CAC Honors David Weeks and Howard County Arts Council

More than 320 people attended Community Action Council of Howard County’s Holland Awards Dinner on October 19th at the Turf Valley Country Club in Ellicott City. The event raised funds for CAC which provides programs and emergency services for the low-income population of Howard County.  The Sanford Companies, Inc., Verizon, and Orchard Development were the top sponsors. 

David Weeks, Global Education and Community Service Program Director at Glenelg County School, received the Humanitarian Award, which is given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment and dedication in serving low-income people in Howard County. The award is named in honor of the late Rev. John W. Holland, who sought solutions to obstacles confronting the disadvantaged and served on CAC’s Board of Directors for 17 years. 

For the past two years, Mr. Weeks, along with a group of students from Glenelg Country School and Long Reach High School, have helped cultivate CAC’s Community Garden.  

CAC’s Service Award was presented to Coleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council. Through its Head StART in ART artists-in-education residence program, the Howard County Arts Council has provided students at the Ellicott City and Tubman Head Start centers the opportunity to experience the wonders of drama play, music, dance, and visual arts mediums since 2002.   Professional visual and performing artists worked in each classroom to create at least one finished group or individual project.  The hands-on artistic experiences reinforced common thematic lessons in early childhood education. 

Bita Dayhoff, President of CAC, congratulated the honorees and stated that they richly deserve the coveted honors because of their passion for making a difference and compassion for the human condition.

Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of UMBC, was the keynote speaker and said that Howard County is “the wealthiest county in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the world,” but the county still has low-income residents who need to lean on community organizations like CAC which need to be supported.