Rooted Reflections: A Few Boxes Became a Village
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
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
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.
CFCC PM Connection X CC Chamber
Red Carpet ConnectionsMeet the Class of 2026 We Are Carroll Awards winners and nominees!Thursday, Aug 274-6 PMCarroll Nonprofit Center 355 Clifton Blvd, Westminster, MDConference Rooms 1-2 Join us for Carroll County’s swankiest networking event. Rub elbows with the stars of the Community Foundation of Carroll County at our preview of the 2026 We Are Carroll […]
Rooted Reflections: A Name Worth Carrying
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 […]
Rooted Reflections: What Love Does Next
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, […]
Rooted Reflections: Before the Storm
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.
8 schools. 120 scholarships awarded. $166,425 in dreams come true.
8 Carroll County Public High Schools. 120 Scholarships and Awards presented. $166,425 awarded to Carroll County Public Schools seniors for college and training programs. Wow! To the Class of 2026 high school seniors — CONGRATULATIONS! To the Community Foundation of Carroll County scholarship holders — we are proud to help you provide these scholarships and […]
Still Coaching
By Jaclyn Mathias, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Carroll County Leadership doesn’t end when the role changes, it shows up in how you lead, especially when it’s hard. This week, something unexpected happened—I found myself back in a coaching mindset. And it reminded me that some parts of who we are never leave… […]
Six Years Later
By Jaclyn Mathias, CFCC Executive Director Today marks my six years as Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Carroll County. Six years. That number feels both big and small at the same time. Big, because of everything that has happened in those years. Small, because in so many ways, I still feel like I’m […]