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Foundation honors hall of fame philanthropists
Legends of giving recognized as part of 350th celebration
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photos
Mollie Gieseman, left, of the Community Foundation of Charles County, and Francis H. Chaney II, chairman of the board of Chaney Enterprises and president of the Eugene Chaney Foundation, present a $20,000 check to Diana Rucci for the foundation's Southern Maryland Women's League fund during the Philanthropic Day luncheon.
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Members of the community recently gathered to celebrate the spirit of giving and volunteerism in Charles County at the third annual Philanthropic Luncheon in Waldorf.
The Community Foundation of Charles County sponsored the luncheon and award ceremony at the Waldorf Jaycees center Nov. 14 where nine people or organizations were inducted into the foundation's newly created hall of fame and three others were presented awards for their generosity and volunteer activity in the community over the years.
The luncheon's theme — Past, Present and Future of the Community — aptly reflected the mood of the event that highlighted people, organizations and businesses who have contributed to Charles County over its 350-year history. To commemorate the county's 350th anniversary, the foundation inducted American Community Properties Trust, Bobbie and Carl Baldus, P.D. Brown, the Chaney family, Chaney Enterprises and the Eugene Chaney Foundation, Community Bank of Tri-County, Facchina Group of Companies LLC, Greater Waldorf Jaycees, Verna Posey and Capt. Billy Robertson into the hall of fame, said Gretchen Heinze Hardman, the foundation's executive director.
In addition, Michael Besche of Besche Oil Co. was named the Philanthropist of the Year, Bobbie Baldus was named Volunteer of the Year and Citizens for the Charles County Public Library was recognized as the Nonprofit of the Year.
"We were thrilled to receive scores of nominations for this year's Philanthropy Day luncheon," Hardman said in a press release. "All of the nominees contribute a great deal to this county, and we were honored to have the opportunity to thank them."
Besche said his company has a fundraising arm, the A.C. Besche Foundation that was named in honor of his father, Anthony Charles Besche. The nonprofit organization supports charities and nonprofit enterprises in Charles County, including Civista Health Foundation, College of Southern Maryland and the Boy Scouts, he said.
"I was humbled and honored to receive the Philanthropist of the Year award," he said, adding that his 88-year-old mother, Virginia Besche, attended the luncheon. "I've worked really hard this year for the college as the chair of its fundraising campaign. I get great pleasure and satisfaction doing these things."
Bobbie Baldus was honored for the hours of volunteer time she has contributed to the celebration of the county's 350th anniversary. Baldus, a La Plata native, chaired the county's 350th anniversary committee and organized a variety of activities to celebrate the county's history, including lectures, a gala, the La Plata Veterans Day parade that featured the Budweiser Clydesdale horses and the installation of huge birthday cakes in Waldorf, Hughesville, La Plata, Newburg and Bryans Road to draw attention to the year-long celebration.
Bobbie and Carl Baldus were not able to attend the luncheon where they both were honored, but the couple's daughter, Bonnie Baldus Grier, and son, Rick Baldus, accepted the award on their mother's behalf and thanked the foundation for inducting their parents into the hall of fame.
"It was quite an honor; it's really great to be recognized," said Bobbie Baldus later. "We do it all for the love of Charles County. We just want to see it prosper and grow."
Ann Chess, president of Citizens for the Charles County Public Library, said she is proud her organization received the honor of being named Nonprofit of the Year.
"We're certainly honored to receive the award, but more than that we're very appreciative of the importance of the role that the library plays in our community," she said.
The organization runs a used bookstore every Saturday at the La Plata library branch and has raised more than $49,000 for a new circulation desk at P.D. Brown library in Waldorf. Other events the group sponsors include summer reading programs and author receptions.
Inductees into the foundation's hall of fame said they were also surprised and pleased to be given such an honor, including Paul V. Facchina Sr., president and chief executive officer of the Facchina Group of Companies LLC in La Plata.
"We're honored to have been recognized by the community foundation and inducted as a member of the hall of fame," Facchina said in a prepared statement. "We're pleased to know that our donations are making a difference and helping to improve the quality of life for Charles County and its citizens."
Facchina was instrumental in helping La Plata rise from the rumble left behind in April 2002 after a tornado tore through town nearly destroying the business district. Facchina provided temporary trailers along Centennial Street so people who lost their businesses during the storm could continue to operate.
The late Capt. Billy Robertson was also inducted into the hall of fame. Robertson's granddaughter, Kelly Robertson Slagle, nominated her grandfather for the honor.
"I was honored to have the opportunity to nominate my grandfather and to accept the award on his behalf," she said in a prepared statement. "I know that he would have been humbled by this recognition and honored to be among the first round of inductees into the Philanthropy Hall of Fame."
Robertson, who opened Capt. Billy's Crab House many years ago on the Potomac River in Popes Creek, is remembered for his Southern hospitality and for raising more than $150,000 in a two-day golf tournament in 1999 for the American Cancer Society even as he suffered with the disease, Hardman said.
"He has left a great legacy for this community and for our family to pass on to the next generation," Slagle said in the statement. "He always taught us to take care of your own, never be afraid of hard work and to take care of those who will ultimately take care of you."
American Community Properties Trust in Waldorf, the developer of St. Charles, was inducted into the hall of fame because of the many charitable contributions it has showered on the community during the past 40 years, Hardman said.
"It's a tremendous honor to be recognized," said Edwin L. Kelly, ACPT's president and chief operating officer. "The company has always wanted to give back to the community what it has taken away and we strongly support helping the community."
Learn about giving
The Community Foundation of Charles County is seeking people to set up endowments so they can donate funds to charities, the arts and other causes.
The learn more about the foundation, call Gretchen Heinze Hardman at 301-885-0108, send an e-mail to Gretchen.heinze@charlescountycommunityfoundation.org or go to www.charlescountyfoundation.org.
nmcconaty@somdnews.com
