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Rooted Reflections: A Few Boxes Became a Village

September 10, 2026

There wasn’t some grand plan to build an organization or create a movement. There was a need in front of her, and Dawn decided to do what she could. More than nine years later (the last eight+ years with the CFCC), those few boxes have become countless care packages sent to military members serving around the world. But the more I think about Dawn’s story, the more I realize that counting the boxes doesn’t really tell it. It’s about what it takes to get every one of those boxes into the hands of someone serving thousands of miles from home — and the community Dawn built to make that possible.

Rooted Reflections: The Heart Behind the Bears

August 25, 2026

Years before Rachel’s Bears officially became a fund here, Andrea was already collecting books and stuffed animals for children in hospitals. The effort began in 2019 in memory of Sweet Alexa, who lost her battle with pediatric brain cancer in 2015. What started as a way to honor one little girl grew again after Andrea lost her lifelong friend, Rachel Williams, in 2022. Rachel was a pediatric nurse at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital who had spent her career caring for children. Andrea found a way to carry both of their stories forward through something children could actually hold onto during some of their hardest days.

Rooted Reflections: Before the Award

August 6, 2026

Every year around this time, our team begins preparing for the We Are Carroll Awards. We gather biographies, collect photographs, review accomplishments, and begin learning the stories behind the people we have the privilege of honoring. It’s one of my favorite times of the year—not because of the event itself, but because every year I discover something I didn’t know before.

After 19 years at the Community Foundation of Carroll County, I’ve come to understand that the most extraordinary people rarely tell you they’re extraordinary. You discover it one conversation at a time, one story at a time, and sometimes, one old file at a time.

Woman in gray standing in front of a brown house

Rooted Reflections: A Name Worth Carrying

July 28, 2026

The Stories Behind the 2026 We Are Carroll Awards To pause. To recognize generosity. To honor the people who quietly make Carroll County stronger every single day. By Jaclyn, Mathias, CFCC Executive Director For nearly two decades, the Community Foundation has gathered our community for one simple reason. To say thank you. Long before we called it the We Are Carroll Awards… long before our tree became the symbol of this celebration… long before our themes invited us to ask ‘What’s Your Why?’, reflect on ‘What Keeps You Growing?’, celebrate that ‘We Grow Together,’ and now remind us that we

park bench with flowers on it and snow on the ground

Rooted Reflections: What Love Does Next

July 14, 2026

How Memorial Scholarships Taught Me About LivingBy Jaclyn “Jacie” Mathias For nearly 19 years, I’ve had a front-row seat to something remarkable. People often assume memorial scholarships are about death. I understand why. Most begin after a loss. A parent loses a child. A spouse loses a partner. A community loses a teacher, coach, friend, or neighbor. Families walk through our doors carrying stories they never imagined they would have to tell. But after all these years, I’ve come to believe memorial scholarships aren’t really about death at all. They’re about what people choose to do next. Before I ever

Texas RoadHouse Friday Lunch Fundraising Flyer for CFCC Emergency Fund. Dine 11 AM to 3 PM Fridays until 9-25-2026

Rooted Reflections: Before the Storm

June 25, 2026

One Friday lunch might help a family replace groceries after a house fire. Another might keep the lights on after an unexpected illness. Another might help a loved one lay a family member to rest with dignity when final expenses become overwhelming. None of these are moments anyone plans for. But all of them are moments when community matters most.