People's Choice Awards

Each year, the Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc. recognizes the unsung heroes in our community, people who give generously and unselfishly of their time, talents and abilities to improve the quality of life in Washington County.  Three nominees are honored at the Annual People's Choice Awards Banquet each November.  A $5,000 endowment fund will be established at the Foundation on behalf of each winner, to benefit the non-profit organization of their choice.  Since 2000, 34 individuals and two couples of been honored.

Nominate your unsung hero for this year's PCA!

2011 People's Choice Awards Winners

 

On November 10, 2011 the People’s Choice Award Winners were held for the 12^th year.  The following honorees were recognized at a beautiful dinner in the Kerfoot Refrectory of Saint James School:

Patricia Beard

Nominated by five different people including Marie Byers and Don Munson, this former Washington County public school teacher (who, by the way, was nominated for Teacher of the Year) now dedicates most of her time to volunteering in her community.  For 20 years, she has been a dependable volunteer for various hunger organizations like St. Mark’s Food Bank, Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry, the Convoy of Hope and the Maryland Food Bank.

But her recent dedication to the Discovery Station over the last five years really stands out.  According to Marie Byers, “the Discovery Station would not be in existence without Pat’s dedicated volunteer leadership.  She serves on the Exhibit Team, the Marketing Team, the Hospitality Team and is a volunteer staffer, sharing the excitement of the day with our visitors of all ages.”

Also very active in her church, she leads children’s activities, coordinates the Senior Breakfast and is a member of the Alter Guild.

The $5,000 endowment created in Patricia Beard’s honor will benefit Discovery Station.

Charles Koontz

Mr. Koontz has been a weekly volunteer for Deafnet Association Inc, since November 1987  --24 years now!  One of Deafnets’ first volunteers, he began doing relay services – talking on a TTY to a deaf consumer, while placing a voice call to a doctor, family member, or whomever the deaf consumer was trying to call.  Charles then started helping with Deafnets’ Interpreter Referral Service.  According to Harold Bible, Executive Director of Deafnet, “Charles has done a great job matching job requirement to the interpreter’s skills.  Others, young and old, can learn from the dedication Charles has shown through his years of volunteering.!”  Mr. Koontz is also quite active in his church: Christ Lutheran.

Mr. Koontz has established  the Charles Koontz Fund for Deafnet with the $5,000 endowment fund created in his honor.

Robert “Buck” Shipley.

According to Kathy Powderly, development director at Habitat for Humanity, Buck started volunteering with Habitat in 1995, helping to build its second house, and has worked on nearly every house since.  But what makes him so special is his attitude.  According to Powderly, “Buck is loved by all the volunteers! He makes the work fun with his good nature, joking, patience and carrying on!” 

Buck is involved with a Habitat house at every phase of construction, helps to pick up donations at a moment’s notice and even volunteers in the Habitat office when needed.

Like so many of our People’s Choice Award winners, buck also share his time and talent at other organizations including the Community Action Council, Washington County Forestry Board, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maugansville Ruritan, and his church John Wesley United Methodist.

 Not surprisingly, Mr. Shipley has opted to benefit Habitat for Humanity with his $5,000 endowment.   

Friends and family are welcomed and encouraged to show their support and appreciation for the incredible volunteer efforts of our PCA winners by making tax deductible contributions to the funds created at the Community Foundation in their honor. 

 

Past People’s Choice Award Winners and the Endowment Beneficiaries

2010 Winners (About the 2010 Winners)   William Bulla REACH, Inc. Dan and Debbie Murphy Hancock Christmas for Others Ernest "Bub" Snodderly Potomac Center Volunteer Association
2009 Winners (About the 2009 Winners)
Dr. Dan McDougal	Community Free Clinic*
Howard Rockwell	Rockwell Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness of Cumberland Valley
Beth Stouffer	Doleman Black History Museum Endowment Fund
2008 Winners (About the 2008 Winners)
Rev. Janice Dorsey	William Dorsey Scholarship for BISFA
J. Gilbert Everline	Hagerstown Union Rescue Mission
Jerry Overdorff	Habitat for Humanity
2007 Winners
William K. "Bill" Beard	Home Ramp Project Fund
Daniel Fleming	Hancock Scouting Fund
Blaine Snyder	Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum
2006 Winners
Anna Mary Kline	Williamsport Food Bank
Sharon Mattingly	Funkstown Elemetary PTA
Robert McCusker	Hancock Historical Society
2005 Winners
Hugh Brandenburg	Western Maryland Hospital Auxiliary
John Long	Humane Society of Washington County
Rollan "Ron" Myers	The ARC of Washington County
2004 Winners
N. Linn Hendershot	Many Individuals Helping Individuals (MIHI)
Anne Hinkle	Western Maryland Hospital Auxiliary
James and Ethel Martin	REACH, Inc.
2003 Winners
Florence Hill Graff	Community Free Clinic*
Janet Newcomer	Community Free Clinic*
Connie Pauley	Turning Point
2002 Winners
Vivian Hackman	REACH Fund for the Homeless
William H. "Mac" McClean	The ARC of Washington County
Ralph "Coach" Stottlemyer	Scholarship Fund, South High
2001 Winners
Cindi Messersmith	REACH, Inc.
Charles Rowe, Sr.	Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County
Jean Wainwright	Food Resources
2000 Winners
Mildred Fiery	Girls, Inc. & Western Maryland Hospital
Dorothy Truax	Clear Spring Elementary PTA
Betty Willson	Social Help Center

*As three honorees chose to benefit the Community Free Clinic, the name of this fund as been changed to the Community Free Clinic People’s Choice Awards Fund.

To learn more about the history of the People’s Choice Awards read this article from our 2009 IMPACT magazine (PDF)

Download More Information:

Select a file... 2012 PCA Nomination.pdf