Event Recaps for 2010

Kaiser Permanente Presents Meals on Wheels
18th Annual Culinary Extravaganza 

Kaiser Permanente was the lead sponsor for the 18th Annual Culinary Extravaganza to benefit Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland on Monday, May 3 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel.  More than 325 guests enjoyed delicious food from the area’s top chefs while more than $170,000 was raised for the clients of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland.

 

Chef Jerry Edwards, CPCE, president and corporate chef, Chef’s Expressions Catering and Consulting, and Meals on Wheels spokesperson and volunteer, lead the slate of chefs which included Chef Duff Goldman, Charm City Cakes, and Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” Barry Fleischmann, Innovate Gourmet, Benjamin Erjavec, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Michel Tersiguel, Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant, Rodney Henry, Dangerously Delicious Pies and Meals on Wheels’ very own chef, Michael White.

 

Live and Silent Auctions were a part of the festivities which included a private chef’s dinner for 12 that raised $6,000.  Also included in the auction:  an original 13” x 20” framed water color painting of Hyde Park by renowned artist, Joseph Sheppard (valued at more than $7,500) and more than 80 silent auction packages were also featured.

 

Music was provided by Freddie Stevens Entertainment, Ltd., wine and spirits were donated by Reliable-Churchill and décor was graciously provided by Feats, Inc.

 

Major sponsors included:  Kaiser Permanente, The Law Offices of Peter T. Nicholl, EU Services, Merritt Properties, LLC, George & Betsy Sherman, Allegis Group Foundation, W.R. Grace & Co., M&T Bank, Constellation Energy, The Dorothy L. & Henry A. Rosenberg, Jr., Foundation, Arundel, Cooling & Heating, William & Jennifer Burgy, Southern Management Corporation, MECU, Leonard Paper Company, Maxim Healthcare Services, PSA Insurance & Financial Services, Venable LLP, Walk the Walk Foundation and Wilmington Trust.

 

Media partners includes:  Baltimore Jewish Times, Style Magazine, Chesapeake Life, The Maryland Daily Record, Generations, Comcast, Modern Babies & Children, Downtown Diane, WYPR-88.1 FM & WCBM-680 AM.

 

Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland extends their sincerest thanks and appreciation to Kaiser Permanente, Presenting Sponsor, for their generous and unprecedented contribution!  We welcome you to the Meals on Wheels family and thank you for allowing us to “thrive.”

 

 

Event Recaps for 2009


 

2nd Annual 5K, Saturday, November 7, 2009

It was a beautiful sunny day (maybe a little chilly!) as 100 runners and walkers prepared for the start of the 2nd Annual 5K to benefit Meals on Wheels at Meadowbrook Park. 

Our incredible sponsors include:  W.R. Grace & Company (Lead Sponsor), Wal Mart (Platinum Sponsor), Howard County General Hospital (Platinum Sponsor), Howard County Police Officers' Association (Silver Sponsor), Modern Babies & Children (In-Kind), Kendall Hardware (In-Kind), Signs by Tomorrow (In-Kind), Harris Teeter (In-Kind), Dunkin' Donuts (In-Kind), Hampton Inn (In-Kind) and our fabulous disc jockey, DJ Birdman (In-Kind).

WJZ-TV,Channel 13 Meteorologist, Ms. Bernadette Woods, was our Mistress of Ceremonies and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman joined her in the opening ceremonies.  Friends, fun, food and fitness were the "menu choice" of the day and we can't say "thank you "  enough to everyone who supported this exciting and growing event.

(PHOTO LEFT:  Meals on Wheels Executive Director, Tom Grazio & Howard County Executive Ken Ulman make opening remarks.  PHOTO RIGHT:  Howard County Program Administrator Karen Saul congratulates Board President Catherine Max on her first place finish!)

 

17th Annual Culinary Extravaganza
Monday, May 4, 2009

It may have been raining outside on the night of the 17th Annual Culinary Extravaganza but the crowd inside certainly didn't notice!  The M&T Pavilion of the Hippodrome was decorated in a "street side cafe" theme (thank you P.W. Feats) and the guests strolled throughout the venue enjoying delicious dishes prepared by our fabulous chefs.  Our mistress of ceremonies, Jessica Kartalija, WJZ TV News Anchor, shined on stage once again and Petra Compel of P.W. Feats energized the crowd during the Live Auction.  Live auction items included:  a private chef's dinner for 24 (auctioned off twice!), a mink coat graciously donated by Mano Swartz, a limited edition Joe Flacco hand-signed canvas framed print and an afternoon of golf with Baltimore Colts legend Mr. Lydell Mitchell.

Even during these tough economic times, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland was able to raised more than $142,000 at this event; an increase of $25,000 from last year's event. 

