AAWGT Receives Coretta Scott King Award

AAWGT was honored to receive the Coretta Scott King Award at the 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Dinner.  The Coretta Scott King Award is presented annually to a community organization whose work uplifts the values of the late Coretta Scott King.  Our giving circle was nominated for this honor by Molly Knipe, Executive Director of the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County and the award was accepted by AAWGT Founder, Sharon Stewart.   Dr. and Mrs. King’s youngest daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King, was the keynote speaker. Members of our giving circle (and their spouses) who joined Molly and Sharon to celebrate at this event included:  Sharon's husband, Bob Stewart, Laurie Sharp, Bronwyn Belling, Jenny Kottler, Judy Coughlin, Randi Hogan, Keren Dement, Lynne and Brad Davidson, Martha Blaxall, and Bud Billups (husband of Bea Billups).
See Award Citations [pdf].
Pictured: Sharon Stewart and Molly Knipe
Photo: Bruce Smallwood, Dana Woods Marketing & Communications

Arundel's House of Hope Medical Clinic Opens!

Congratulations were plentiful for Arundel House of Hope (AHOH) at a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on January 26 at their new Medical Clinic in Glen Burnie.  AWGT's 2010 grant of $10,000 helped launch this effort that offers free medical services to low income and uninsured families in North Anne Arundel County.  Specifically, our grant covered prescription medications, lab tests, wellness services and startup costs. Executive Director Mario Berninzoni shared that the opening "would not have been possible without AAWGT's help." The clinic is conveniently located next to the main AHOH offices where homeless individuals gather to be sheltered at rotating churches that partner in their long-standing Winter Relief Program.  We wish Arundel House of Hope continued success in providing these essential and priceless services to those who need them most.

“He who has health has hope and he who has hope has everything” – Arabic Proverb

Pictured: AAWGT President Laurie Sharp and AHOH Executive Director Mario Berninzoni

Education Session - Life Without a Car

The reality of life for more than 8,000 households in our county who do not have a car was laid bare at our educational session on Transportation. Carol Cronin moderated the conversation with our panel of experts: Pam Brown, Executive Director, Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families; Dave Humphreys, Executive Director, Annapolis Regional Transportation Management Association; and Barbara Rasin Price, Founder: Community Transportation Association of America & President of Echoes and Accents. Read More>

AAWGT Endowment Fund Reaches $50,000 Goal!

The anonymous member who seeded our Endowment Fund with an initial contribution of $25,000 encouraged all of us to participate by issuing a challenge to raise an additional $25,000. And the incredibly generous members of AAWGT met the challenge! By December 31, 2011, our Endowment Fund balance reached $51,201.69 and we have more than $6,000 in additional pledges. As a result, we will make our first distribution to the Grants Fund in 2012! Special thanks for their leadership in this effort go to Laurie Crosley, Chair of the Fund Development Committee and Bess Langbein, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County.

Girls on the Run 5K Race

Twenty-three AAWGT members came out in force to serve as course monitors for our 2010 grantee, Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a non-profit organization that combines training for a 5K event with life-enhancing lessons in social, physical and mental health for 8-12-year-old girls. A strong showing of 400 girls from 26 area elementary and middle schools participated, and since each girl was paired with an adult sponsor, there were 800 runners participating in the race. Girls on the Run Board Chair and AAWGT member Susan Thaxton said “we actually had feedback that this was the best race so far and that had a lot to do with the AAWGT volunteers, because most of the other volunteers either want to run with their girls or stay at the start and finish lines. Having so many new course monitors cheering the girls on and directing them on the course just made things run so smoothly.” It was a cold but beautifully sunny day to watch the girls advance along the course, with every one finishing. Afterwards, a social gathering with Junior League Sustainers was held at the home of AAWGT member, Laurie Sharp.

Our hats are off to Marie Brockhurst, Assistant Chair of our Membership & Outreach Committee and Susan Thaxton, Board President of Girls on the Run of the Greater Chesapeake -- and AAWGT member! – for coordinating a great event for our volunteers.
Photos courtesy of AAWGT member Brenda Anderson