The first snowflakes of winter swirled outside the windows of the Chesapeake Culinary Center last Thursday, November 15, but no one was feeling the cold. The Caroline Foundation warmed the hearts of area non-profits with an astounding $600,000 in grants for 18 projects. Sticking with the theme of joyful giving, each recipient received an envelope they were not allowed to open until a representative from each organization stood and shared how their award would be used. Attendees were so absorbed in each other’s stories, and the challenges that would be met by The Caroline Foundation’s generous support, they had to be reminded to open their envelopes.
The Caroline Foundation benefits and provides economic support to organizations that provide medical and/or health-related services to residents of Caroline County. In 1967 the citizens of Caroline County, with the support of the county government, created the Caroline Nursing Home. In 2000, the Gables and The Caroline Foundation were created to address additional health needs in the community. In 2015, the decision was made to sell the Caroline Nursing Home and the Gables to a company specializing in health management and to invest the proceeds as an endowment fund to be used for grant-making in perpetuity.
Terry Mead, President of The Caroline Foundation Board, proudly announced that in just three years $1,287,000 has been awarded to organizations providing health related services to Caroline County residents. Terry noted that one of the reasons the Foundation has been so successful is that it has managed to keep expenses at just over 1% of its assets through its management agreement with Mid-Shore Community Foundation which provides accounting services, marketing support and manages the grantmaking process.
The 2018 grant recipients were: Caroline County Department of Social Services for book bags and supplies, Caroline County Family YMCA Open Doors Program, Caroline County Health Department for behavioral health services, Caroline County Local Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council for community presentations, Caroline Medical Daycare “Silver Lining” program, Channel Marker for youth capacity building, Compass Regional Hospice for patient care, For All Seasons for school-based clinicians, His Hope Ministries operations, Mid-Shore Council of Family Violence health initiative, Moveable Feast for home delivered meals, Rebuilding Together projects, Saint Martin’s Ministries food pantry staffing, Special Ed Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Family Fun bowling, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health for mammography equipment, and Upper Shore Aging for transportation costs and gap-filling services.
Grant applications are available online and the deadline for submission is July 1. For additional information, contact the Mid-Shore Community Foundation at 410-820-8175.
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