March 29, 2024
Annapolis, US 51 F

Community Foundation announces philanthropy winners and award dinner

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The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2015 Celebration of Philanthropy Awards. This year’s awardees are: Philanthropist of the Year, JoAnn DeCesaris; Corporate Philanthropist, Skyline Technology Solutions; Volunteer of the Year, Penny Cantwell; and Foundation of community foundationthe Year, TKF Foundation.

The awards will be presented at the 15th annual Celebration of Philanthropy Luncheon on Friday, November 20, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. The event is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County and co-presented by Chaney Enterprises and Connelly & Associates Fundraising, LLC. The event will be emceed by Carroll Hynson, Jr.  

Philanthropist of the Year, JoAnn DeCesaris and her five daughters have given significant financial support to several nonprofits in Anne Arundel County including the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, Hospice of the Chesapeake, Wellness House, and Catholic Charities. JoAnn was nominated by the Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation. “The DeCesaris ladies truly make giving a family affair. Every decision is made in a thoughtful way that engages JoAnn and her daughters. They inspire others to give by hosting and attending community events and fundraisers, soliciting other donors, bringing new potential donors to fundraising events, and referring new potential donors to AAMC,” said Jan Wood, President of the AAMC Foundation. JoAnn volunteers on the Foundation Board and the Oncology Philanthropy Council and both of the hospital’s Pediatrics and Cancer Centers have been named for the Decesaris’ generosity and leadership.

Skyline Technology Solutions was nominated by Bello Machre, Inc. for the Corporate Philanthropy Award.  The Glen Burnie company has donated more than $275,000 to local nonprofits over the past five years. They also donate IT expertise and have serviced computers in the 56 community homes run by Bello Machre. Debbie Daugherty, Chief Development Officer of Bello Machre said “Our founders Brian and Janice Holsonbake intend for Skyline to be a different kind of company. They understand the importance of improving the community they live and work in and give their employees the opportunity to make an impact through outreach and volunteering.” Since 2011 Skyline Technology Solutions’ 231 employees have volunteered for 9,000 hours with organizations such as the Maryland Food Bank, Maryland Therapeutic Riding, Salvation Army, Sarah’s House, and SPCA. “Skyline’s passion for volunteering and serving local nonprofits is invaluable to an organization like Bello Machre,” said the nonprofit’s President and CEO, Dr. Robert T. Ireland. Employees build and repair homes, other buildings and landscapes, host fundraising parties, help with mailings, and volunteer at special events. 

Volunteer of the Year Penny Cantwell is a Severna Park resident who has been deeply involved in Anne Arundel County as a volunteer for more than 30 years. She served as Treasurer to the Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation Board, as a member of the Executive Board of the Fort Meade Alliance, Past President of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, in a variety of volunteer roles with Anne Arundel Public Schools and the Annapolis/Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, on the Anne Arundel Workforce Investment Board, and with the Rotary Club of West Anne Arundel County. Steve Tiller, President of the Fort Meade Alliance (FMA) nominated Penny for this award because “Penny has been a tremendous volunteer for our organization. Her tireless efforts over the past eight years are unmatched and have established us as a statewide leader in education and workforce initiatives. Her determination, commitment and influence have put FMA on the map.”

The Foundation of the Year, TKF Foundation, was co-founded by Kitty and Tom Stoner and has supported and inspired the creation of more than 130 “open space sacred spaces” in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore and Washington between 1996 and 2010. In 2010, the TKF Foundation Board took Kitty and Tom’s vision national with The NatureSacred program, an integrative approach to creating open space that melds design with applied research. The NatureSacred awards program will culminate in 2017.  Sacred Spaces in Anne Arundel County include the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, The Light House, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, and The Arc of Anne Arundel County. The TKF Foundation was nominated by the Celebration of Philanthropy Committee in recognition of the Stoner’s extraordinary efforts over the past two decades to bring peace and well-being into people’s lives.  

Tickets to the Celebration of Philanthropy luncheon are $100 and can be purchased by contacting the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County, 914 Bay Ridge Road, Suite 220, Annapolis, MD 21403. For more information call 410-280-1102 or email [email protected].

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