets to the Benedictine Bond Ball on April 30^th, please go to:  https://events.readysetauction.com/benedictinefoundation/gala2022 or contact Stacy Whewell at 410.364.9613 or stacy.whewell@benschool.org.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Caroline Bauerle, Director of Development, at 410.369.9612 or caroline.bauerle@benschool.org.

Premiering this year is the Benedictine virtual silent auction beginning Saturday, April 15^th. Items include International Spy Museum tickets, Sail Selina II day sail, Chesapeake Bay Beach Club gift certificate, St. Michaels Inn accommodations, Councell Farm season pass and much more. To participate in the virtual silent auction please go to: https://events.readysetauction.com/benedictinefoundation/gala2022.

Make your room reservation at the Tidewater Inn by April 15^th to get a discounted rate. https://tidewaterinn.com/

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization helping more than 200 children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot and Anne Arundel counties. The Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Dorchester County public schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. For more information, visit www.benschool.org.

Benedictine celebrated milestones in service for 52 of its dedicated staff members in early December. The awards were presented to employees with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40 years of service with a special recognition for the 46 years Sister Mary Agnes has served Benedictine.

Each staff member was presented with special thank you gifts during a recognition luncheon. Staff celebrating 5,10 and 15 years of service were each given a certificate; 20 years received a framed, personal write-up award; 25,30 and 40 received a framed certificate noting years of service with number of months, weeks, days, hours, minutes and seconds plus a canvas picture of the iconic Benedictine mile lane with its original stone wall entrance. In addition, all staff received a monetary gift based on their years of service.

Sister Mary Agnes’s special 46-year recognition celebrates her extraordinary service as a role model, teacher, caregiver and vocational coordinator; she exemplifies the true spirit of Benedictine. She is loved and respected by all her colleagues and all those she has served at Benedictine.

“The Milestone Awards Ceremony is a favorite event of mine at Benedictine,” stated Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director. “It highlights the commitment our employees have to our mission and values, and the work they do to support the students and adults in our programs.”

Benedictine commends all its staff milestone awardees for their compassion, dedication, dependability and caring devotion for the children and adults they serve and for their commitment to Benedictine. These traits shine through in their daily interactions with the people they support and their families, as well as co-workers and staff at Benedictine.

Benedictine has close to 400 employees who serve children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and autism at its Ridgely Campus and in its 22 group homes in Caroline, Talbot and Anne Arundel Counties, as well as at the Community Services and Training Center in Easton. Guided by its core values of compassionate caring, dignity of work and hospitality, Benedictine’s mission is to help each individual reach their greatest potential and highest level of independence.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization helping more than 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the Talbot County Public Schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Program. For more information, visit www.benschool.org

Benedictine has been awarded a $562,335 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through a partnership with Caroline County to begin work on a new ring road and sidewalks to provide access during the subsequent phases of “Transforming a Campus to Transform Lives” construction master plan. The “Transforming a Campus to Transform Lives” plan is a careful orchestration of building renovation and new construction to improve and update the facilities that are nearing the end of their useful life so Benedictine can better meet the needs of a current autistic student population with significant sensory sensitivities.

“The Caroline County Commissioners were eager to support the Benedictine School project that will enhance its campus as well as the learning experience for students and staff,” stated Larry Porter, Caroline County Commissioners President. “This future campus will be an asset to the members of our community for many years to come.”

In 2018 the architectural firm of Cox, Graae, &Spack was hired to craft a plan for the campus transformation. The plan encompasses 3 phases with Phase 1a to include the completion of the new campus ring road and sidewalks and Phase 1to include a new student residence wing, program space, a family visiting area and state-of-the art nursing station. Phase 2 will include a new academic core of classrooms and areas for physical, speech and occupational therapy. Phase 3 plans for a new adult services space and administrative office consolidation.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Caroline County and take this important first step in transforming our campus,” stated Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director.

Benedictine’s students with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum has greatly increased over the past 20 years and now make up approximately 80% of Benedictine’s student population.

“Accessing outdoors activities for our students allows them to engage in their environment, learn about the natural world and decrease hyperactivity. The new ring road will provide an additional safe place for that to occur and is an exciting first step in the larger project of transforming our campus,” stated Julie Hickey, Benedictine Education Director.

The CDBG award is funded by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

For more information about the “Transforming a Campus to Transform Lives” plan and how you can support this initiative, please contact Claudia Cunningham, Benedictine Chief Advancement Officer, at 410.364.9610 or Claudia.cunningham@benschool.org.

About Benedictine:

Benedictine is a non-sectarian nonprofit organization helping more than 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism achieve their greatest potential. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, ages 22 to 70+, in the community and those who live in Benedictine’s group homes in Caroline, Talbot, and Anne Arundel Counties. Benedictine’s Easton Community Services & Training Center prepares the adults it serves to enter the workforce and collaborates with the Talbot County Public Schools to provide services to their students through the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS) Program. For more information, visit www.benschool.org

Benedictine was excited to hold its popular Birdies for Benedictine Charity Golf Classic on November 8 after a hiatus last year due to the pandemic. This year’s golf classic raised over $38,000 to help fund the Benedictine school and adult day and residential programs which serve developmentally disabled children and adults ages 5-70+.

“I was so impressed with the generosity of our sponsors and golfers,” commented Caroline Bauerle, the new Director of Development. “Their support will assure that Benedictine can continue to help the children and adults we serve achieve their greatest potential. Funds will also help with the regulations and challenges Benedictine faced by the Covid 19 pandemic.”

