2011 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism Will Be Honored

Frederick, MD – October 18, 2011: The Community Foundation of Frederick County will hold its 25th Annual Report to the Community and celebrate a quarter-century of service to Frederick County on Thursday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center at the Francis Scott Key Mall.

Each year, the Community Foundation holds its Annual Report to the Community to thank its donors and to report on its accomplishments during the prior fiscal year.  It also uses this annual event to honor three outstanding individuals as Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism. The honorees are selected from among many nominees for their selfless contributions of time, energy, and talents to the Frederick County community. The awards are made possible by a bequest from the late Janis Miller Wertheimer, a well-known Frederick businesswoman and prolific volunteer whose legacy of giving continues through her planned gift that created, among three funds, The Janis Miller Wertheimer Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation.

The following three individuals have been chosen as the 2011 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism. They each have been able to add to an existing fund or create a new fund with $10,000 from The Janis Miller Wertheimer Endowment Fund. Through this award, their legacies of giving will continue to touch lives and help those who are served through area nonprofit organizations.

Ms. Susan K. Favorite of Thurmont has long history of volunteerism and is known in the Thurmont area for her leadership and service to others. In addition to working full-time at Blue Ridge Bank, Ms. Favorite finds time to actively participate with the Thurmont Lions Club, plan and organize community events, and pay special attention to many people who are going through difficult times.

Ms. Favorite has been a member of the Thurmont Lion’s Club for more than 14 years and has served as Membership Chair and also President. She has been described as “instrumental in the advancement of the Club’s projects and membership,” which has allowed the Club to do more to help the community.

Ms. Favorite initiated Thurmont’s “Make a Difference Day (MADD)” and established a day of volunteer service each year in the town. The MADD event has collected food for food banks, clothing for the Clothes Closet, performed remodeling projects in homes, honored soldiers and their families for service to their country, and raised money to help cancer patients. She also initiated two new awards for Catoctin High School and Thurmont Middle School. Students are recognized who contribute the most volunteer service hours, and a teacher is recognized as “Thurmont Teacher of the Year.”

Ms. Favorite has organized countless community events that raise money for a variety of causes. She also volunteers at her church, and is quick to respond to those in need by delivering flowers, food, and gifts, hoping to make a person’s day brighter. She organized donations of gifts for a teenager who was confined to a wheel chair, so that the youth could open one present a day for a month. She is also dedicated to helping residents of local nursing facilities and she enjoys helping older family members by driving them to appointments, grocery shopping, and spending time with them.

Ms. Favorite has, with her 2011 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award, established The Make A Difference in Thurmont Fund. The fund will provide grants to support a variety of programs, including the Catoctin feeder school area, area nursing homes, historic preservation and more. “There are so many needs in the community, from schools to the elderly to preserving local attractions,” said Ms. Favorite. It is my hope that grants from the fund will help meet these needs and make a positive difference in the years to come.”

Ms. Ronnie Osterman of Frederick is a volunteer for countless organizations and events. She has worked tirelessly for Celebrate Frederick, helping to organize many of the events enjoyed by the Frederick County community, such as the 4^th of July Celebration, the Summer Concert Series, Candlelight House Tours and more. Her reach goes deep into the arts community, volunteering with the Fredericktowne Players, Festival of the Arts, Maryland Ensemble Theatre, Weinberg Center for the Arts, and Frederick Arts Council. She has supported Friends of C. Burr Artz Library in many capacities, and HandsOn Frederick County, giving almost 1200 hours of service since 2003.

Ms. Osterman has been active with Families Plus! since 1989, serving as a facilitator and speaker for the Single Living Skills Support Group. She has served on the fundraising and program committees, and currently is a member of the Board of Directors. Ms. Osterman works with the Alzheimer’s Association Western Maryland Chapter, helping with the annual memory walk and gala for many years.

She is the founder of Frederick Singles, Inc., and still serves on the Board of Directors. The Frederick Sister Cities Association and the City of Frederick 250^th Anniversary committee has benefitted from her event planning skills. In addition, Ms. Osterman volunteers with many activities at Fort Detrick, such as the annual Armed Forces Day.

Ms. Osterman has, with her 2011 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award, chosen to add to The Families Plus! Fund, one of more than 615 component funds of the Community Foundation. Grants from the fund provide operational support to Families Plus, whose mission is to provide programs and support to educate, empower, and enrich the lives of Frederick County families, individuals, and children. “Families Plus! helps families in the community from birth to death, and they rely on grants to operate,” said Ms. Osterman. “I’ve seen firsthand the many good things they do and I want to help them continue their work. I’m glad to be involved.”

Ms. Jennie Sue Pearson of Frederick is described as someone who “thrives on being a contributor.” In the last three years, Ms. Pearson has volunteered more than 2000 hours with HandsOn Frederick County (formerly Volunteer Frederick). She is a member of Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT), attends court proceedings in support of senior crime victims, makes comfort dolls and blankets for the Sheriff’s department to give to children or seniors in crisis, and helps develop educational programs about crime and safety concerns for seniors.

Ms. Pearson is active in the Frederick Women’s Civic Club, and served in many capacities, including committees at the state level. She helped raise money in support of many causes, including Daybreak Adult Day Services and Frederick County Child Advocacy Center. She has served as the International President of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies, an auxiliary of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In addition, she has volunteered with Hospice, Goodwill Industries Monocacy Valley, National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick County Tourism Council, Frederick County Landmarks Foundation, Friends of the Child Advocacy Center, Citizens Care and Rehabilitation Center, and many more. After graduating from Frederick Community College (FCC) in 1983, Ms. Pearson was instrumental in forming the FCC Alumni Association and served as President for six years.

Ms. Pearson has, with her 2011 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award, created The Jennie Sue Pearson Scholarship Fund for Frederick Community College. The fund will assist students with post-secondary education who need financial assistance. “My aunt graciously paid my tuition so I could earn my degree at FCC,” said Ms. Pearson. “I want to help students reach their goals and take advantage of all that FCC has to offer, and to help students just like my aunt helped me.”

Video vignettes about the Wertheimer Fellows will be unveiled during the 25^th Annual Report to the Community, courtesy of NBC 25.

Those interested in attending the annual meeting and learning more about the Community Foundation or the Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism are encouraged to call 301-695-7660.