The CalvertHealth Foundation along with medical center leadership, family members, friends, coaches and school administrators celebrated and recognized local students as Rising Stars for 2019 for their philanthropic efforts in support of CalvertHealth Medical Center.
Students honored included: Alyssa Mazzone, Sierra Benninghoven, Maggie Muldoon, Lauren Weber, Alina Sweeney, Gemma Tamburri, Lawrence Annulis, Jim Oster, Nathan Callahan, April Higgs, Zoe Dettmer, Kaylee Sandoval, Robby Jones, Abby Nguyen, Eden Bradshaw, Abigayle Kingsbury, Nina Reynolds, Brooklyn Colona, Dana Seeram, Matthew Roseto, Alex Parish, Nathan Kent, Danny Russell, Myla Young, Sabrina McGuigan, Cheyanne Jones, Emily Young, Brooke Young, Gibbons Braxton, Hayden Kelley and Madelynn Kelley. These Rising Stars represented, and accepted awards on behalf of, multiple teams, clubs and organizations throughout Southern Maryland.
Launched in 2017 by the CalvertHealth Foundation, the Rising Star Program provides an avenue to showcase local youth whose contributions to the medical center are making a difference in our community. A local high school soccer coach, Foundation Board of Trustee Brian Martin helped establish the program to unite his passions for cultivating leaders among our youth and giving back to the community.
“What a special opportunity this is to be able to celebrate young people in our community who have made an important choice to give back, to make our community better and to support their community hospital,” said CalvertHealth Chief Operating Officer Tony Bladen. He went on to add, “Our vision at CalvertHealth is to make a difference in every life we touch, and you have joined us in that effort. We cannot thank you enough.”
Speaking on behalf of the school system was Calvert High School’s Marc Watson. “Our youth have taken it upon themselves to raise money in support of the hospital and have demonstrated a commitment to ‘paying it forward’ which is just incredible. We are proud to support our hospital which is an important resource for our community.”
Jim Oster, student Mission and Charities Coordinator for Our Lady Star of the Sea School, accompanied by officers of the school’s student council, presented the 2019 Rising Student youth remarks. “We are very proud of our faith at OLSSS and are happy to be able to support CalvertHealth Medical Center,” shared Oster. He explained how the students were able to raise $105 in one day through a “Tag Day” event. Students chose to donate the funds raised to CalvertHealth’s Sheldon E. Goldberg Center for Breast Care. Each of the students present from OLSSS shared how cancer has personally impacted them through friends, neighbors and family members who have battled the disease.
Youth from all four of Calvert County’s high schools, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Plum Point Middle School, Chopticon High School and the Girl Scouts of the National Capital were recognized at the program.
To learn more about the Rising Star program, contact the CalvertHealth Foundation at foundation@calverthealthmed.org or call 410.414.4570.