Association of Fundraising Professionals, Maryland Chapter, hosts annual awards to honor citizens for their remarkable investments in the area’s education, arts, health and well-being
Mark and Patricia Joseph, longtime supporters of the Baltimore community, and The Kahlert Foundation, which dually supports causes in the Mid-Atlantic and Utah, have been named Maryland’s 2017 Outstanding Philanthropists and Foundation, respectively, by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Maryland Chapter (AFP Maryland). They will be recognized at a luncheon hosted by AFP Maryland to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. The event, which is expected to draw 800 guests at the Baltimore Waterfront Hotel, will also honor former Baltimore Business Journal publisher John Dinkel, youth fundraisers and unsung heroes in the community, as well as businesses being recognized by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and the Baltimore Business Journal.
The Outstanding Philanthropist and Foundation awards are given each year to recipients who exemplify the spirit of giving through contributions of money, time and skill. For the past 50 years, Mark and Patricia Joseph have championed countless causes in and around Baltimore City, the place they call home, particularly in the areas of youth, education and the arts. They were the lead donors of the capital and endowment campaigns at Baltimore School for the Arts where they also provided a grant to create a Film and Digital Story Telling Department. The Josephs are also among the chief donors of Thread (who nominated the Joseph’s), a program that is creating a unique social support network throughout Baltimore City for academically underperforming high school students, as well as the CollegeBound Foundation which helps low-income city students pay for college.
The Kahlert Foundation, founded by William E. Kahlert, and now led by Greg and Roberta Kahlert and their children Heather and Scott, is dedicated to improving the quality of life and well-being of the people in the communities that have historically been closest to the members of the Kahlert family – the Mid-Atlantic region and Utah. Their ongoing gifts and support of local causes focused on healthcare, youth programs, education, veterans and human services have made The Kahlert Foundation one of the largest private foundations in Maryland. Nominated by Carroll Hospital, a LifeBridge Health center and GBMC, because of the foundation’s impact in Carroll County and around the state of Maryland. Support that is only continuing to grow and impact many communities.
“Every day, donors, volunteers, foundations, businesses, and nonprofit organizations come together to make the world a better place for us all,” Tamara W. Zavislan, President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Maryland Chapter. “AFP Maryland is proud to stand with and honor Mark and Patricia Joseph and The Kahlert Foundation, strong philanthropists committed to partnerships that make a difference.”
“This is a wonderful honor,” said Mark Joseph. “We couldn’t be more fortunate, and we hope that we will encourage other people to give to their communities.”
“We are looking forward to celebrating National Philanthropy Day on Friday with all the charities and non-profit organizations making our communities a better place to live and work in,” said Greg Kahlert, president of the Kahlert Foundation.
