The Pillar Newsletter - Spring 2023

In This Issue

New Funds & Scholarships

Connecting donors to impact

The Tyler Groton Memorial Fund

Supporting LGBTQ+ youth

Todd Hershey

Service to community remembered

Inspiring Impact

A look into the lives your gifts are changing

Black Excellence Community Fund

Our newest giving circle awards grants

The Women’s Fund

Celebrating Women’s History Month

The Lower Shore Scholarship Fund

Aid for students and tax credits for donors

Cpl. Glenn Hilliard

Honoring a legacy

Upcoming Trainings & Events

A calendar filled with learning opportunities!

message from the PRESIDENT

“Spring is the time of plans and projects." — Leo Tolstoy

As the days grow longer and the weather a little warmer, we are reflecting on a very productive start to calendar year 2023. As in many cases, our inspiration and impact stem from the growing and diverse community of donors that create the funds making a difference every day in our region.

Your investment in this community, your commitment to our neighbors, and your trust in us are the keys in the wonderful stories we are able to highlight in this issue of the Pillar. We hope you are encouraged by the good things happening on the Eastern Shore.

We are diligently planning opportunities to engage with our partners in the months ahead – our Nonprofit Summit will take place April 27 & 28 at Salisbury University. This and other valuable opportunities are highlighted on our website CFES.org/events.

I cannot close this letter without a tribute to our friend, Todd Hershey, who passed away earlier this year. We are left with a space that only he filled, but we are stronger and better for the leadership, generosity, and fellowship he brought to our organization. We invite you to honor his memory with a gift to the Todd Hershey Community Needs Fund that will make a difference for generations to come.

-

Erica Joseph, President, CFES

GIVE YEAR ROUND WITH THE

Annual Appeal

The 2023 fiscal year ends June 30th! Please consider a gift to the Community Foundation’s annual appeal. Those making annual appeal gifts before June 30th of each year are included in the annual report and invited to special events. Your support provides for the programs and services that make our community stronger.

NEW FUNDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

Coastal Social Charitable Fund

A Corporate Donor Advised Fund established by Coastal Social Marketing.

Dr. Francis A. Ruffo Memorial Scholarship Fund

A scholarship for Worcester County seniors demonstrating good character and a commitment to serving others.

Dr. Robert & Nancy Adkins Emergency Medicine Education Fund

To advance the role of Tidal Health in emergency medicine.

Dr. Robert & Nancy Adkins Wor-Wic Community College Endowment

To provide health science scholarships at Wor-Wic.

Gateway Pediatrics Healthy Futures Fund

Created by Gateway Pediatrics to support children’s causes.

Joseph F. & Eleanor W. Mulligan Fund

An Administrative Endowment Fund honored with the Mulligan Meeting Room at the Community Foundation.

Mannion Donor Advised Fund

To support local nonprofits.

Richard Allen Memorial Fund

To support special projects at Mt. Calvary United Methodist Church.

Rick & Cynthia Holloway Fund

To support local nonprofits.

Rochelle E. Snee Memorial Scholarship Fund

A Scholarship honoring the legacy of Rochelle Snee. Spirit Foundation Fund

An Agency Fund supporting the Spirit Foundation’s mission of providing scholarships to students in need.

The Cpl. Glenn Hilliard Legacy Scholarship Fund

A scholarship for students pursuing a career in law enforcement and attending Cpl. Hilliard’s alma mater, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

The Salisbury Paramedic Foundation Fund

To support first responders and the needs of the paramedics serving the Salisbury area.

Todd Hershey Fund for Community Needs

To honor the memory of W. Todd Hershey and carry on his love for community philanthropy.

Tyler C. Groton Memorial Fund

Created by Tyler’s parents, the fund will award grants to nonprofits which provide support to LGBTQ+ youth.

West OC Youth Sports Complex Fund

Initiated by the OC Baptist Church to build a sports complex in West Ocean City.

Wor-Wic Robert Dye Scholarship Fund

To provide scholarships to Wor-Wic nursing students.

Wor-Wic VFW Meuse Post 194 & Auxiliary Scholarship

A scholarship for local veterans enrolled at Wor-Wic.

Erica

THE TYLER GROTON MEMORIAL FUND to support LGBTQ+ youth

TODD HERSHEY Reme m bered

It is with great sadness that we share that our dear friend, colleague, and CFES Board Secretary Todd Hershey passed away on February 22nd. Todd was known as a compassionate, welcoming, kind, engaging, and caring person.

