Mid-Shore Community Foundation

The Caroline Foundation Accepting Grant Requests

May 10, 2022 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation Leave a Comment

The Caroline Foundation, in partnership with the Mid-ShoreCommunity Foundation, invites organizations that provide medical and/or health-related services to residents of Caroline County, Maryland to apply for FY2023 grant funding.

Applicants must be nonprofit corporations with IRS tax-exempt status, or government-related entities. Applications are online at http://www.mscf.org/caroline-foundation. The deadline for submission of FY2023 grant applications is midnight, July 1, 2022.

Grant decisions and distributions will be made in October, 2022. The Caroline Foundation retains the right to accept or reject applications, suggest changes, and support grant requests in full, in part, or not at all.

Organizations that would like additional information about The Caroline Foundation’s grants process should contact Buck Duncan or Robbin Hill at the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, 410-820-8175 or info@mscf.org.

Cyber Security 101, Online via Zoom, March 24

March 11, 2022 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation Leave a Comment

Mid-Shore Community Foundation is hosting CYBER SECURITY 101 for the Community. There is no cost to attend. Space is limited and advance registration is required.

CYBER SECURITY 101, Thursday, March 24, 2022, 9:00AM – 10:30AM, Online via Zoom

Led by Fred Christie, Chief Information Officer at Easton Utilities, the presentation will touch on specific policies, procedures, and systems that you can utilize to put your organization in the safest possible position to ward off cyberthreats. We will touch on the different attack vectors and techniques that the cyber criminals use to do their dirty work. We will discuss the effects that your cyber defenses have on your ability to acquire and afford cyber insurance, and we will discuss personal cyber security and everyone’s most common concern, identity theft.

REGISTER ONLINE: https://m-scf.networkforgood.com/events/40404-cyber-security-101

Mid-Shore Community Foundation Presents Awards

January 28, 2022 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation Leave a Comment

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation (MSCF) recently honored individuals and organizations, for their contributions to enhance the quality of life on the Mid-Shore.

Buck Duncan, MSCF President, and Moorhead Vermilye, MSCF Founder, presented the awards at a luncheon at the Tidewater Inn. Due to concerns of Covid, the luncheon was limited in size and the presentations were filmed for the public.

Forrest Daniels, Judy Slaughter and Buck Duncan.

“This year’s award recipients have made a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” said Duncan. “We are honored to recognize and support their important work.”

The Town Watch Award, which recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service in the Mid-Shore Community, was presented to Judy Slaughter and Mike Starling. Judy serves as the Director of Volunteer Services at Eastern Shore Hospital Center, where she is actively engaged in raising awareness and support for patients. Mike serves as the Station Manager and Chief Promoter at WHCP Community Radio, where he has been invaluable in the promotion of local events and culture.

Buck Duncan, Mike Starling and Moorhead Vermilye.

The J. McKenny Willis, Jr. Award recognizes nonprofit organizations for providing outstanding service to the community and is presented to a volunteer who has been instrumental in the success of the organization. The Willis Award was presented to Charles Thornton, Chairman and Founder of the ACE Mentor Program, a nonprofit organization that provides career mentoring and scholarships to students who are interested in architecture, construction management, and engineering.

Five Special Recognition Awards were also presented. Lani Seikaly of Kent Attainable Housing and Vic Pfeiffer of Rebuilding Together Kent County were recognized for their work to address housing insecurity in Kent County. Leslie Bishop of MidShore Meals til Monday, and John Phillips and Steven Covey of Food For Learning were recognized for their work in combating childhood hunger on the Mid-Shore. The final award was presented in memory of Kelley Phillips Cox for her lifelong commitment to the Mid-Shore Region. Jerry Cox and Missy Cannon Helgason accepted the award on behalf of the Kelley Phillips Cox Legacy Fund.

“The work of the Community Foundation is truly a collaborative effort,” said Duncan. “Fiscal Year 2021 was a strong year – the Foundation experienced phenomenal growth. Total assets increased to $125 million, and through its 491 charitable funds, the Foundation was able to distribute $6.3 million in grants and scholarships. Through its COVID-19 Response Fund, the Foundation was able to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontline of the pandemic and thanks to all who donated, the Foundation was able to provide $1,573,883.00 to 99 local nonprofit organizations.”

For additional information, or to view the video of the presentations, visit www.mscf.org/annual-awards.

