Spotlight

By Tamela Baker, The Herald Mail

For 140 years, San Mar Family and Community Services has been helping children, families and communities in Western Maryland.

And to mark its milestone anniversary this week, the Boonsboro-based organization announced a new initiative designed to help young women make the transition from youth care to thriving adulthood.

San Mar has long been known for its foster care program, which serves youth in need of assistance because of a history of abuse or neglect.

Now San Mar is embarking on a nearly $6 million project to renovate its original orphanage and group home, which has been used for office space, to a 15-unit apartment building for young women. San Mar also would provide on-site services for them as they move from foster or group care to independence, including case management and life-skills counseling.

“The ripple effect of the housing crisis and the related escalating costs means that all young adults are struggling to find an affordable place to take their next steps toward adulthood,” San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy said. “Imagine what it must feel like leaving systems like foster care in these circumstances. We see it firsthand with many youth we serve, and ultimately feel that we have a moral obligation to respond to the need with our time, facilities and talents.”

The idea, he told The Herald-Mail, “is to find the sweet spot to autonomy, in your own space where you have independence, but there are also some shared community amenities.”

San Mar has asked Gov. Wes Moore to include the project in next year’s capital budget. Most of the estimated $5.9 million cost will be used to redesign the original orphanage and group home facility for the apartments. The rest, about $1 million of the total, will be used to convert former residential facilities into offices for support services personnel.

San Mar officials presented the project to Washington County’s state legislators Monday. Deputy Executive Director Jerica Washington told the lawmakers that the plan is to provide support for women aged 18 to 24 who are making the transition from foster or group care to independence. They’ll be connected to services ranging from employment and education help to transportation and mental health support.

They’ll also have opportunities to share meals together and explore permanent housing options when they’re ready to move on, she said.

The idea, Fanjoy told The Herald-Mail, is to give them a little help in achieving their independence despite a tight housing market.

“It’s hard to be a young adult in today’s society, and we believe that this program will help many young adults have a safety net in the short-term while striving towards greater independence and key life skills in a supportive environment to use in the long-term,” he said in a statement. “Over the next decade we’re hoping to change the outcomes for hundreds of kids who might otherwise end up homeless or in dire straits. They deserve the very best environment and support our community has to offer.”

San Mar reached a milestone Wednesday

On the evening of Nov. 8, 1883, Eddie and Edith were the first two young children admitted to the original orphanage program at 355 S. Potomac St. in Hagerstown in their time of need. That’s when San Mar’s 140-year mission began.

San Mar moved to its present Boonsboro campus in 1927 and has provided residential and foster care supports to thousands of youth, including care for teenage girls from 1985-2016 before moving away from the group home strategy.

Over the past decade, in addition to Treatment Foster Care services with local families, the focus has been on prevention, according to San Mar officials. To that end, San Mar operates the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being, an outpatient mental health clinic; and the Bester Community of Hope, a service to families in the south end of Hagerstown. These programs serve more than 1,000 individuals per year.

“Over the years we have explored how to best position our organization to respond to current community needs in a sustainable way,” Washington said. “Our vision partners housing with support services so that it’s not only a place to live but a place to grow. We will foster a firm foundation in the young adults we support, with the ultimate goal of achieving permanent housing in our community.”

San Mar is hosting a small gathering of local leaders Thursday at Cool Ridge Winery to mark the anniversary and discuss needs for the new project.

Original article available at Herald Mail Media: https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/local/2023/11/09/at-140-san-mar-proposes-new-housing-program-for-young-women/71489455007/

San Mar Family & Community Services has released it’s annual report for FY22, highlighting key efforts across the organization at Bester Community of Hope, Treatment Foster Care and the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being, along with efforts in Development, Finance and beyond.

