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: 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 […]
Lunch & Learn #3: Your Fundraising Playbook, Part 2
CFCC Lunch & Learn Series Gathering #3 Your Fundraising Playbook, Part 2 Lunch & Learn #3: Your Fundraising Playbook, Part 2 Join us for our next Lunch & Learn: Thursday, July 23, 2026 12 – 1:15 PM Lunch is included Carroll Nonprofit Center, 255 Clifton Blvd, Westminster, Conference Room #1-2 Free. Registration Required. Limited […]
Lunch & Learn: Growing Your Impact. Making the Most of Our Partnership.
CFCC Lunch & Learn Series Gathering #1 Growing Your Impact. Making the Most of Our Partnership. Thursday April 23, 2026 12 – 1:15 PM Carroll Nonprofit Center 255 Clifton Blvd, Westminster, MD 21157 Conference Room #3 How can you build a better nonprofit as a Community Foundation partner? Whether you are just starting with us […]
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 […]
We Are Carroll Awards featured in the Baltimore Sun
The annual We Are Carroll Awards (formerly POY) were recently featured in the Baltimore Sun’s Carroll County Times edition, highlighting the winners and shining a light on the work of the Community Foundation of Carroll County. The article by Lily Carey was published online on Sept 25, 2025. You can read the article here. My […]
We Are Carroll Awards Celebrates Carroll County, MD Nonprofits
The Community Foundation of Carroll County presents the We Are Carroll Awards — formerly Philanthropists of the Year — celebrating greatness. We’re awarding two nonprofit partners, one best friend, one legend, and one incredibly generous philanthropist. We’ve rebranded, expanded, and opened the awards this year. Included is a community member nominated by a Carroll County […]
Dayhoff: Sixteenth annual Philanthropists of the Year Awards to be presented Sept. 25
This year the Community Foundation of Carroll County 16th annual Carroll County Philanthropists of the Year Awards program will be held at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 E. Main St., Westminster, on Sept. 25. The Class of 2024 “What Keeps You Growing” event recognizes achievements in four categories: Living Legacy; Rooted in the Community; Rising Star; and the Fund-nominated as BFF.