The Tyler Groton Memorial Fund was recently established at Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. Created by Judge Thomas Groton III and Althea Smith Groton to honor the memory of their late son, the fund will award grants to nonprofits which provide support to LGBTQ+ youth.

Tyler Groton grew up in Snow Hill, Maryland and passed away suddenly in the Fall of 2021.

“Tyler was a swimmer, Eagle Scout, organ donor, and dedicated time to building shelters for homeless cats, but his greatest passion was theater,” said his mother, Althea Groton. “As a gifted actor he performed in numerous plays in the Baltimore region, most notably at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Theater. He loved working on theatre projects with children and was a talented director.”

The fund was inspired by Tyler’s advocacy of the LGBTQ+ community. As the Assistant Theater Director of the McDonogh School, Tyler’s greatest accomplishment was directing “The Laramie Project.” The play details the brutal killing of gay college student Matthew Shepard. Tyler Groton said at the time he not only wanted to stretch the actors’ ability with the demanding piece of documentary theater, but he also wanted to foster discussion about the treatment of LGBTQ+ people.

“The experience was eye opening and enlightening as noted by all involved including students, parents, and faculty,” said Judge Thomas Groton, Tyler’s father. “LGBTQ+ youth are often mistreated and stigmatized in society and the resulting mental health issues are all too real. Through this memorial fund we want to continue our son’s work by helping to create safe spaces and support for those in crisis.”

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the fund visit CFES.org/donate.

Passionate about giving back to his community, Todd took great pride in volunteering his time and talents to many local organizations. At CFES Todd served as a member of the Board of Directors, served terms as Treasurer and Secretary, was Chairman of the Asset Development Committee, and Chairman of the CFES 35th Anniversary Committee.

Todd was always a friendly face at the CFES offices, taking the time to visit with staff and ask how he could help. His love for his sons, philanthropy, and community will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest condolences to his mother, father, four sons, friends, and all who cared for him.

Mission Possible: Nonprofit Coaching & Consulting

Our consulting and coaching program connects nonprofits with custom solutions to help grow and strengthen their organizations. Selected nonprofits are offered these services at no cost. The program is currently open for applications on a rolling basis.

We Offer:

• Professional Consulting in: Accounting & Finance, Strategic/Long Term Planning, Governance & Administration, Human Resources, Development & Fundraising, Technology Assessments, Marketing & Communication, Program Evaluation & Outcomes, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, and Executive Coaching.

• Professional association underwriting.

• Grant research by expert technical writers and grant consultants.

• Virtual training/webinars on current nonprofit trends or challenges.

To learn more or apply visit CFES.org/missionpossible

L to R: Erica Joseph, Community Foundation President, with Althea Groton and Judge Thomas Groton who hold a photo of their son Tyler Groton.

INSPIRING IMPACT

At CFES we dream of a community where all can live, learn, work, create, and prosper. Check out these snapshots to see how your Community Foundation is creating an impact for so many wonderful programs!

Community Needs grant has allowed Help and Outreach Point of Entry (HOPE) to help clients without access to technology apply for much needed benefits.

Habitat for Humanity’s youth HabiCorp program, supported by a CFES Workforce Development grant, employs Wicomico Evening High & CTE carpentry students to teach career skills, financial literacy, and the value of homeownership.

A new grantee to CFES, Society of St. AndrewDelmarva gleans fresh produce from local farms todonatetolocalfoodpantriesandshelters.

Delmarva Discovery Museum is now hosting more students on field trips and began a new internship program with Pocomoke High School supported in part by a Community Needs Grant from CFES.

Want to be featured in The Pillar?

Email your impact photos to vKent@CFES.ORG

Pocomoke Middle School students are rewarded for good behavior and academic performance with a day of fun and creative activities funded by a CFES Education Grant.

Local homeschool students meet weekly at the Wicomico 4-H for art classes. This program, funded in part by a CFES mini-grant, served over 100 area youth, including English Language Learners and CTE students.

Maryland Food Bank’s FoodWorks is a workforcerebuildingprogramthatoffersafreshstartforlow-income individuals via 12 weeks of intense culinary training, fundedinpartbya CFESworkforcedevelopmentgrant.

Black Excellence Community Fund Awards Inaugural Grants

The Black Excellence Community Fund, which is a Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore Giving Circle, awarded its first grants during Black History Month at an evening reception on February 27th. The grants benefit local nonprofits which impact the quality of life for the local Black community. Each organization received a $500 grant for their work. Grantees were:

• Sisters Empowering Sisters Association which empowers women and young girls through outreach ministry and education.

