(back row): Community Foundation President, Elizabeth Day and Chairman, Andrew Carpel with (front row): Wertheimer Fellows Frank Parsons, Miriam Lane and Eugene Long

 2009 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism to be awarded at Annual Meeting

November 9, 2009: The Community Foundation of Frederick County will hold its 23rd Annual Report to the Community on Monday, November 16 at 6:00 p.m., beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the FSK Holiday Inn and Conference Center.

Each year, The Community Foundation of Frederick County 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 2009 Wertheimer Fellows for Excellence in Volunteerism. They each have received $10,000 to establish a new fund or to add to an existing fund with the Community Foundation. Through this award, their legacies of giving will continue to touch lives and help those who are served through area nonprofit organizations.

Miriam Lane of Union Bridge has inspired many with her tireless service to others, despite her own ongoing battle against cancer. As a retired physical therapist who now volunteers with Mission of Mercy, she travels throughout Frederick County to serve patients four days a month at the mobile healthcare clinic’s sites in Frederick, Mt. Airy, and Brunswick. The hundreds of patients Mrs. Lane sees are able to recover from their injuries more quickly and more completely, thanks to her compassionate care and healing touch. She is Mission of Mercy’s only physical therapist, enabling the nonprofit to help many patients who could otherwise not afford therapeutic treatments.

In addition to her work with Mission of Mercy, Mrs. Lane is a faithful volunteer at her church, Trinity Lutheran in Taneytown, where she has served on the church council, sung in the choir, taught Sunday School, and organized programs to help children living in poverty as well as her fellow church members who need help with everyday tasks.

Miriam Lane hopes that receiving this award will show others that cancer patients and those with chronic diseases can still be contributing members of society using whatever amount of energy they have available to help others, as well as help themselves. “For surely I get as much or more out of volunteering than I give,” she explains. “My husband says that though I may be physically tired when I come home after volunteering, I have been spiritually rejuvenated. I feel this is a way to give back to others for what was given to me—and doing for others gives me more energy to share.”

Mrs. Lane will use her 2009 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellences in Volunteerism Award to create The Jane White Fund for Mission of Mercy. Jane White was the director of the Korean orphanage where the Lanes adopted their daughter in 1986. Mrs. Lane was inspired by the story of Jane White, who traveled to Korea in her early twenties to take care of abandoned babies and, at age 70, is still in Korea caring for some 90 children and teenagers. Mrs. Lane had hoped to volunteer as a physical therapist in a foreign country when she retired. Although her illness prevented that from happening, she is thrilled that the world is coming to her. “Through my work at Mission of Mercy, I have met people from almost all Central and many South American countries, as well the countries of Africa, Spain, Portugal, and some Russian and Asian countries. It is just astounding to be in this position to meet so many wonderful people.”

Eugene “Gene” Long of Thurmont refuses to act his age. While most retirees in their eighties would be taking it easy, Gene Long is always on the lookout for people in need or situations that he could improve. A long-time member of the Thurmont Lions Club, Mr. Long has always given generously of his time to that organization. But, in 2004, when his wife envisioned a walking trail along the old trolley route through Thurmont, he went the extra mile. Mr. Long spearheaded the project to revitalize the trail and worked through 18 months of permitting and design and secured many significant donations of equipment, labor, and money that made the trail a reality. Dedicated in September 2007, the trail is a beautiful and integral part of Thurmont—thanks to Mr. Long’s hard work and determination.

Late last year, Mr. Long learned of an eight-year-old girl who was wheelchair-bound because of spinal muscular atrophy. The van that her family used to drive to and from her doctor’s appointments in Baltimore was uncomfortably small for the young girl. Mr. Long came to her rescue with the “Callie Needs a Van” project, raising more than $38,000 to provide not only a new van but also much-needed home improvements and help with Callie’s medical expenses. His efforts brightened the life of a young child, who had already known a great deal of hardship.

Other real-life examples of this active volunteer’s generous nature include raising funds for and building a ramp for a house-bound Lions Club member, constructing an addition onto his church, and giving freely of his time and energy whenever and wherever needed. Mr. Long credits his parents for his giving nature. “My mom and dad were not rich (financially) but were always willing to help others,” he recalls. “We grew up with wonderful role models and experienced ‘volunteerism’ at its best—giving to others when you may not have for yourself.”