The event began with check in at 10AM, followed by a putting contest at 11:15AM and a shotgun start at 11:30AM. Golfers enjoyed passed appetizers and light fare during the awards ceremony announcing the year’s winners.  This year’s champions were “Team Special Olympics” which included father and daughter Frank and Kendall McCauley, along with Billy Ulevich and Will Montague.

Benedictine would like to thank all of their generous sponsors – PNC Bank, Insurance Solutions, Inc., Marasun Roofing, Patriot Cruises, The Hegarty Family, The Amato and DeGeorge Families, John and Pat Krieger, The Collamore Family and The Hoffman Family.

The Benedictine Charity Golf Classic was held at the Talbot Country Club. Founded in 1910, the Club sits on 194-acres along the waterfront in Easton. Designed by Ed Ault, the 18-hole championship course has ten par 4’s, four par 5’s and four par 3’s, providing a challenge for all skill levels.

For more information, including how to support Benedictine’s community and mission, please visit www.benschool.org.

About Benedictine: Benedictine began with a classroom of 17 children with Down syndrome more than 60 years ago. Our program has grown into one of the most comprehensive providers of services in Maryland for more than 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, Maryland campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from throughout Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, and for the more than 80 adults ages 22 to 70+ who live in group homes. Guided by our core values of Hospitality, Dignity of Work and Compassionate Caring, our mission is to help each individual reach their greatest potential. Our values and mission are rooted in our founding by the Sisters of St. Benedict. Today, Benedictine is a non-sectarian organization, but we continue to honor and celebrate these values.

Benedictine hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, October 13, to celebrate the newest editions to the accessible playground on their Ridgely campus and all who made these upgrades possible.

Benedictine began planning for this multi-phased playground project ten years ago in an effort to meet the changing physical and developmental needs of its students. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Baltimore provided generous financial assistance for phase 1, which included removing outdated, inaccessible equipment and replacing it with bright, accessible components. As Benedictine has continued to evolve and grow in size over the past decade, additional donor support has enabled the organization to transform the playground in a more comprehensive way. The recently-added phase 2 components will provide increased accessibility and inclusivity. More importantly, these additions will accommodate the unique challenges of both current and future students.

Attendees of the ribbon cutting ceremony included donors, parents, community members,  Benedictine leadership and staff members. Also in attendance were Secretary of the Maryland Department of Disabilities, Carol Beatty, and Caroline County Commissioners Larry Porter and Dan Franklin, and Senator Adelaide Eckardt joined Benedictine for the reception.

Photo: Lead donors John Johnson and Denise Kaczmarczyk help Benedictine Executive Director Scott Evans cut the ribbon to mark the grand unveiling of Benedictine’s newly upgraded accessible playground.

Benedictine’s Chief Advancement Officer, Claudia Cunningham, offered words of welcome at the start of the ceremony, and Executive Director Scott Evans spoke about the decade-long project, acknowledging the donors and staff members who made it possible. Education Director Julie Hickey spoke about the impact the new playground would have — not only on Benedictine’s student population, but also on their families and the other individuals supported by the organization. Adaptive Physical Education Teacher Brett Rhodes and Physical Therapist Haley Miner were largely responsible for the playground’s layout and design. Haley described how the new equipment will accommodate the varying physical and developmental needs of Benedictine students, and allow children to play together, despite differences in their abilities.

Lead donors John Johnson and Denise Kaczmarczyk of Lewes, DE, helped Executive Director Evans cut the ribbon to mark the unveiling of the new playground. Johnson and Kaczmarczyk generously contributed $40,000 to facilitate the completion of phase 2, and prior to the event, they committed an additional $150,000 for the completion of the final phase next spring.

Other donors and contributors included the Maryland State Department of Education, which awarded grant funds from Maryland’s Non-Public Aging Schools Program in 2019; Danny’s Lawn Care & Landscaping, LLC, a Ridgely-based company that provided and installed the woo fiber mulch base; Chaney Enterprises, which donated and delivered 15 tons of recycled concrete; the Mary and Daniel Loughran Foundation, Inc.; the Nora Roberts Foundation; and the Grasonville VFW Post 746

After the ceremony, guests joined Executive Director Scott Evans in Heritage Hall for light refreshments. Scott again offered his gratitude and unveiled Benedictine’s “Transforming a Campus to Transform Lives” plan, which includes converting the convent space on campus into a new residential wing for Benedictine School students.

If you wish to support Benedictine’s mission and campus transformation plans, please visit www.benschool.org and click “Donate.”

About Benedictine: Benedictine began with a classroom of 17 children with Down syndrome more than 60 years ago. Our program has grown into one of the most comprehensive providers of services in Maryland for more than 200 children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism. Benedictine’s year-round educational program is one of only 26 nationwide to earn a two-year accreditation from the National Commission for Accreditation of Special Education Services (NCASES). This program includes home-like living and learning options on the Ridgely, MD campus, for children ages 5 to 21 who come from throughout Maryland and surrounding states. Benedictine’s Adult Services program offers employment and vocational services for transitional youth and adults, and for the more than 80 adults ages 22 to 70+ who live in group homes. Guided by our core values of Hospitality, Dignity of Work and Compassionate Caring, our mission is to help each individual reach their greatest potential. Our values and mission are rooted in our founding by the Sisters of St. Benedict. Today, Benedictine is a non-sectarian organization, but we continue to honor and celebrate these values.