Community Foundation seeks to recognize volunteers across the Lower Shore
SALISBURY, Md. – The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is accepting nominees for their annual awards. Officials say it’s important to take time to highlight those that are giving back to their communities.
“Many of them fly under the radar and it’s nice to give them a chance to be seen for the good things that they’re doing,” says CFES President Erica Joseph. “Volunteer hours are really what makes a non-profit thrive and so we wanted to be able to recognize those individuals.”
CFES has three award categories they are seeking nominations for right now. The Mary Gladys Jones Volunteer of the Year award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, sustained and unselfish contributions to community service. The Foundation will give $1,000 to the winner’s charity of choice. The Richard A. Henson Award for Nonprofit Excellence is presented to a qualified non-profit organization in Somerset, Wicomico or Worcester counties that has implemented a program or project that has made an outstanding contribution to the well-being of residents of the Lower Shore. The Foundation will give a $5,000 donation to the recipient. Finally the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, sustained, and unselfish contributions to community enrichment and whose vital ideas and personal sacrifices exemplify the philanthropic spirit of our community. The Foundation grants $2,500 to the Morris Award winner’s charity of choice.
“Those three awards are really ways that we try to highlight both the work that the Foundation does, because some of these folks are known to use, but the great part about the nomination process is we also get to meet and learn about really wonderful people who may not be connected with us, but their organizations or their friends or their church or others see what they’re doing day after day,” says Joseph.
Nominations are open until August 31. You can submit a nomination here. Winners will be honored in November.
