2009 People's Choice Award Winners

Almost thirty years ago, Beth Stouffer helped to found the St, Mark's Food Pantry at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Hagerstown.  She has managed the operation of the food pantry ever since.  In that position she coordinates the procurement and distribution of food and household supplies for over 1,000 families each year.  She not only gives good measure to the low-income families and individuals she serves, but maximizes every dollar.  Beth takes a personal interest in all of the people she serves, greeting them with words of encouragement and support.  She frequently tries to see what help she can provide above and beyond the scope of the food pantry.

Beth has also been a long-time Sunday School teacher at St. Mark's, with a particular interest in serving those with special needs and the intellectually challenged.  Through her work with the Community Awareness Committee at St. Mark's, Beth has assisted in the congregational support of many community agencies such as REACH, CASA, Girls, Inc., Boy and Girls Club and others.

Best of all, Beth Stouffer is a woman of strong faith and a keen sense of humor. Beth has chosen to create Doleman Black History Museum Endowment Fund with her $5,000 award which was sponsored by M.S. Johnston.

Over the last 42 years, beginning in 1967, Howard Rockwell has volunteered for various periods of time for the United Way, American Cancer Society, John Marsh Cancer Center, St. Maria Goretti High School, City of Hagerstown, Hospice of Washington County, Breast Cancer Awareness of Cumberland Valley, St. Mary's School and Humane Society of Washington County, just to name a few!

As chairman of the 1985 United Way Campaign, he led the first $1,000,000 campaign and created the President's Club to recognize the most generous donors.  Howard served over ten years on the board of American Cancer Society and is a co-founder of the Resource Room at the John Marsh Cancer Center.  While serving as chair of the Hagerstown Planning and Zoning Commission, he was instrumental in the adoption of the first master plan for the city and served more than eight years on the board of BCA of Cumberland Valley.

On a more personal level, at age 71 Howard traveled to China with his wife to adopt a child because, as he said, "I still have it in me to change someone's life, to offer a child a chance."

Mr. Rockwell has created the Rockwell Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness of the Cumberland Valley to be the recipient of his $5,000 endowment fund.  This fund was sponsored by PNC Bank/PNC Wealth Management.

Dr. Dan McDougal was nominated by at least seven different people!  Dr. McDougal is fondly known for his volunteer service to the Community Free Clinic.  He has volunteered his time and considerable talents as a doctor at the Clinic for the last ten years.  For eight of those years he served as the Clinic's Medical Director and for six years on the board of directors.  He has been a strong advocate for the Clinic in many areas including Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

Dr. McDougal has been instrumental in finding and recruiting other physicians to volunteer their services for the Clinic.  His dedication has enabled many uninsured Washington County individuals to receive the medical care and medications necessary to have a healthier life.  The Free Clinic would not be as successful as it is today were it not for the efforts of Dr. McDougal.  Each of the heartfelt nominations all spoke of Dr. McDougal's gentle, kind, caring and compassionate spirit with everyone he comes in contact with.

Dr. McDougal has chosen to give his $5,000 endowment to the Community Free Clinic.  He is the third winner of the People's Choice Awards to do so.  Therefore the name of the fund will be changed to the Community Free Clinic People's Choice Awards Fund.  This year, the endowment is sponsored by Washington County Health Systems.