Mid-Shore Community Foundation Appoints New Members

July 13, 2021 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation Leave a Comment

L-R: Heather Guerieri, Harriette Lowery, Greg Meekins, Stephen Rideout, Tolbert Rowe, and Charles Taylor.

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation announces the appointment of six new members to its Board of Directors – Heather Guerieri, Harriette Lowery, Greg Meekins, Steve Rideout, Tolbert Rowe, and Charles Taylor.

The Foundation’s Board of Directors consists of twenty-nine individuals from throughout the Mid-Shore Region of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. All members are volunteers and together they represent a diverse range of knowledge and experience.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome these new members,” said Buck Duncan, Foundation President. “We also thank Susan Chaffinch, Ken Kozel, Rick Scobey, Brett Summers, and Moorhead Vermilye who are completing their terms. We are fortunate to have such talented and supportive volunteers.”

Heather Guerieri (Queen Anne’s County) has dedicated her career to caring for individuals at the end-of-life. Heather serves as CEO of Compass and as President of the Board of Directors for the Hospice and Palliative Care Network of Maryland. She previously served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2014–2020.

Harriette Lowery (Talbot County), born and raised in Talbot County, works at Chesapeake College encouraging and supporting the academic and social growth of the student population. Harriette is a member of the Frederick Douglass Honor Society, a member of St. Stephen’s A.M.E. Church in Unionville, and a member of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Baltimore. Her labor of love is working with organizations on the Eastern Shore to educate, promote, and preserve the history and the contributions of African American citizens on the Eastern Shore.

Greg Meekins (Dorchester County) retired from a long career with the Dorchester County School System where he served as Administrator for Alternative Learning, Supervisor of Pupil Services, and Principal of North Dorchester High School. Greg is a long-time member of the Dorchester Elks Lodge and he previously served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors from 2013–2019.

Steve Rideout (Dorchester County) retired as the Chief Judge of the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Steve was a member of the Board of Directors for Foster Care Alumni of America and one of his proudest recognitions was being named as National CASA Judge of the year. More recently, he served as a Commissioner for the City of Cambridge and served on the Legislative Committee of the Maryland Municipal League. Judge Rideout now serves as an advocate and consultant for child welfare and juvenile justice issues.

Tolbert Rowe (Caroline County), a lifelong Eastern Shoreman, is the Vice President at Bay Capital Mortgage in Easton, Maryland and is very active in the community. Tolbert served on the Caroline County Board of Education for 18 years, 4 years as President. He serves as Executive Director of Channel Marker Foundation and as Treasurer/Coach for Mid Shore Challengers.

Charles Taylor (Kent County) retired from a long career in writing, editing, and media relations. During his career, Charles served as a Senior Communications Representative and Manager of major companies, including Dominion Virginia Power and Pepco. In retirement, Charles has committed himself and his passion for the arts to the betterment of Kent County, serving as Vice Chair of the National Music Festival, Vice President of Kent Cultural Alliance, and as a Director for Sultana Education Foundation.

Established in 1992, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Mid-Shore Region of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. Since its founding, the Foundation has received over $90.7 million in contributions and has awarded more than $45.7 million in grants and scholarships. For additional information about the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, including a complete list of Board Members, visit: www.mscf.org/board.

MSCF Announces Annual Event

November 7, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

Due to COVID-19, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation’s 2020 Annual Awards and Report to the Community will be held via a virtual format.

The annual event will highlight recent activities and will recognize individuals and organizations whose contributions have made a positive and substantial impact on the community.

Bullitt House

This year’s honorees include: JoAnn Asparagus-Murray, Childlene Brooks, Anne Clucas and Debbie Molchan of St. Vincent de Paul, Jeff Horstman of ShoreRivers, Sandy Brown of Mid-Shore Pro Bono, Megan Cook and Emily Moody of CarePacks, Clay Washington of Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center, Larry Wilson of Sumner Hall, Ruth Clendaniel of Dorchester Retired Educators Association, Cesar Gonzalez of Cambridge Community Radio, and Sara Rich of Choptank Community Health System.

The pre-recorded video will premiere on Friday, November 20, 2020 at 9AM. Those who register, will be sent a link to the viewing and afterwards, the video will be posted publicly for all to share!

Additional information, including registration, is available on the Foundation’s website (https://www.mscf.org/annual-awards).

