Published by Friends Aware, Inc. Summer 2013 • Vol. 25 / No. 4

16th Annual Friends Aware Ox Roast

Friends Aware held its Annual Ox Roast on June 21, 2013 at the Ali Ghan Shrine Club Picnic Grounds. The event raised $12,500 with 917 tickets sold.

Thank you to the many gracious donors and over 160 volunteers and staff who made this event a huge success for the sixteenth straight year. The crowd was entertained by the acoustic sounds of Jim House during the evening of great food, fun and big prizes. Save the date for next year… June 20, 2014!

THANK YOUOx Roast Donors!

— Platinum $1000 —First United Bank & Trust

The Belt Group of CompaniesAlhambra Wamba Caravan #89

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

— Gold $500 —CBIZ Insurance Services

Interventional Pain Center, Dr. Carlos Santiago— Silver $250 —AES Warrior Run

Buckel, Levasseur & Pillai, LLCCoca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.

In Loving Memory of Karen Marie Howell

Rusco Home Improvement Products, LLC

— Bronze $100 —Adams Family Funeral Home, PA

Aircon Engineering, Inc.Caporale’s Italian Bakery, Inc.

Dave CaporaleDurst Funeral Home

First Peoples Federal Credit UnionJudi & Harry Haag

Landis Office SupplyMenchavez Pediatrics, LLC

Metz Electric & SecurityRBC Wealth Management

Rita’s Italian IceSenator EdwardsTerance Rephann

The PharmaCare Network

— Friends $50 —Adam Lazarus

Allegany Business Consulting, Inc.B&B Country Meats

Dr. Frank Mitchell, DDS, PADuckworth Insurance Service

The Final TouchWestern Maryland Building & Construction Trades Council

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Big Winner—Dave Duncan (right) receiving $1000 check from Friends Aware Executive Director Robert Godfrey.

Jim House rocks the Ox Roast!

Christina Sherman and Adam Lazarus are spinning the big drum to pick the winners.

Corn Shucking!

Selling Tie-Dye T-Shirts are (L to R): Bishop Walsh Student Volunteer Joel Bowman, FSU Student Volunteer Kaitlyn Wharton, FAI Behavior Coordinator Angela Welch, FAI Community Development Assistant Theresa Howard, and FAI Community Development Specialist Melissa Powell (front).

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Page Two • Summer 2013

2013 Ox Roast Winners$50 Winners – Rebecca Drew Cody Twigg First United Bank & Trust Kristie Spiroff Susan Schubert$75 Winners – First United Bank & Trust Marcia Hartman$100 Winner – Joan Leatherman$200 Winner – Mindy Growden$300 Winner – Peachie Rounds$500 Winner – Jeff Kirk$1000 Winner – Dave Duncan

SPECIAL THANKS to our Ox Roast Basket Raffle Donors

for helping us Make a Difference!

Ox Roast $1000 Platinum Level DonorsMany Thanks to Alhambra Wamba Caravan #89, First United Bank & Trust, Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC and The Belt Group of Companies for your support!

Wamba Caravan #89

Leadership Allegany Valedictorian

Leadership Allegany Chairman Charlie Croft and Chamber of Commerce

Chairman Stacey Bingaman present a certificate to FAI Executive Director Robert Godfrey during the graduation of Leadership Allegany’s Class of 2013. Robert was voted class valedictorian and was recently appointed chairman of the Leadership Allegany Alumni Committee.

Day of Caring and Sharing

Friends Aware is a proud Community Partner of the County United Way.

“Thank You” to the County United Way staff for hosting the Day of Caring and Sharing, and for including Friends Aware in the day’s events. Big thanks go to NBCI, First United Bank & Trust, and Columbia Gas for participating and supporting the Friends Aware Projects. Several Friends Aware crews assisted during the day’s events to beautify Constitution Park.

American Legion Lends Support to FAI

Post Commander Benjamin D. Singleton (left), and Fundraiser Chair Chuck Fisher (right), present check to FAI Community

Relations & Resource Development Director Kathleen Breighner.

American Legion Post 13 in Cumberland was pleased to present a $1000 donation to Friends Aware to help support the continued improve-

ment of their programs. Friends Aware has been providing an array of services to individuals in Allegany County with develop- mental disabilities since 1954.

Robert Godfrey (center) with Charlie Croft and Stacey Bingaman.

Beautifying Long House

Friends Aware would like to thank FAI Commu-nity Living Assistant Rita Crites, along with

Rhys Powers, Margaret Boggs, Linda Vandevender, Heather, Steve and Stacy Bittinger, and neighbor Bill Edwards for donating their time and talents to plant, mulch and design a beautiful space for the gentlemen that reside at the Long House. The hard work and lovely landscape is enjoyed by all.

Rita Crites helps beautify the Long House, with some help from her friends.

