A Disc Jockey Spins Records for Food Banks, A Women Opens Her Home to Survivors of Domestic Violence, and a Foundation Commits to Coaching Nonprofit Leaders
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Maryland Chapter, a leading voice in the fundraising and philanthropic sector in Maryland, today announced the recipients of its National Philanthropy Day awards. This year’s awards program shines a spotlight on individuals and organizations that give back to communities throughout Maryland in unique ways. The awardees will be featured during the organization’s three-day virtual webinar program from November 17-19, 2020.
“In this unprecedented year, we’ve witnessed humanitarian efforts that provide inspiration, motivation and sheer kindness,” said Samantha Flottemesch, AFP Maryland Chapter Board President. “We are thrilled to recognize individuals and foundations in Maryland that epitomize selflessness. Philanthropy is, by definition, the desire to promote the welfare of others, especially through the generous gifts of time and treasure to good causes. This year’s recipients give new meaning to the word ‘philanthropy’; even without great resources they’ve made significant impacts in their communities and in the organizations they support. Please help us congratulate those who have dedicated their time, energy and talents to causes they cherish.”
Award Recipients
Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year – Asma Inge-Hanif, founder of Healthy Solutions Women & Children’s Center In 1987, Asma Inge-Hanif in 1987 founded Healthy Solutions, Health, Education, Social & Shelter Services Center. In 2007, Ms. Inge-Hanif opened her own home to shelter homeless Muslim women who were survivors of domestic violence to give them opportunities to increase their self-esteem, their self-worth and their self-sufficiency. Today, her Healthy Solutions Center serves every man, woman and child providing quality care, regardless of age, race, creed or socio-economic level . In today’s pandemic, Ms. Inge-Hanif recognized that current relief programs were disproportionally failing Marylanders who are marginalized, uninsured and/or homeless. Through her own resources, her Healthy Solutions medical clinic is serving as a COVID-19 resource site and health care provider for the underserved.
Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the Year – T. Rowe Price FoundationThe T. Rowe Price Foundation provides transformative support in many ways – financially, operationally and as a thought-partner – to many Maryland nonprofits. In addition, the Foundation began a Capacity Building program in 2016 to help organizations across Maryland grow their organizational and leadership capacity. The program offers a wide variety of learning opportunities, from large-scale symposiums to small-scale group learning cohorts, on a range of topics from board governance to communications and development for nonprofits.
Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year – Chris Kopec (DJ Kopec)
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck Central Maryland, Ellicott City resident Chris Kopec used his disc jockey skills and social media to create a wave of food donations to Maryland’s food banks. Mr. Kopec hosted a Saturday night virtual dance party and while his family danced in the background so did people all over the U.S. For each viewer who joined, Holly Poultry donated one pound of chicken that the United Way of Central Maryland distributed to local food banks. At the end of the night, he secured more than 60,000 pounds of chicken, which was donated to 11 struggling food pantries. Mr. Kopec replicated this dance party throughout the height of the pandemic, providing ingredients for 30,000 breakfast sandwiches to healthcare professionals in Central Maryland and raising more than $1,000,000 for local nonprofits.
National Philanthropy Day in Maryland
National Philanthropy Day 2020 will run for three consecutive days – November 17-19 – with opportunities to participate in a variety of 90 minute educational sessions starting at 11 a.m. More details about the educational sessions will be announced through the AFP Maryland Chapter website and its social media channels @AFPMarylandChapter.
To reserve your seat for the virtual National Philanthropy Day celebration and award ceremony, please visit www.afpmaryland.org. For more information on how you can support this event as a sponsor, please contact Natalia Ramirez at nramirez@cc-md.org or visit the AFP Maryland Chapter website.
About Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Maryland Chapter
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Maryland Chapter has nearly 400 members across the state and provides the professional and volunteer fundraising community opportunities for continuing education, professional development, certification and networking. National Philanthropy Day, a program of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, pays tribute to the invaluable contributions that philanthropy has made to our personal lives, our nation and the world. It acknowledges the entire spectrum of services provided by the nonprofit community and recognizes the profound impact that philanthropy has on the quality of our lives and the fabric of our society. AFP Maryland is a 501(c)(3) organization. To become a member of AFP, please visitwww.afpmaryland.org.
