Charlestown's Pat Kasuda Earns Prestigious Geri Award

CATONSVILLE, MD (October 23, 2014) -- Charlestown’s Patricia M. (Pat) Kasuda today was named a 2014 recipient of The Geri, the highest award given by Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in recognition of exemplary volunteer and humanitarian service. She received the award during a Hall of Fame luncheon held at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Pat is a role model for youth and seniors alike. Pat, a former Healthcare Administrator with a Master’s Degree from the University of Maryland has dedicated her personal and professional life to serving others. However, Pat not only serves others, but also provides visionary leadership by enlisting others with diverse abilities to work with her.

Pat and her husband John have lived at Charlestown for the last 5 years. As the former President of the Charlestown Retirement Community Residents’ Council, she helped to improve relations between the residents and the administration. She led her 14 committees and residents in developing and changing policy, making suggestions for organizational efficacy, and improving our daily lives.

Pat introduced the Annual Putter Land Golf Competition to Charlestown to raise funds for Charlestown’s Benevolent Care Program that helps those with financial difficulty stay at Charlestown. While working with the Rotary Club of Glen Burnie, Pat worked with the members to build and host a putting green of 18 holes; she suggested a similar program for Charlestown.

Coordinating help from several community groups and with cooperation from the Philanthropy Department, Pat turned her vision into our first intergenerational Winter Putter Land. Borrowing materials from the Rotary Club the first year, many Charlestown residents designed the holes while other organizations helped decorate them.

Pat invited Charlestown Woodshop Craft members and resident engineers to design, build, and create the holes and decorations. Pat also approached businesses to donate and sponsor the Winter Putter Land. The event raises thousands of dollars for the Benevolent Care Fund each year and includes many members of the community to work together to make it a success.

For the last three years, Pat has envisioned, chaired, and executed a Catonsville Community Kite Flying Contest for residents, their families and schoolchildren from surrounding elementary, middle, and high schools. Pat coordinates resident participation in registering the children, emceeing the program, helping the students fly their kites, talking with members of all communities, and pursuing her own senior’s kite flying championship. This fun-filled, good-will event is free to all.

Another program Pat has brought to Charlestown in conjunction with the Rotary Club is the Semi-Annual used book collection to support Books for International Goodwill. She chairs a diverse group of people who collect the books, write receipts, and transport thousands of books to Annapolis where the books are categorized and sent to libraries in Third World countries, our soldiers, and Native American Reservations.

Not only does Pat envision and lead, but she also gives of her time and skills to other organizations here at Charlestown. She has served as the chair of the Butterfly Gardens, chair of the Charlestown Rotary Fellowship, a member of the Nature Trail Committee, and exhibitor at the Art Blooms Show, a program of the Garden Club. She tutored at Lansdowne Elementary School and started the Fabulous 40’s members working with the students at Riverview Elementary School.

Pat does not understand the meaning of retirement. She is a member of the Executive Team for repositioning of the Charlestown extended care program, a member of the Philanthropy Advisory Committee, an assistant to the Annual Gala decorating committee, and member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Pat lives her values by her daily church attendance and serving on the Erickson Living Values Team. She exhibits her concern for others by volunteering in the Field of Honors program, which assists our national Wounded Warriors program. As a member of Charlestown’s Student Scholarship Committee, Pat spends hours working with others to select those students who will receive Charlestown’s scholarships.

Although Pat has her own grandchildren, she includes some of Charlestown students in her “family” and keeps in touch with those students after they leave Charlestown. Pat also serves on the executive committee for the Fab Forties, those residents who are the youngest in Charlestown’s population.

Outside of Charlestown, Pat serves as a Board Member of the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Hope House, The Fouse Center, Special Beginnings, and the Suburbia Civic Association.

The Rotary Club is important to Pat. She is a member of the Rotary Clubs of Glen Burnie and most recently Catonsville. Pat presently serves as the Rotary Zone registration assistant and office manager. She has held the positions of Zone Membership Coordinator and member of the RI District Advisory Council for two past directors.

Pat has also served District 7620 of Rotary International as a District Trainer. In 2006-07, Pat was Assistant Governor and the first female District Governor. She serves as a Regional Rotary Foundation Resource and member of the Strategic Planning Committee. She is Chair of the Gallaudet Endowment Scholarship Committee. Pat served as President Training Facilitator and President’s Representative. At Zone and Rotary International levels, Pat has served as Delegate to the Council on Legislation (2010, 2013) and member RI Director Nominating Committee.

Pat Kasuda has received many awards for her service to the community:

Professionally, Pat served the North Arundel Hospital for 25 years: Vice President of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Community Services, Supervisor of the Chemical Dependency Unit, Discharge Planner, Utilization Review Coordinator, Intravenous Therapist and staff nurse, Fellow of American College of Health Care Executives. Following retirement, Pat served as State Senator Chief Legislative Assistant

A native of Pennsylvania, Pat is married has three sons, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

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Caption for above photo: Charlestown’s Pat Kasuda and her Geri Award (photo by Kosta Viennas).

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