Summer 2013 • Page Three

The Howell Family helps Kick-off Capital Campaign with $100,000 Donation

The Howell family celebrated a new beginning this past May, as they welcomed a new member into the family. The marriage of Lindsay

Zembower (daughter of Beth and Greg Leake, and granddaughter of Charles and Marjorie Howell) to Will Stahl took place at Rays Town Lake Resort, with all the traditional wedding festivities—joyous music, decorative flowers and delicious food. But the hearts of the family and many friends who attended were still aching with the loss of Lindsay’s aunt, Karen Howell, on October 20, 2010. Karen was a kind-hearted, beautiful person who spent countless hours participating in the Friends Aware program for 27 years. To celebrate Karen’s life and to honor her memory, the Howell family took this opportunity to present a donation of $100,000.00 to the “Building Independence” Capital Campaign, and help Friends Aware launch its next phase of providing excep-tional services for individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to the wonderful contribution, Lindsay and Will decided it was only appropriate to share their day by honoring Karen’s memory through the traditional dollar dance. The newlyweds raised $420.00. Karen’s life was truly a blessing to so many, and her family has shared her spirit and love with the many people she knew through her participation in the Friends Aware program.

Back Row (L to R): Greg Leake, Schuyler Howell, Brian Howell, Chuck Howell, and Will Stahl.

Front Row (L to R): Beth Leake, Lindsay (Zembower) Stahl,

Mary Jane Lusby, Friends Aware Community Relations & Resource Development Director Kathleen

Breighner receiving the donation,Marjorie Howell, Charles Howell,

Rita Howell, and Nate Howell.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISER

YOU can help raise funds for theFriends Aware Capital Campaign!

September 20, 20138:00 a.m. - 12:00 Midnightat Rocky Gap Casino Resort

Exit 50 off I-68, Cumberland, MD

10% of ALL Proceeds will be Donated to Friends Aware

While dining, golfing, gaming, staying overnight, or enjoying the spa, you can earn points with your Rewards Club card AND support Friends Aware!

STOP at the FRONT DESK or CASHIER and tell them to ADD your Rewards Club card to the Friends Aware Event.

Don’t have a Rewards Club card?Sign-up for FREE at the resort.For more info call Kathleen Breighner

at 301-722-7268, ext. 146, or email kbreighner@friendsaware.org.

The Delbrook Family Honors Denis & Stuart Delbrook with Donation

The Delbrook Family recently honored the memory of Denis and Stuart Delbrook with a generous donation to

the Capital Campaign. Denis (“Denny” as he was known by his many friends) attended Friend’s Aware’s Vocational and Day Programs. He was a tireless worker, and was known for his great sense of humor and competitive spirit. He was always a “Champion,” attending the program for 40 years. Denny resided for his last 15 years at the Parkside Assisted Living Unit in Friends Aware’s Residential Program until his

passing on December 20, 2012. Denny’s father Stuart was a past-president of Friends Aware’s Board of Directors. Stuart was a strong supporter and advocate of the Friends Aware mission. Stuart passed away December 6, 1995. Friends Aware is grateful to the Delbrook family for being a fundamental part of our community for over four decades.

Denny Delbrook

For more information on Friends Aware’s “Building Independence” Capital Campaign, or to make contributions online, visit www.friendsaware.org. Contributions may also be made by phone at 301-722-7268.

Contributors to the“Building Independence”

Capital CampaignDecember 1, 2012 - June 31, 2013

Dreambuilder… $50,000+The Howell Family,

“In Memory of Karen Marie Howell”Champion… $1,500 - $9,999

Mr. Frank GerwigBerry Plastics, Inc.

Ms. Wilma Delbrook,“In Memory of Stuart & Denis Delbrook”

Kiwanis Club of CumberlandHero… $50 - $1,499

Mr. Morton PeskinGFWC Western Maryland

Community ClubMr. & Mrs. Lindsay StahlMr. & Mrs. A.M. Koback

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FAI Info is designed and produced by GGI Advertising, a division of General Graphics, Inc.

1601 Holland StreetCumberland, MD 21502Phone: 301-722-7268 • Fax: 301-724-8965www.friendsaware.org

Officers of the Board:Lee Anne Santiago, President • Dottie Turner, Vice-President • Frank Billard, Secretary • Mirjhana Buck, Treasurer

Executive Director:Robert Godfrey

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ts Friends Aware ContributorsThank You forYour GenerousDonations!Mr. & Mrs. David Francis

Knights of Columbus, Pope John XXIII Council #5450

Mr. Robert King

Upstate Adjusters

Victor Ryan, Jr.

American Legion Post #13

Frostburg Council #1442 in Frostburg

Mr. Ronald Peretti

Thomson Reuters

Ms. Lynelle Brant

Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC

Truist Bank

CBIZ Benefits & Insurance

Greg Smith

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Shirley Brooks

Sandra Lee

Mountain View

Alice Wilson

Friends Aware receives MTA Grant

Friends Aware was recently awarded a wheelchair accessible Dodge Grand Caravan, and $16,500 in funds for preventative maintenance for

ten vehicles, through a Mass Transit Administration (MTA) 5310 grant. The van was awarded for the agency’s Residential Support Program. Friends Aware provides creative, individualized, and self-directed community living services to people with intellectual disabilities. The majority of the services provided are Community Supported Living Arrangements and Individual Support Services. Thirty-two individuals are currently receiving support services.

With newly-awarded wheelchair accessible van are (L to R): Transportation Manager Teresa Mason, Community Relations & Resource Development Director Kathleen Breighner, and Support Services Managers Lisa Wharton and Tonya Clites.