Written By Lisa Breslin
The Community Foundation of Carroll County has honored the Robert and Janice Kirkner and Daniel and Eleanor Shipley families, WTTR Radio, The Shepherd’s Staff and North Carroll High School Junior Allyson Harmon as Philanthropists of the Year.
Harry Weer Haight, a lifelong resident of Carroll County who died last year, earned a legacy honoree award
The awards were announced September 11 at a breakfast at the Portico St. Johns Catholic Church in Westminster. Some 300 people attended. This is the third year the Community Foundation has hosted the awards ceremony.
“There are wonderful things being accomplished in our community by dedicated groups and individual volunteers and supporters. The foundation’s Philanthropists of the Year Awards is a way of recognizing the volunteer spirit that is so strong in Carroll County,” said Audrey Cimino, executive director of the foundation.
The philanthropists were selected from a pool of nominees by a panel of five community leaders representing groups including nonprofit organizations, higher education, business and past Philanthropists of the Year winners.
“I knew that these individuals nominated were involved in the community. I just didn’t know they were tied to so many things,” said Lori Graham, a member of the selection panel. “They do so much and often to pay tribute to people they love.”
Nomination forms submitted to the panel cited the following honorees’ contributions:
Harry Haight has served on the Carroll Hospital Board and was a regular donor. As a member of the board, he established its Infant Burial Program so that deceased infants may be buried free. As past president of the Carroll County branch of the American Heart Association, Haight provided countless hours of volunteer time and financial support for many of the association’s activities. Haight’s other community involvement includes work with Little Sykesville Railroad, Sykesville-Freedom District Volunteer Fire Department, the Eldersburg Eagles, Lions Club and Springfield Hospital Center.
The Kirkner family has supported such charitable organizations as Carroll Hospice, The Dove House, the MS Society, Carroll Hospital Center, Turn Around, Central Maryland Parkinson Outreach and the Partnership for Housing Foundation.
Members of the Shipley family are advocates for history, education and charitable giving in the community. They have donated time, talent and money to the Sherman-Fisher-Shellman House, the Historical Society of Carroll County and Westminster United Methodist Church, Krider’s United Church of Christ, the Ag Center, the Community Foundation of Carroll County, the local Family Community Education Association, Westminster Lions Club and the local Farm Bureau.
WTTR has offered donations of air time and sponsorships for organizations throughout the county. The station gives two-hour guest DJ spots to such organizations as the board of education, Carroll Community College Granite House, Rape Crisis Center and Westminster Fallfest. The station has helped put thousands of county residents in touch with services they need.
The Shepherd’s Staff has reached out to residents living at or below poverty level through such programs as Call for Coats, the Back to School store, Rex the Piggy Bank (which enables community members to fill piggy banks with change to hep subsidize prescription drugs for those without insurance), and the Blessings Closet (which provides new household products such as laundry detergent, toiletries, cleaning products to those who cannot afford to purchase them at full price).
Allyson Harmon headed and developed a program that matches community agencies, schools and nonprofits with high school student volunteers. She is also involved with the North East Social Action Program and in organizing drives to collect school supplies for the less fortunate.
Sponsors of the honors event included BB&T Bank, Harry’s Main Street Grille and Constellation Energy.
