The Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore presented Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello, Vice-President/Dealer Operator of the Pohanka Automotive Group of Salisbury, with a “Community Service Award” in recognition of her philanthropic support for charitable causes and nonprofit organizations throughout the region.
The award was presented during a Women in Philanthropy reception hosted May 13th by four members of the board of directors of the Community Foundation; Jackie Cassidy, Jane Corcoran, Karen Lischick, and Susan Purnell. The reception was held to recognize the important role women play in charitable giving in the community.
"From time-to-time the Community Foundation recognizes individuals and businesses that make a lasting difference in our community," said Spicer Bell, CFES President. "We try to say thank you on behalf of the thousands of lives these individuals and businesses have touched. When we talk about women in philanthropy, Sandy Fitzgerald-Angello is a role model for our entire community."
Bell noted that the award recipient has supported a wide range of nonprofit causes like the Wellness Community, Junior Achievement, the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, and Salisbury Chamber of Commerce beautification efforts. She has also championed and participated in the Habitat for Humanity’s "Women’s Build" that helped to provide a new home for a family of eight. Bell added that Pohanka employees even provided a generous supply of household goods to help the family get started in their new home.
As the leader of the Pohanka Automotive Group of Salisbury, Fitzgerald-Angello initiated the Pohanka Pays It Forward Program that has donated over $180,000 to local nonprofit organizations. At the awards presentation, it was also noted that she was honored in 2009 as one of the "Top 100 Women in Maryland".
Bell also recognized the significant impact on philanthropy over the years by other women in our community including Bobbi Biron, Gladys Goslee, Marianna Holloway, Virginia Layfield, Jane Massey, Susan Morris, and Francis Tilghman.
During the presentation Bell noted national demographic changes that are also contributing to the growing importance of women in philanthropy:
In the United States women are responsible for 83 percent of all consumer purchases;
Women comprise 43 percent of the top wealth holders with assets of $1.5 million or more;
10.1 million businesses are owned by women;
92 percent of men named their spouse as their primary influence in charitable giving;
and since women on average outlive men by over 5 years, they will end up in charge of much of the Baby Boomer Generation’s transfer of wealth.