News & Stories

April is National Volunteer Month and Frederick County is fortunate that thousands of people volunteer their time, talent, expertise and energy to improve the lives of others in our community.

To say Claire McCardell was a trailblazer would be an understatement. When many women stayed home, McCardell worked a job; when most looked to Paris for fashion trends, she created her own; when a clothing brand wanted to use her style, she insisted the label include her name.

Frederick County is home to more than 1,300 farms and 181,500 acres of farmland. Agriculture is one of the oldest and largest industries in the county, generating an economic impact of nearly $1.5 billion annually. Agriculture is vital to Frederick County and educating and inspiring future farmers has been top of mind for several Community Foundation donors.

The Community Foundation of Frederick County has been doing important work in the community for more than three decades – building partnerships, funding grants to nonprofits, awarding scholarships. But if you peel back the layers, what is really at the heart of the work done in a community foundation, is love.

In 1976 President Gerald Ford designated February as Black History Month, calling upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”