[kc_row use_container="yes" force="no" column_align="middle" video_mute="no" _id="779225"][kc_column width="12/12" video_mute="no" _id="516903"][kc_column_text] Update: March 2, 2022 Dear families, The first couple of months of 2022 have been a little challenging on the COVID front at Benedictine and in our community. The good news is that COVID case numbers have dropped significantly on the Eastern Shore and are near zero at Benedictine. Last week The Maryland State Board of Education recommended lifting their mask mandate. This recommendation went before a legislative committee for final approval and last Friday the committee approved the State Board recommendation. The CDC also made the decision to not require universal indoor mask wearing in K-12 schools in areas of low or medium COVID-19 Community levels. At this time Caroline and Talbot Counties are considered “Low” on the CDC scale. Because of these metrics Benedictine has lifted its required mask mandate. This is a great step forward but we still need to be vigilant. We continue to ask employees to stay home and notify their supervisor if they experience any symptoms related to COVID. Benedictine continues to have testing capabilities on site for our employees, students and adults in our programs. While it is not our intention to reinstate an
Adedapo Laditan brings diverse portfolio to enhance Benedictine’s services (Ridgely, MD – March 23, 2023) – Adedapo Laditan has joined Benedictine, a service provider for developmentally disabled and autistic children and adults, as the Senior Director of Adults Services. In this role, Laditan provides leadership to all aspects of the Adult Services program including management and fiscal sustainability. Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves over 90 adults that live in Benedictine owned and managed group homes or as participants in a day-only program. “I am honored to have joined Benedictine. I see this as a great opportunity to carry on the work that is being done here in support of Benedictine’s mission of hospitality, dignity of work and compassionate caring,” stated Laditan. “My passion for supported individuals, their families, and the staff that work in this field has grown over the years. I have served in roles as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), house manager, program manager, and most recently as the Director of Quality Enhancement at the Regional Office of the Developmental Disabilities Administration, Eastern Shore.” Benedictine’s Adult Services program serves adults 21 years of age and older and includes residential living accommodations in 18 group homes located on the
Benedictine and the children and adults supported by our organization had a productive and exciting year! Here are just a few of our achievements. Benedictine was awarded the Caroline County Best in Business Nonprofit Award by the Caroline County Chamber of Commerce and was presented with 2022 Rural Impact Award for Outstanding Rural Community Development by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC). Our Meaningful Day program supported 25 people in community employment. Job Developers at our Easton Office Community Services and Training Center placed 24 individuals referred by The Division of Rehabilitation Services into employment, 9 of whom also went through our training classes. Benedictine proudly celebrated 6 graduates. Students honored the heroes of 9/11 by sending packages of letters and drawings to fire and police departments in New York City and Washington, D.C. Adult clients toured the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway sites including the museum and Bucktown Village store and were thrilled to walk in her footsteps. Sports activities resumed and students and adult clients competed in both basketball and soccer tournaments, as well as a swim meet. For the first time since Covid, Chesapeake College’s EMS students were back on campus. During their program, they learned how to
Funds to be used to construct new student residential facility (Ridgely, MD – January 25, 2023) – Benedictine has been awarded a Maryland Capital Grant of $1.5 million from Governor Hogan’s FY’23 Budget. These monies will be used to fund construction and engineering costs associated with building a new student residential facility on Benedictine’s school campus located in Ridgely, Maryland. “Receiving this Maryland Capital Grant for Benedictine’s new student residential facility is crucial in our efforts to provide a homelike setting for a student population with significant sensory sensitivities that the current building, nearing the end of its useful life, does not accommodate,” stated Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director. “Securing the funds needed for this project will have a huge impact on the population we support.” Benedictine’s student demographic has significantly changed since the existing residential space was built in the 1960s. Now, over 80% of the students supported are moderately to severely autistic. Each suite will be equipped with multiple recreational and sensory areas for the students to access along with an updated dining area and a state-of-the-art infirmary that will accommodate these students. Benedictine is a nonprofit service provider, not a private school and no students’ families pay
Award Given For Outstanding Rural Community Development (Ridgely, MD – December 12, 2022) – Benedictine was awarded a 2022 Rural Impact Award for Outstanding Rural Community Development. This award is presented by the Rural Maryland Council (RMC) which serves as the State’s federally designated rural development council and advocates for the interests of rural Maryland. Through their work they recognize individuals and organizations that have performed extraordinary acts of service to communities throughout rural Maryland. Awards were presented at the 2022 Annual Meeting held at the Kent Island Resort in Stevensville. The Outstanding Rural Community Development award is given in recognition for leadership, dedication and noteworthy achievement to help improve rural communities. “We are honored that Benedictine has been selected for a Rural Impact Award. Benedictine’s impact on Maryland’s eastern shore is significant and we are honored to do this work for our community and the people we serve,” stated Scott Evans, Benedictine Executive Director. Benedictine’s work began over 60 years ago as a school for 17 children with Downs Syndrome and has grown into a multi-functional year-round education and residential center serving close to 200 students and adults with a variety of services. Benedictine is one of the largest