MSCF Awards $7,500 Grant To Confront Food Insecurity In Kent County

September 2, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

The 501(c)(3) public charity awarded FarmersWagon.org a $7,500 COVID-19 Response Fund grant to support the non-profit’s Care Package Program. The FarmersWagon.org program provides free and reduced deliveries to households in Kent County. FarmersWagon.org will use the grant to source fresh produce, proteins, and other items, from local food producers. The non-profit estimates that approximately 200 deliveries will be provided to Care Package Program members. FarmersWagon.org is currently accepting applications and referrals for the Care Package Program. For more information, visit www.farmerswagon.org/carepackages or call (443)333-9336.

About FarmersWagon.org
FarmersWagon.org is a non-profit organization that works to ensure food security and sovereignty to households in Kent County, MD. The volunteer-based project started following the initial closure of the Chestertown Farmers Market by Mayor Chris Cerino and the Town Council in March 2020. The organization’s mission is funded by retail sales on its online marketplace and farm-to-door delivery, with 70% of the online market’s NET profits committed to providing Care Packages for local households.

About Mid-Shore Community Foundation
Mid-Shore Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that connects private resources with public needs to enhance the quality of life throughout the Mid-Shore Region of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties. Established in 1992, with a $236,000 bequest, the Foundation has matured to become one of the most significant foundations in the State of Maryland. Today, the Foundation holds $93.4 million in total assets for the Mid-Shore Region and since its founding, the Foundation has awarded $39.8 million in grants and scholarships

MSCF Calls for Award Nominations

July 31, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

Mid-Shore Community Foundation is currently accepting nominations for its annual awards which recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding achievements in philanthropy.

All nominations will be reviewed/determined by an internal selection committee and awards will be presented at the Foundation’s Annual Report to the Community and Awards Celebration on November 20, 2020, 8:30 AM, online via Zoom.

Nomination forms must be received electronically, and the submission deadline is August 15, 2020.

The nomination form, along with additional information about the awards, is available on the Foundation’s website (https://www.mscf.org/annual-awards).

For additional information, contact Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, wduncan@mscf.org or (410) 820-8175, Ext. 100.

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MSCF Announces New Board Members

June 25, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

The Mid-Shore Community Foundation welcomes Heather Bacher, Kevin Cashen, George Fox and Andrew Meehan as new members to its Board of Directors.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome these new members,” said Buck Duncan, Foundation President. “We also thank the four members that are completing their terms – Stuart Bounds, Bill Brooks, Heather Guerieri and Kirk Helfenbein. We are very fortunate to have such talented and supportive volunteers.”

Heather Bacher

Ms. Bacher is a Market Manager for Shore United Bank’s Queen Anne’s and Kent County Branches. She is a graduate of Salisbury University and has twenty years of retail and commercial banking experience. Heather is President of Chesapeake Women’s Network, Board Member of Economic Development for Queen Anne’s County, Member of Rotary of Kent Island and a Committee Member for the Bosom Buddies Ball. Heather resides in Stevensville with her son Ryan.

Kevin Cashen

Mr. Cashen is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Queenstown Bank of Maryland and has over 30 years of banking experience. He holds a Master of Science in Real Estate from John Hopkins University, Master of Business Administration from the University of Baltimore and a Bachelor of Science in Business and Finance from Mount St. Mary’s University. Kevin resides in Queenstown with his wife Margaret.

George Fox

Mr. Fox is the Principal/Owner of George J. Fox Consulting. He earned his B.S. in civil engineering from Villanova University and his M.B.A in management from Wayne State University. George lends his time and expertise to numerous organizations, including Habitat for Humanity Choptank, St. Mary’s Refuge of Sinners, Dorchester Arts Center, Dorchester General Community Hospital Association and the Rotary Club of Cambridge. George resides in Cambridge with his wife Julie.

Andrew Meehan

Mr. Meehan is a trial lawyer with MacLeod Law Group in Chestertown and has practiced law for more than 30 years in Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia and a graduate of Washington & Lee University School of Law. Andy is the primary champion of the Chestertown Rotary Club’s Flags for Heroes program, is on the leadership team of the Kent Goes Purple initiative and was a recent recipient of the Town Watch Society Award. Andy resides in Kent County with his family.

Officers and Directors for Fiscal Year 2021 are Moorhead Vermilye (Chairman), Alice Ryan (Vice Chair), David Nagel (Treasurer), Brett Summers (Secretary), Ed Allen, Jean Anthony, Joe Anthony, Heather Bacher, Kevin Cashen, Susan Chaffinch, Bill Christopher, David DeLuca, Kathy Deoudes, George Fox, Clem Hathaway, Joe Holt, Ken Kozel, Charles Lerner, John Lewis, Becky Loukides, Sandy McAllister, Andrew Meehan, Fil Morrison, Peggy Rennels, Jenny Rhodes, Rick Scobey, Tracy Tyler and Arraminta Ware.