Look inside to learn more about San Mar’s core programs and the essential work happening everyday, building bridges to move children, families and communities from surviving to thriving! Click here: San Mar Family & Community Services FY22 Annual Report

 

This past Saturday at Fountainhead Country Club San Mar Family & Community Services held the “Dream Gala”, highlighting efforts being accomplished across the organization to support children, families and communities. The sold-out family friendly event celebrated the core programs of Treatment Foster Care, the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being and the Bester Community of Hope initiative, and gave an opportunity to bring together staff, community partners, and local children and families for a one-of-a-kind evening.

The night kicked off with celebrity chef Father Leo Patalinghug, who took the stage to create his funky fusion fajitas that he once used to defeat Iron Chef Bobby Flay on a Food Network competition. As he prepared the meal which was displayed on large screens for the audience to follow he spoke to the power of the family meal as a proven way to reduce social problems.  He explained, “I gotta be honest with you, the best way to heal people? Offer them hospitality. It’s the same root word as hospital, and food is the international language.” The audience laughed along with his brand of comedy and eagerly awaited his meal to be delivered, along with a special dessert graciously donated by Boonsboro bakery Stone Werks.

Following dinner San Mar Family & Community Services CEO Keith Fanjoy began the formal program by exploring the mission and vision of the organization and highlighted, “Dreams can be realized when we’re given an opportunity. We have to meet basic needs first, but we can’t stop there. My challenge to our staff is that we must help families move from surviving to thriving and help others see what is possible in their future.” After his presentation San Mar recognized several long-time staff, including immediate past CEO Bruce Anderson, who was met with a standing ovation, by creating the Bruce T. Anderson Legacy Award to reflect a lifetime of commitment to providing unconditional care to children and families.

Program Directors Jerica Washington, Jen Younker and Mercede Robinson shared the key work happening across the San Mar continuum of care and why the work we pursue remains vitally important as we slowly begin the return to a post-pandemic society. Jerica recognized staff member Ellen Savoy, with over 33 years of services in varied roles, by saying “Her legacy of compassion, nurturing personality and most importantly love of God shines through all that she does.”  Mercede was joined on the San Mar stage by TFC Case manager Abby Giancola to recognize Charles and Roberta Butts who gave over twenty of years’ service, both as foster parents and with Roberta previously supporting the group homes. Abby explained, “The Butts have been crucial for a place to call home and for people to call family and offered unconditional love and support to the youth they serve. Roberta is kind, warm, loving and incredibly strong. Charles is a strong man, who loves fearlessly and passionately, and has been essential in teaching many life lessons and skills.”

Hagerstown City Council Member Tekesha Martinez shared a spoken word poem called “Mental Feedings”, but before beginning she shared, “I was in foster care, and had five children by the age of 25, and had my first child at St. Ann’s maternity home. Five years ago, I was facilitating an afterschool club for Bester Community of Hope. So, anything is possible!”

Mario Bonds provided an inspiring keynote performance and talk about his path to success. Born with a degenerative eye disease that has made him totally blind, and who in early childhood experienced homelessness, abuse, abandonment and other tragic losses, Mario was able to channel his challenges into passions and pursued music ultimately becoming a national speaker and musician. Mario eventually decided to give back in a unique way, as a blind man, becoming a foster and eventually adoptive parent. “The turmoil of my childhood gave me the nerve to tell them that their set back doesn’t have to be what defines them.” Mario performed his songs ‘Human’, ‘Steel’ and a cover from the movie “Soul” titled ‘It’s All Right’. The audience was captivated by his story of children he was caring for as a foster parent who had worked together to create a way for them to share in the rites of passage of playing catch in the back yard. “When I got outside these kids of their own volition had created a way that their blind father could play catch with me. And for that, life is alright, you can still succeed.”

