Press Releases

 

The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore is accepting nominations for the Award of Excellence honoring Richard A. Henson and the Frank H. Morris Humanitarian Award until September 24, 2010.

 

The award recipients will be announced at the annual meeting and luncheon of the Community Foundation which will be held on Friday, November 5, at The Fountains Conference Center in Salisbury.  Both awards are considered among the most prestigious honoring philanthropic service in this region.

 

Last year, at the Foundation’s 2009 Annual Meeting, Kids of Honor received the Henson Award of Excellence, and the Morris Humanitarian Award was presented to William Gordy for his lifetime commitment to volunteerism.

 

Established in 1989, the Award of Excellence honoring Richard A. Henson is presented annually to a qualified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Somerset, Wicomico, or Worcester counties which has implemented a program or project that has made an outstanding contribution to the well-being of residents of the Lower Eastern Shore.

 

The criteria for the Award of Excellence correspond closely to the late local philanthropist Richard Henson’s philosophy that achievement in the nonprofit sector should demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and creatively marshals resources to provide effective and timely responses to critical or emerging community needs.  The Award of Excellence includes a $5,000 donation to the nonprofit organization.

 

First given in 1992, the Frank H.Morris Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding, sustained and unselfish contributions to community enrichment and whose vital ideas and personal sacrifices exemplify the ideal of service to our community.

 

The late Frank Morris was a leading local businessman and philanthropist and among many civic activities was a former mayor of the City of Salisbury.  Criteria for the award include qualities of exemplary leadership, vision, integrity, compassion, cooperation, and generosity of time and talents.  The Foundation grants $1,000 to the Morris Award winner’s charity of choice.

 

Recipients are selected by a committee of community residents from nominations submitted by the public.  Application forms for the awards are available by calling the Community Foundation office at 410-742-9911 or can be downloaded at www.cfes.org.