With his 2009 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award, Gene Long has established The Davey Long and Mike Compton Memorial Fund in memory of his son Davey and his wife Shirley’s son Mike, both of whom took their own lives at a young age. “We can only wonder who both Davey and Mike would have been today and hope that this fund will honor their memory by assisting others,” the Longs share. The Fund will award grants in honor of Davey and Mike’s memory, at the recommendation of the Longs and with the approval of the Community Foundation Board of Trustees.

Frank Parsons of Frederick is no stranger to volunteering. As a young teenager during World War II, he served as assistant air raid warden for his neighborhood in Salisbury, Maryland. He and other volunteers would “patrol” the streets to make sure every home’s draperies were drawn tight so that no interior lights could be seen from the outside. They also painted headlights so that only a small portion of light would shine through.

Even as a youngster, Mr. Parsons was interested in the Civil War. But it wasn’t until after his retirement in the mid-1990s that he sought out volunteer opportunities with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Downtown Frederick. It was a natural fit, given his career in the U.S. Air Force in the Medical Service Corps and his years as administrator in military and civilian hospitals. “I had a military background, was interested in the Civil War, plus I had 60 years with the Boy Scouts, which instilled a spirit of volunteerism in me,” he explains.

In the 12-plus years Mr. Parsons has served as a docent with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, he has volunteered thousands of hours and traveled tens of thousands of miles to and from the museum and other outreach sites. At the museum, he gives guided tours and inspires diverse groups of visitors with his passion for the Civil War and for medicine. He conducts educational presentations for school groups, authentically dressed as an 1860s civilian physician—a role he extensively researched to ensure the accuracy of every detail. He has achieved Master Docent status and been recognized by the Tourism Council of Frederick County for his interpretive skills.

Mr. Parsons’ dedication to volunteering does not end with his shift at the museum. He is very active in Calvary United Methodist Church in Frederick and also volunteers with the Red Cross and the Frederick County Health Department. He is a past member of the board of directors at the Readers Nursing Home in Boonsboro. He has also served on the Salvation Army board of directors and worked with the local Cold Weather Shelter.

With his 2009 Wertheimer Fellow for Excellence in Volunteerism Award, Mr. Parsons has established The Frank R. Parsons Fund for the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. The Fund will support community education so that the story of medical care during the Civil War continues to be told to the general public.

Video vignettes on the Wertheimer Fellows will also be unveiled at that time, courtesy of NBC 25.

The annual meeting is sponsored by the following:

Platinum Sponsors:
W. Bert Anderson; Albert H. Cohen; M&T Investment Group; MedImmune, LLC; NBC 25

Gold Sponsors:
Frederick Holiday Inn and Conference Center; Hunt and Joan Hendrickson; PNC Bank

Silver Sponsors:
Brown Advisory; The Family Heritage Trust Company; The Frederick Business Properties Company; Miles & Stockbridge Foundation, Inc.; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Peter and Lorraine Plamondon; Woodsboro Bank

Bronze Sponsors:
Andy and Shurron Carpel; Ellin & Tucker, Chartered; Ethridge, Quinn, McAuliffe, Rowan & Hartinger; First United Bank and Trust; Frederick County Bank; Frank and Bess Gladhill; C. Kurt Holter, Photographer; Bob and Maureen Kallstrom; Daniel J. Lajewski, Jr.; Don and Becky Linton; L.S. Fuel; Maryland Financial Planners, LTD – Brad W. Young, CFP/CTFA; McLean, Koehler, Sparks and Hammond; Printing Services; Roy Jorgensen Associates, Inc.; N.E. “Bob” Waltz Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Copper Sponsors:
BB&T; Karlys Kline and Tom Lynch; Linton Shafer Warfield & Garrett, CPAs; Proffitt & Associates Architects; Reliable Recycling Center, Inc.; Sir Speedy Printing

Parter:
Jim Bass Real Estate Group, Real Estate Teams; Ladies Auxiliary V.F.W. Post #6658, Emmitsburg, MD; The Lube Center; MacRo Ltd.; Rippeon & McCurdy, DDS, PA

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. Information is also available through the Community Foundation’s web site.

Contributions to any of the funds created by the 2009 Wertheimer Fellows are accepted at any time in any amount. Checks may be made payable and mailed to The Community Foundation of Frederick County, 312 East Church Street, Frederick MD 21701. Insert the specific fund’s name in the check’s memo line. Secure, online contributions may be made at www.cffredco.org, or click here. Additional information is also available by calling the Community Foundation at 301-695-7660. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.