On November 14, representatives from non-profit organizations that provide health and wellness services to residents of Caroline County, gathered for breakfast and a presentation of grant awards from the Caroline Foundation. At its first breakfast in 2016, the Foundation gifted $109,000 to two organizations; this year twenty-one organizations received $800,000 bringing the eight-year total to over $4.9 million.
Although most of the organizations had received grants in the past, many were returning with new or expanded programs and services. Choptank Health received a grant to purchase panoramic x-ray equipment for a new state-of-the-art dental facility opening in the Fall of 2024. Caroline Career & Technology Center received its first award for its Academy of Health Care program. This program combines a semester of course study with an internship and hands-on experience caring for geriatric patients at the end of which the student will be a Certified Nursing Assistant.
The other grant recipients were Aarons Place, Caroline County Public Schools, Caroline Medical Adult Day Care, Channel Marker, Community Civic League of Federalsburg, Compass Regional, CASA of Caroline, Critical Repairs Caroline County, For All Seasons, Chesapeake Culinary Center, Greater New Hope Church & Ministries, His Hope Ministries, Martin's House & Barn, Caroline County DSS, Partners in Care, Union Bethel AME, Upper Shore Aging, and YMCA of the Chesapeake.
The Caroline Foundation benefits and provides economic support to organizations that provide medical and/or health-related services to residents of Caroline County. In 1967 the citizens of Caroline County, with the support of the county government, created the Caroline Nursing Home. In 2000, the Gables and The Caroline Foundation were created to address additional health needs in the community. In 2015, the Caroline Nursing Home and the Gables were sold to a company specializing in health management. The proceeds from the sales were invested as an endowment fund to be used for grant-making in perpetuity.
Donations to the Caroline Foundation support health and wellness services for Caroline County residents. Donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 607, Denton, MD 21629.
Grant applications for health and wellness services for Caroline County residents must be submitted online at https://www.mscf.org/caroline-foundation by July 1 each year.
