Patricia Mack-Preston, Appy Time for Learning

Summary

Today is February 23rd, the last Friday in Black History Month. To celebrate, we spoke to Patricia Mack-Preston, Founder of Appy Time for Learning, a non-profit organization supported by the Community Foundation of Carroll County. In today’s conversation, we learn about Patricia’s background as an African American woman, as an educator, and as a non-profit leader. So, sit back and enjoy this episode of We Are Carroll.

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

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

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.