 A big thank you to all of our sponsors, chefs, in-kind donors and more!  We couldn't have done it without you.  Also, thank you to the 17th Annual Culinary Extravaganza Committee:  Catherine Max (Event Co-Chair), Greg Martin (Event Co-Chair), Anne Winter West (Auction Chair), Rita St. Clair (Decor & Logistics Chair and Jonathan Wachs (Sponsorship Chair).

Participating Chefs:  Jerry Edwards, Chef's Expressions and Meals on Wheels spokesperson (pictured left), Paul Lever (Spectrum Catering), Tim Mullen (Baltimore Marriott Waterfront), Mitch Cooper (Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards), John Walsh (Chef's Expressions), Barry Fleischmann (Innovative Gourmet), Nino German (La Scala), Paul Glomp (The Johns Hopkins Club), Duff Goldman (Charm City Cakes), Nancy Longo (Pierpoint), Jerry Pellegrino (Corks), Kimberly Rigby (Parfections), Michel Tersiguel (Tersiguel's French Country Restaurant), Bill Tien (Matsuri), Ronnie Ching (Classic Catering), Winston Blick (Clementine), Rey Eugenio (Roy's Hawiian Fusion), Rodney Henry (Dangerously Delicious Pies) and Meals on Wheels very own chef, Michael White (pictured right).

 

 Board Member and Marketing Committee Chair, W. Damian Lewis, gladly accepts a dish from a chef.

 

 

 

Praxis Golf Tourney Benefiting Meals on Wheels 
Friday, May 8, 2009 

The 2nd Annual Praxis Golf Tourney was a great success on a sunny, warm day at Compass Pointe Golf Course in Pasadena, MD.  Meals on Wheels will use the $12,000 donation to provide home-delivered meals to individuals who are homebound, frail, and elderly in Central Maryland.

 

“We are extremely grateful to Praxis Engineering for donating the proceeds of the 2nd Annual Golf Tourney to Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland,” said Tom Grazio, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland (pictured to the right, second from the left).  “With these tough economic times that so many businesses and individuals are facing, it is great to know that there are good corporate citizens willing to lend a hand.”

 

More than 150 golfers “hit the links” on Friday, May 8, 2009.

 

“We are grateful to have been able to be part of such a great event and for the support of both our employees and the corporate community,” states Bill Dunahoo, President of Praxis Engineering.  Bill continues, “The success of this golf outing, particularly in these hard economic times, is especially rewarding and reflective of our core values. At Praxis we understand how fortunate we are and the responsibility we have to give back to the communities in which we live.”

 

 

 

Praxis Engineering, headquartered in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, is a consulting, products and solutions firm dedicated to the practical application of software and system engineering technologies to ensure the success of its customers.  Praxis Engineering brings together world class engineering talent combined with software engineering best practices, domain expertise and commercial technologies to create high-value solutions aimed at helping its customers meet their mission critical needs.  For more information about Praxis Engineering, please visit:  www.praxiseng.com

 

 

First Annual 5K & Family Fun Run
November 8, 2008

The weather may have been dreary on Saturday morning, but the Ist Annual 5K & 1 Mile Family Fun/Run Walk participants had a great time in spite of "Mother Nature!"  More than 125 runners & walkers participated in the inaugural event!  Bernadette Woods, WJZ TV meteorologist (see photo below - center), welcomed the participants who took on the challenging 3.2 mile course through Meadowbrook Park.  Winners were crowned, door prizes were handed out and, more importantly, community awareness about the Meals on Wheels program was raised.  And, by the way, we raised a little bit of money, too!

Once again, many thanks to our generous sponsors:

 

Purple Passion BIG BASKET Bingo
October 24, 2008

Members of the Baltimore Nighthawks (Baltimore's women's professional football team) pose with Meals on Wheels staffers, Debbie Brown (kneeling left) and Jane Pekosz (to her left).  The Nighthawks came out to teach the gals how to throw and kick a football prior to Purple Passion Bingo. 

 

The ladies had a great time at Purple Passion Longaberger Bingo.  Does anyone know who this player is?

 

 

 

Empty Bowls
October 4, 2008

Karen Saul accepts a check for $2,500 donated from the Empty Bowls fundraiser in Howard County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Night at Ripken Stadium
September 1, 2008

Meals on Wheels of Harford County staff helped out at the Meals on Wheels display table during a "Night at Ripken Stadium," Monday, September 1, 2008.  From left:  Marti Ollinger, packing site manager; Allan Robinson, Harford County program administrator; and Jean Geddes, intake worker/office assistant.

 

 

 

Tom Grazio (center) and Allan Robinson (right) meet the General Manager of the Aberdeen Ironbirds and hang out with the Ironbirds mascot!

 

 

Bowie Baysox Ball Game
July 31, 2008

Executive Director Tom Grazio and Anne Arundel County Volunteer of the Year, Lois Gross, wait to throw out the first pitch at the Bowie Baysox game on July 31, 2008.