Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A Severna Park Middle School custodian will donate a kidney to his brother on Wednesday, and thanks the school for its support.
When Severna Park Middle School custodian Dovell Johnson’s brother learned he needed a kidney transplant, Johnson immediately stepped up to help. At first, he planned on donating a kidney to a stranger so his brother could get one in return. Then Johnson discovered he was a perfect match for the transplant and that his own kidney could save his brother’s life. “When it all came back and I found out I was a match the first thing I did was I called my mom,” Johnson said. “By the time I called my brother to tell him, I found out my mom was so happy she had already told him. And then it was like, wow, I am directly helping him.” Johnson, 23, didn’t think he would be a match for his brother Rhondell Jones because they don’t have the same father…
Thursday, September 6, 2012
After being personally affected by the neurological disorder, Megan Killpatrick is organizing her second Conquer Chiari walk.
When some 13-year-olds get home from school they have a snack, maybe walk the dog and then probably watch TV. When Severna Park Middle School student Megan Killpatrick gets home she may do those things too—but she also tries to find corporate sponsors to help her in her fight to conquer Chiari. Megan was diagnosed with Chiari, a neurological disorder that affects 300,000 people in the U.S., when she was 7. “What happens is part of the brain comes out of your skull a little bit and it crowds up the back of you head and puts pressure on your spine and brain,” Megan said. “It causes pain and nerve damage.” Megan’s mom, Cheryl Killpatrick, said Megan was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 7 and that eventually led to the diagnosis of Chiari…
Monday, March 19, 2012
Julie Shay of Severna Park uses her vast network of volunteers to help others while keeping recycling a priority.
"She's a small person with a big heart," Larry Griffin, president of We Care and Friends. Getting an email alert from Julie Shay tells the story of her work in the community. On a daily basis she lists community needs: volunteers, donations, available recycled items, groceries for the needy, medicines or a lost pet. The petite brunette is the hub for connecting those in need by reaching out to an ever-growing network of people. Changing the views of what is considered waste and what can easily be recycled into something useful to those in need is a full-time job for the Severna Park resident. You could say she considers herself a fanatic on stopping what she calls “the waste stream.” Shay is a matchmaker of a different sort. Describing …
Friday, February 10, 2012
A groundbreaking ceremony held earlier this month culminated an eight-year fundraising campaign and recognizes the Severna Park resident for spearheading the project.
After working for about eight years to raise money for a new stadium at his Alma Mater, McDaniel College in Westminster, Ken Gill of Severna Park will have his name on it in recognition of his efforts. Gill, a trustee at the school, spearheaded a campaign to fund an $8 million-plus stadium solely through charitable donations, including his own. A groundbreaking ceremony covered by Westminster Patch was held Feb. 3 where the new Kenneth R. Gill Stadium is being built. When complete, the campus will boast a two-story brick and concrete multipurpose stadium with a new entrance and roadway on West Main Street and a pedestrian walkway, according to a news announcement. "It is a very nice honor," Gill said. "It takes a lot of money to build a …
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A Severna Park couple helps hundreds of families and children, despite falling on hard times themselves.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Leslie Hunt
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Helping the poorest of the poor, those who may not have shoes or clothes that fit, is how the Walk the Walk Foundation got its start back in 2004, thanks to a note folded into a Christmas card by Kim and David Mitchell of Severna Park. The couple asked for donations to help 60 children of Mercer County, WV, have a Christmas. The response was overwhelming. “Everyone likes to give at Christmas,” Kim Mitchell said. She added that the need was made clear by stories of a combined family of 11 living in a trailer, a mother who had no shoes to wear to a school conference and young boys who wore their sister’s hand-me-downs to school. These snapshots of depressed economic conditions came from Mitchell’s aunt, Evelyn Linkous, a former principal at …
Monday, November 28, 2011
Volunteers with Giving Back, Linda's Legacy, will be taking donations of coats and warm clothing starting this week in Annapolis.
Christmas Eve took on a new meaning more than 30 years ago when a philanthropist named Linda Greenberg, formerly of Annapolis, gave her hat to a homeless person. From that act of generosity, decades of giving began along with a burgeoning volunteer network each holiday season, including one she founded called Giving Back Inc. now with the added moniker "Linda's Legacy" since she stepped down in 2005. Since its founding, the nonprofit organization grew each year, enveloping the community—both adults and young people—who have helped form what is today, one of the most successful Christmas homeless missions in Maryland. Continuing the legacy Greenberg started is Steve Anstett of Severna Park, who took over as executive director of the growing…
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Longtime residents Charlie and Susan Nolte of Fair Oaks work hard for their community.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Leslie Hunt
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Members of a dozen boards combined, watershed stewards, adding joy to the life of seniors, community servants to numerous nonprofits; the do-good list is long for Charlie and Susan Nolte who have filled their days of retirement by being active throughout the Severna Park area. The couple, who live on Cattail Creek off of the Magothy River in Fair Oaks, have been Severna Park residents for decades with Susan's knowledge of the area serving her well for 31 years as a local realtor before retiring seven years ago. Matters pertaining to the watershed are at the top of Charlie's involvement with the Magothy River Association (MRA) and dates back to 1998 as a Fair Oaks Community Association (FOA) representative (and also a board member) and an…
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Severna Park resident Chuck Beck hopes to find the answer to providing employment to needy people in guerilla marketing for small businesses.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Leslie Hunt
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Tuesday, September 27, 2011
If it wasn't for Smokey, the chance meeting of Chuck Beck and Fred Stamm wouldn't have happened. Smokey is a golden retriever who travels with Beck, his owner, and waits patiently for him in his pickup truck on errands around town. Stamm is the formerly homeless amputee whose life turned around thanks to Beck and that chance meeting years ago. Although Beck, a longtime Severna Park resident, had noticed Stamm parked in his wheelchair on a street corner or sidewalk and maybe passed him a few dollars in the past, he had never spoken to him at length. But Beck took more notice of the man when he gently pet and talked to Smokey, who Beck considers an “ambassador of goodwill” in the community. The two became friends and spent time talking, …
Tasha MaC
1:45 am on Saturday, November 17, 2012
Dovell you are the man !! Lol I've seen you grow && you have always had your heart on your sleeve !! YOU ARE YOUR BROTHER'S KEEPER && Bill is blessed to have a brother like you !! You are a hero to give your brother a kidney in less than a year after knowing his situation,, & to do it all on your own!! you saved a life !! && you will be blessed forever . LOVE YOU GUYS.. I know the words you will … more ›