• #50KSouls which connects churches and organizations to bring outreach to communities and families in need through food, basic necessities, spiritually meaningful deeds, and volunteer assistance.

• The Eastern Shore of Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association which brings awareness to the community, fills gaps in services and needs, and educates the community for the advancement towards a cure.

To get involved or learn more visit CFES.org/becf.

Preserving our heritage, charting our future.

Women’s Fund members celebrated Women's History Month at the Art League of Ocean City on March 15th. Member Dr. Carolyn Elmore made a $10,000 challenge which was matched by the membership, creating an additional $20,000 for Women's Fund grant making this year. Three new members joined that same evening.

THE JOSEPH & ELEANOR MULLIGAN MEETING ROOM

Eleanor Mulligan recently created an endowment to support the work of the Community Foundation and its efforts to inspire local philanthropy and strengthen the nonprofit sector. The Joseph and Eleanor Mulligan Meeting Room was dedicated on February 22, 2023 in honor of her generosity.

WEST OC YOUTH SPORTS COMPLEX FUND

a

Left to right: Sonya Whited, BECF Founding Member; Mandel Copeland of #50KSouls; Vastina Omosebi of Sisters Empowering Sisters; Shanda Ward of The Eastern Shore of Maryland Sickle Cell Disease Association; Sharon Morris, BECF Founding Member; Lori Carter, BECF Founding Member.

THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE EA STERN SHORE

Lower Shore Scholarship Fund: Aid for students & tax credits for donors

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore recently established the Lower Shore Scholarship Fund to assist local students attending area colleges. The new scholarship fund is unique in that gifts made by donors to the fund may qualify for the Endow Maryland Tax Credit.

The Lower Shore Scholarship Fund provides a new opportunity for donors to support scholarships locally. Each year Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore will receive equal grants from the Community Foundation to support students who are residents of the tri-county region. Each school will be empowered to prioritize recipient selection to meet emerging student and workforce needs.

The Endow Maryland Tax Credit Program rewards donors who make charitable gifts to qualifying funds at their local community foundation, including gifts to the CFES Lower Shore Scholarship Fund. Contributions of $500 or more to CFES under the Endow Maryland program qualify for a 25 percent tax credit on their state taxes.

“Education is the key to growing a stronger community,” said Erica Joseph, Community Foundation President. “We hope these tax credits will help donors maximize their gifts while empowering our next generation of leaders.”

To learn more about the Endow Maryland Tax Credit program and the qualifying funds visit CFES.org/endowmd.

How To Make a $1,000 Donation Cost Only $750* (even without itemizing!)

You donate $1,000 to your community foundation ($500 min. donation required for the Endow MD tax credit.) $1,000

State taxes are reduced by a $250 tax credit.

If you itemize deductions on your federal tax return, your gift may also be eligible for the federal charitable tax deduction – reducing the cost to you even more!

*This example is not intended to provide accounting advice. Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

Cpl. Glenn Hilliard: Honoring a Legacy

The Glenn Hilliard Legacy Scholarship was established in Summer of 2022 to honor the life and legacy of Corporal Glenn Hilliard, a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on June 12, 2022. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student who is pursuing a career in law enforcement and is attending Cpl. Hilliard’s alma mater, The University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

“I hope this scholarship will be a living legacy, one that will allow Glenn’s spirit to touch and enrich the lives of others well beyond our years,”says Berlin Police Chief Arnold Downing, who served as Hilliard’s Chief and mentor during his employment with the Berlin Police Department, and is serving as the Chairman of the Glenn Hilliard Legacy Scholarship Fund Committee. “My wish is that Glenn’s life story will encourage others to pursue a career in law enforcement, especially those underrepresented in the profession. Additionally, I hope the scholarship will eliminate the financial barriers that can often derail the purest dreams.”

Corporal Hilliard’s 18-year law enforcement career included service as a Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy, Deputy U.S. Marshall Task Force Officer, Crisfield Police Officer, Berlin Police Officer, and Seasonal Police Officer for Ocean City Police Department.

“Glenn was a true self motivator,” says Downing. “He strived to be a better police officer each day -- never away from a position, but rather running to a better situation in his commitment to service.”

The scholarship, held at the Community Foundation, was created with a pledge of up to $350,000 towards the scholarship from the Humphreys Foundation. This pledge consists of a gift of $10,000 per year for five years, with an additional $1 for every $2 raised in donations, for up to $75,000 per year for four years.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship fund visit CFES.org/donate.

