From healthcare to education, housing to recovery, scouting to community associations – the Touching Lives in Frederick County Awards offers a moment of public recognition for non-management staff members of non-profits who have demonstrated outstanding involvement and commitment to touching the lives of others.
Victoria dos Santos
Literacy Council of Frederick County
Victoria has worked for the Literacy Council for five years, having first volunteered as a tutor which she describes as a wonderful experience that made her want to become more involved. Victoria wears several hats: As Program Coordinator she conducts intakes/assessments for new adult learners to help place them in specific programs. She recruits new volunteers, provides orientations to share how life-changing the volunteer work can be, and coordinates onboarding. Victoria is also a Coordinator for the Workplace Program, and Class Instructor.
She describes one of her greatest accomplishments to be helping a family of six immigrants who were political refugees from a war zone. “Their lives were so disrupted by this transition and went from being very established to being homeless.” Within a few days she recruited a tutor for them. “I can’t think of a better place for me to work. Every day I can make a difference in people’s lives, whether through teaching, conducting intakes or working with our volunteers.” It includes learning English as a non-native language, and helping native speakers who may not have finished school or had other challenges. “I feel very blessed to serve the community. I am really inspired to work with our clients. Community is critical to helping them to settle in and feel part of their new home.”
“The Literacy Council is privileged to have Victoria as a member of our nonprofit team. Her great passion and enthusiasm for helping our adult learners to navigate and learn literacy and everyday life skills is matched by her energy and efficiency in carrying out multiple critical tasks for our programs to meet community needs.” -Laurie Fisher, Executive Director
The Literacy Council of Frederick County provides Frederick County adults with pathways to essential literacy skills.
Landen Lombardo
United Way of Frederick County
Landen, a Frederick native, is United Way’s Ride United Network (RUN) Coordinator, taking on that position after working as an intern in two previous positions where he coordinated school supply drives for local ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) children. He oversees the vision, strategy and potential of RUN, a Collective Impact transportation program that provides flexible transportation options for ALICE families in Frederick County. He manages and monitors relationships with RUN Ride Providers, provides program training to partner agencies, and helps assess, allocate, and distribute free and discounted ride-share coupon codes to partner agencies and businesses. Landen is proud of the transportation program and enjoyed meeting with all of the nonprofit partners and actually getting the opportunity to engage with families who are represented within the ALICE population. Landen expresses that “transportation is the main link to all basic needs, including work, education classes and health.”
Landen’s greatest accomplishment is seeing the Stuff The Bus program come to fruition after all of the planning, including recruiting and training volunteers and seeing the work of the people behind the scenes. Landen represents the United Way of Frederick County in the best possible way. He collaborates with all departments to get the job done, helping to advance the organization’s programs and improve the lives of ALICE households, helping hundreds of families overcome transportation barriers to meet basic needs, providing a critical link between work, self-care, healthy food and educational opportunities.
“Landen is reliable, very engaged, committed to his work and works well with the team. We are thrilled to be able to welcome Landen as a full-time team member after his internships.” -Ken Oldham, President & CEO
United Way of Frederick County mobilizes the caring power of our whole community to improve lives.
Jordan Mangiafico
On Our Own Frederick County
Jordan’s does “a little of everything” under the current title is Program and Operations Manager. Averaging about 10 clients per day, Jordan is primarily responsible for creating recovery and wellness plans and running group sessions. The services include providing support including help with job developing and housing. Jordan is always in the field, considers themselves a “big outreach person” and mainly works with people who experience homelessness. She is constantly seeking out future clients who are in need of assistance, as well as checking in with on-going clients.
Jordan is extremely involved in the Frederick community, and is described as a great leader teaching others about recovery and wellness, and training volunteers who want to become certified peer recovery specialists. Jordan wants to emphasize “We are better together. All of us, despite our differences and viewpoints. If we can all come together, we can accomplish more for our community. Because I believe in strength together”. Jordan is constantly participating in outreach throughout Frederick to make those aware of the resources On Our Own provides. She always has a smile on her face eager to help out whenever and wherever she can, dedicated to helping others through her strong passion to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves.
“Jordan has helped so many Frederick residents find help for mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as homes, jobs, and a new security in life.” -Michael Hackett, Peer Support Specialist
On Our Own of Frederick County is a wellness and recovery center located in downtown Frederick, Maryland. They provide peer support, resources, advocacy, life/recovery coaching and more for adults and families in Frederick County who experience mental health challenges and/or substance use disorder.
Scot McElroy
Phoenix Foundation of Maryland
As the Phoenix Academy’s Van Driver for over two years, Scot works to ensure the safety of the student passengers in the organization’s 15-passenger van, verifies proper inspections, and checks for necessary vehicle procedures. He provides transportation to students to and from school and other sites within designated route(s). Even though his primary position is to transport students, he is described as going above and beyond to be part of the school community in other ways. It wouldn’t be unlikely to see him organizing building space, making small repairs, and/or attending fundraisers during weekend hours.
Scot is a hard worker who chooses to spend his retirement giving back to our community. He is extremely dedicated to the mission of providing adolescents in our community a safe, sober environment to learn and maintain sobriety. When Scot is not engaged with Phoenix Recovery Academy, he is giving back to the recovery community. He is actively engaged in multiple recovery-oriented settings. Scot demonstrates the highest level of character traits of the Phoenix Recovery Academy.
“Scot is a genuinely humble person who is a great asset to Phoenix Recovery Academy. He is truly a team player and makes sure the needs of our organization are met. Scot is very passionate about helping others and will do whatever it takes!” -Heather Whitcomb, Executive Director