Established in 1992, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout the Mid-Shore Region of Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. Since its founding, the Foundation has received over $86.9 million in contributions and has awarded more than $39.8 million in grants and scholarships. For additional information about the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, visit: https://www.mscf.org.

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Caroline Foundation Accepting Grant Requests

June 12, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

The Caroline Foundation, in partnership with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, invites organizations that provide medical and/or health-related services to residents of Caroline County, Maryland to apply for FY2021 grant funding.

Applicants must be nonprofit corporations with IRS tax-exempt status, or government-related entities. Applications are online at http://www.mscf.org/caroline-foundation. The deadline for submission of FY2021 grant applications is July 1, 2020.

Grant decisions and distributions will be made in October 2020. The Caroline Foundation retains the right to accept or reject applications, suggest changes, and support grant requests in full, in part, or not at all.

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MSCF Establishes COVID-19 Response Fund for Mid-Shore Nonprofits

April 1, 2020 by Mid-Shore Community Foundation

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mid-Shore Community Foundation has established a COVID-19 Response Fund to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the frontline of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Foundation made a leadership gift of $100,000. Avon-Dixon Insurance Agency, Choptank Transport, Preston Automotive Group and Shore Bancshares quickly joined the response effort with generous donations.

Businesses, individuals and fund advisors are encouraged to join the initiative by making a charitable contribution. The Foundation is waiving all administrative fees; one hundred percent of all donations will be used for this effort. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and qualify for maximum tax advantages.

Immediate grant funding is available for nonprofit organizations serving community members who have been impacted by the Coronavirus and the economic consequences of the pandemic in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot Counties. In order to move resources quickly, qualifying entities must be previous grantees of the Foundation.

Qualifying nonprofits are eligible to apply for grants up to $5,000. The grant awards will be administered through a simplified online grant application. Information about grant funding is available on the Foundation’s website at MSCF.org/covid19.

Donations can be made online at MSCF.org/donate-online or checks can be mailed to Mid-Shore Community Foundation, 102 East Dover Street, Easton, Maryland 21601. Please indicate that your gift should be directed to the COVID-19 Response Fund.

For additional information, contact Buck Duncan, President of the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, wduncan@mscf.org or (410) 820-8175, Ext. 100.

COVID 19 Response Fund FAQ

Why is MSCF starting this fund?

We have a long history of working efficiently and effectively to direct the philanthropy of our donors to impactful community-based organizations working to strengthen our region. We are committed to ensuring that our donors, grantees and partners can work together to care for our most vulnerable neighbors.

How can my organization apply for funds?

Eligible organizations may fill out the online application.

Who can apply to this fund?

I have not received a grant from MSCF before. Can I apply to this fund?

Unfortunately, no. This fund is responsive and moves funds as quickly as possible. In order to facilitate this, we require applicants to have a past grantee history with the Foundation.

I’m an individual who’s been affected by COVID-19. Can this fund help me?

We understand many individuals have been affected. On behalf of our community, we are working to move resources to community-based organizations that are directly supporting local residents and families who are most affected. While the Fund is not able to provide grants to individuals, we will fund community-based organizations that have experience and history of providing people and families with services and support.

My organization has been impacted negatively can we be considered for a grant to offset lost revenue.

We understand the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting nonprofits in many ways, including increased demand for their services, lost revenue due to closures and cancellations, as well as other challenges. Please describe the impact on your services and programs due to lost revenue.

I want to donate. Can I restrict my funding to a prioritized grantee?

To ensure we move resources as efficiently as possible and respond to needs of communities most impacted, we are not considering restricted donations. This fund was created in the spirit of providing a way to coordinate as many resources as possible.

How can I support this Fund?

We ask that donors contribute online if possible, to ensure that funds can be made available as quickly as possible.

Should I give to this fund instead of making other donations?

This fund will facilitate resources to the community where they are needed most. Please continue to give to organizations you regularly support and those that need your help at this crucial time. They will need your help more than ever.

Will the fund address shifting priorities?

Priorities may evolve as our region adapts to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will continue to prioritize communities most impacted.

Where can I find updates or new information about the COVID-19 Response Fund and its grantmaking?

Please check our website (MSCF.org) for updates.

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