Vernon Powell Shoe Company

National footwear brand Rainbow Sandals teamed up with Vernon Powell Shoes to make a $5,000 gift to the Community Foundation. The gift will support the Lower Shore Community Needs Fund.

Grant & Award Deadlines

Mini Grant Deadline - 15th of Every Month

Education Grants - August 25th

CFES Annual Award Nominations - Aug. 31st

Workforce Development Grants - Oct. 1st

Community Needs Grants LOI - Jan. 2024

Funding requests that are outside of our current open grant programs require a Letter of Inquiry submission. Eligible organizations may submit a Letter of Inquiry on a rolling application deadline.

UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAININGS

Lower Shore Nonprofit Summit • April 27 - 28, 2023

Professional development and networking event.

Grant writing 101• May 4 & July 18 - 11AM • Virtual This is our best practice 101 introduction to grant writing for nonprofit professionals!

Nonprofit Fundraising 101 • May 11 & July 27 • 11AM • Virtual What you need to know about fundraising for your nonprofit.

Nonprofit Finance 101 • May 16 & Aug. 1 • 11 AM • Virtual Sound financial management is critical to nonprofit success. Learn the basics of nonprofit budgeting, accounting, reporting, and internal controls.

Strategic Planning 101 • May 23 & Aug. 15 • 11AM • Virtual This workshop will introduce management tools you can use to create a strategic plan for your organization.

Starting a Nonprofit • June 8 & Aug. 22 • 9 a.m. - 11AM • CFES

Learn about starting a nonprofit and best practices for those just starting out.

Nonprofit Compliance 101 • June 15 & Aug. 10 • 11 AM • Virtual Learn key information to maintain compliance with federal and Maryland state nonprofit laws and regulations.

Nonprofit Boards 101 • June 20 & Aug. 24 • 11 AM • Virtual This introductory workshop will cover the basic best practices for building, retaining, and engaging your nonprofit Board of Directors.

Grant Professionals Network • June 21 • 9 AM • Virtual Join our programs team to network and learn alongside other grant professionals on the Lower Shore.

Intro to CFES Grants • June 27 • 11 AM • Virtual

Learn everything you need to know about applying for grants from CFES

Public Speaking 101• July 13 • 9AM - 11AM • CFES

Craft your own special message and put it to the test.

*NEW* Outcomes Thinking • Aug. 23 • 9AM - 11AM • CFES

Learn to track and communicate metrics to strengthen impact and improve your chances of getting grants!

Giving Tuesday 2023 • Nov. 28 • Save the Date

It’s easier than ever to make the gift of a lifetime! CFES can help turn your individual retirement accounts (IRAs) into tax-saving charitable gifts. Your retirement funds can go further than ever before to make a difference in our community. Giving is one of life’s pleasures; we can help you enjoy it today.

Full list of events & details at

Qualified Charitable Distributions THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

James P. Jones, Chairman

Velda E. Henry, Vice Chairman

M. Dean Lewis, Treasurer

Edward Barber

Allen C. Brown, Sr.

Robin L. Evans

Dr. Carolyn S. Johnston

Andy Kim

Ginnie H. Malone

Dwight W. Marshall, Jr.

Tyrone E. Mills

William R. McCain

Melody S. Nelson

Daniel M. O’Connell

Janice M. Perdue

John K. Phoebus

Gregory D. Tawes

Michael P. Truitt

Dr. Annette E. Wallace

Sonya A. Whited

Dr. George I. Whitehead, III

Gayle H. Widdowson

Stephanie T. Willey

Dr. Julius D. Zant

FOUNDATION STAFF

Lauren Ansted Program Officer

Sharon Dickson, CPA Finance Director

Cathy Diekmann Program Officer

Veronique Diriker Ph.D., CFRE Chief Advancement Officer

Heather Geraldes Program Director

Erica Joseph President

Victoria Kent Marketing Officer

Jessica Meehan Gifts & Grants Officer

Katerra Marshall Office Coordinator

David Plotts Controller

Shelbie Thompson Donor Relations Officer

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore connects people who care with causes that matter for the common good of the Lower Eastern Shore. We are a 501c3 nonprofit with an inspiring history of fostering charitable endeavors, and have provided more than $100 million in grants and scholarships to the local community since 1984. We collaborate with individuals, families, and businesses to match their charitable interests with community needs and strengthen local nonprofits through grants and resources. We are devoted to improving our regional community and believe in the power of philanthropy.

Our Offices will be closed:

Mon. May 29 th - Memorial Day

Tues. July 4th - Independence Day

Mon. September 4th - Labor Day