Printable Version   Go Back

Foundation honors four who aided area health

Thursday, June 21, 2007

(The Howard County Times) --

The Horizon Foundation this month recognized four individuals for their work in providing health and wellness services in Howard County.

On June 14, the foundation honored Barbara Lawson, of the Columbia Foundation; Andrea Ingram, of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center; Laura Smit, of HC DrugFree; and Calvin Austin, of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

The nonprofit Horizon Foundation, which gives grants aimed at improving health and wellness in the county, has conducted its awards program for four years to recognize outstanding service.

Lawson, who is leaving the Columbia Foundation this fall, has been the nonprofit's full-time executive director since 1989. During that time, she worked to increase the foundation's endowment from $1 million to $15 million.

The foundation distributes grants to human services and arts agencies.

In recognition of her work, Lawson received the Horizon Foundation's Community Appreciation Award.

"I think it was absolutely a wonderful thing that Horizon did, but on the other hand there are so many people in this community that we can express our appreciation for, so I guess I am very humbled," Lawson said.

Ingram, who has been the executive director of Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center for 17 years, won the foundation's Richard G. McCauley Leadership Award for her work.

The center provides assistance to the homeless and others who are in need of emergency assistance.

During her career, Ingram has helped to develop the center's Mobile Crisis Team, and a second program through which churches help to provide the homeless with shelter during the winter, when Grassroots is full.

The foundation recognized Smit, the executive director of HC DrugFree, for her work in educating parents in how to prevent their children from using drugs and alcohol.

Austin, the president of the Kappa Phi Lambda chapter of Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. in Howard County, was recognized for the fraternity's work in mentoring young black males.

Its Alpha Achievers program, for example, encourages the character development and academic growth of black male high school students.

 

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.5.