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: 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.
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… […]
Chick-fil-A Fundraiser Night
The Margaret Taylor Kiracofe Memorial Scholarship Monday, April 13, 2026 11 AM – 7 PM Westminster Chick-fil-A Show the Flyer for proceeds to be donated to the cause. Dine-in and Drive-thru only.
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 […]
Nineteen Years of Peeps and the Roots of Community
For me, the Peep Show was one of my very first introductions to the nonprofit world in Carroll County. Just a month and a half later, I began working at the Community Foundation of Carroll County—a path that has shaped nearly two decades of my life and work.
What does the Community Foundation of Carroll County do, exactly?
People often ask, “What is the Community Foundation of Carroll County? What do you do?” Please watch and find out about our reach in the community — what we do and who we work with, what our impact is. You can learn a lot in less than 3 minutes! In our first episode, meet Executive […]
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 […]