The night closed with the silent auction winner, youth door prize winners and the long-awaited drawing of winners for the Dream Raffle that has been running for several months for big prizes including an RV adventure, cruise, VIP sports tickets and much more. The Dream Raffle prize winners, supervised by auditors Smith, Elliott and Kearns, announced in the order of pull to choose their prize were: Carla Hook, Donna Steben, Teri Cholewicki, Sara Nuckolls, Vickie McLaughlin, Delmar Barrett, and Catherine Beliveau. Several of the prizes were made possible by local organizations and donors including Martin Marrieta Aggregates, Mr. Timothy Hott, Lowes Home Improvement, Holsingers Meat Market and Warehouse Cinemas.

The Dream Gala event was made possible by significant support from a great deal of community partners in a variety of ways large and small. Lead financial gifts included Gold sponsorships from the Jone L. Bowman Foundation and Noel’s Fire Protection, as well as a Silver gift from RBC Wealth Management and Bronze gifts from Meritus Health, Doing Better Business and Fulton Bank.

To learn more about the important work of San Mar Family & Community Services go to www.sanmarhope.org.

Select photography courtesy of Nelson Robinson and Jim Savoy

San Mar Family & Community Services released it’s FY21 Annual Report today at our Spring quarterly organizational staff meeting. The signature report highlights the transformational work occurring across the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being outpatient mental health center, Treatment Foster Care and the Bester Community of Hope Initiative, along with key organizational efforts, financials and philanthropy partners.

San Mar CEO Keith Fanjoy LCSW-C shared, “San Mar remained open every day of the pandemic, serving countless families. We’ve always known that San Mar was special because of the shared values and commitments of our team, but crisis has had a way of reminding each of us what is important. The only way our organization has been able to continue to make an impact in children, families and the communities we serve, is the selfless service to others by our staff and foster parents. As you scan through these pages, and you see all of the times we made a commitment to do whatever it takes for families, remember that without the helpers, none of these pages would have been written.”

Explore the full document here: SanMarAnnualReport-FY21-web

San Mar Family & Community Services is pleased to announce plans for a gala fundraising event at Fountain Head Country Club in Hagerstown on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. The vision for this unique evening is to offer an upscale, yet family-friendly dinner event designed to inspire attendees of every age to never stop dreaming.

Our celebrity chef and keynote presenter, Father Leo Patalinghug, is an award-winning chef best known for his win on Food Network’s “Throwdown! With Bobby Flay”. Father Leo will provide an entertaining food demonstration of our dinner preparation and lead attendees through an interactive dessert creation.

In addition, recording artist Mario Bonds, will provide words of hope and perform a few songs to close the evening.  Known from his appearance on NBC’s “The Glee Project”, Mr. Bonds developed his love of music as a way to overcome many personal hardships, including going completely blind at age 10. Bonds not only is an accomplished musician; he is an adoptive father to four sons from the foster care system; his story is sure to inspire.

In addition to the powerful event program, attendees will be treated to a professional family photo, have an opportunity to purchase exceptional auction opportunities and major raffle prizes along with many other activities. All event proceeds will benefit San Mar services to children and families and local neighborhoods as we work to keep dreams alive for children who have experienced trauma or families that have undergone tremendous adversity.

“Once we know that basic needs are met, working with families to identify and progress toward individual dreams is a powerful way to cultivate hope and build strong communities. When we have a vision for our future, and have the support to take the steps to get there, anything is possible. Dreams are not an altruistic idea; they are a real strategy when we move towards that vision with action, the same action we want for own children.”—Keith Fanjoy, CEO

 San Mar Family and Community Services is a nationally recognized child welfare organization, whose mission is “Cultivating Hope and Well-Being in Children, Families and Communities” has been serving the Washington County, Maryland and beyond since 1883. Services are provided through San Mar Treatment Foster Care, the Jack E. Barr Center for Well-Being outpatient mental health services, and Bester Community of Hope prevention programs.

Gala tickets as well as Signature Raffle Tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 1^st. Event details, including ticket prices and sponsorship opportunities can be found here: https://www.givesignup.org/TicketEvent/DreamGala

Media inquiries and event questions – Contact Elisa Hermes at [email protected]