Generous supporters of Benedictine give a $75k match in support of dedicated employees (Ridgely, MD – December 6, 2022) – The Benedictine Foundation raised over $150,000 on Giving Tuesday through the support of numerous donors. Denise Kaczmarczyk and John Johnson longtime Benedictine supporters matched what was raised with a donation of $75,000. Benedictine employs over 350 staff that are dedicated to serving children and adults with moderate to severe developmental disabilities and autism. When Denise and John learned of the Benedictine Foundation’s effort to raise money on Giving Tuesday in support of the Benedictine staff, they pledged a $50k match. And upon hearing that the Foundation had raised $75K, Denise and John generously increased their match to $75k. “We wanted to give to the Benedictine staff that work so tirelessly in supporting the student and adult population that Benedictine serves,” stated Denise Kaczmarczyk. “Seeing the dedication and the everyday miracles that happen at Benedictine is an inspiration to me and my husband. It is a mission we feel very strongly about and want to give to those that work so hard.” Denise and John learned about Benedictine a number of years ago at a Christmas Bazaar. They were deeply inspired
Funds were utilized to update group homes in Annapolis and Denton (Ridgely, MD – November 16, 2022) – Benedictine was the recipient of a Phillips Charitable Foundation Grant in the amount of $48,558 that was utilized to upgrade adult group homes located in Annapolis and Denton, Maryland. Phillips Charitable Foundation mission is to support organizations that provide necessary change in the lives of vulnerable populations by solving problems and removing obstacles that lead to lasting solutions. This is a perfect match to Benedictine’s belief that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can be productive and active members of their communities. The renovations improved living conditions and make the homes safer for the men and women who live there. “Through our grant-giving we aim to bring dignified living to the people we serve,” stated Jennifer Good, Vice President, Phillips Charitable Foundation. “We saw this project as a perfect opportunity to do just that. On behalf of all of us at Phillips Charitable Foundation, it was an honor to be able to improve the living conditions for these individuals.” The Annapolis group home, which is nearly 40 years old, serves as the permanent residence for four adult men who range in age from
Benedictine’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament Raises Critical Funds To Support The Developmentally Disabled (Ridgely, MD – November 2, 2022) – Benedictine’s annual Birdies For Benedictine charity golf tournament, held at the Talbot Country Club, raised close to $41,000. The funds will be used for urgent needs including student and adult programming, facility repairs and staff development. Committee Chair Steve Smith, whose brother-in-law has been with Benedictine since he was a student, expressed his gratitude of the organization. “Benedictine has provided my brother-in-law with a loving, caring, and engaging life that we are grateful for. And more than that, Benedictine has taught us how to live with and support an individual with developmental disabilities. Benedictine has enriched all our lives.” Several sponsors supported the event: PNC Bank, Hilb Group, Preston Automotive Group, Marasun Roofing, BDK, Inc., Mullen, Sondberg, Wimbish & Stone P.A., Provident State Bank, Tri Gas & Oil Co., VFW Post 7464, Town of Ridgely, Maryland, 103.1 WRNR, Barstow & Sons Heating and Cooling. Individual family support came from Sandra Amato, Mr. and Mrs. John Krieger and Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Hoffman. Participants also enjoyed tastings from Lyon Rum of St. Michaels. S. Kurt Engelhaupt, PNC Vice President, Relationship Manager
The Benedictine Foundation is pleased to share our Inspired Giving Fall Newsletter. READ HERE Download a copy HERE
Developmentally Disabled Students Send Letters to Firefighters and Police Departments in New York City and Washington, D.C. (Ridgely, MD – September 28, 2022) – Students at Benedictine, a regional service provider for children and adults with developmental disabilities and autism, sent packages of letters and pictures to fire and police departments in New York City and Washington, D.C. in honor of all the heroes of 9/11. Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. Cadet Roseburrow stated “Benedictine is a great place! Our officers would love that,” in hearing what Benedictine planned to do. Upon receiving the package from Benedictine at the City of New York Police Department, Deputy Inspector Craig Contrera stated “On behalf of the New York City Police Department, thank you for forwarding the letters and drawings from your students. I would also like to thank your students for citing the bravery and service of our police officers during the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001.” Katherine Fitzhugh, a Benedictine school teacher for five years, was the inspiration behind this idea. “I realized that my students were not alive when the 9/11 attack occurred and I wanted to teach them such an important part of our
READ HERE The Benedictine Foundation is pleased to share our Summer Inspired Giving Newsletter – this is a digital version only. In this issue we celebrate the activities of summer including graduation, gardens growing and swimming! Read about the work being done at our Easton Office and one family’s story of healing and creative ways of giving to Benedictine. We also wanted to share all the wonderful events we have had in support of Benedictine including the Annual DC/Baltimore Area Charity Golf Tournament, Chrome City Ride and the Blueberry Boogie at Godfrey’s Farm. I hope you will join us for our next fundraising event - Birdies for Benedictine Charity Golf Tournament at the Talbot Country Club on Monday, October 24th. August is National “Make-A-Will” Month and a great reminder if you haven’t yet considered the legacy you want to leave for your family and an organization you love like Benedictine.
