Nominate A Marylander For 2021 William Donald Schaefer Awards

MARYLAND — Nominations are being accepted for the 2021 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Awards. The deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 15.

Established in 2012, the award honors the legacy of public service left by the late William Donald Schaefer who served four terms as Baltimore City mayor and two terms each as Maryland governor and comptroller. It is presented annually in each of Maryland's 24 jurisdictions to individuals and organizations with an unwavering commitment to helping others and improving communities.

"This will be the 10th year of presenting the Helping People Awards and it remains just as fulfilling and inspiring now as it did at the outset," Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot said. "Even after a decade of soliciting nominations, the quality of submissions we receive demonstrate that there are so many Marylanders who spend their lives in service to those in need and making their communities a better place to live. Selecting just one recipient in each jurisdiction has become increasingly difficult, particularly during the last 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic that has seen so many heroes shine."

Award recipients will be selected based on their demonstration of the following criteria:

• Improving the community;
• Promptly responding to a citizen problem through effective government intervention;
• Directly aiding the most vulnerable populations; or
• Establishing a public/private partnership to improve the lives of fellow Marylanders.

Due to the pandemic, Franchot virtually presented the 2019 and 2020 Schaefer Awards in lieu of the traditional in-person ceremonies. Nominations submitted in previous years but not selected could be resent. To submit a nomination, print out and complete this form, scan and attach it as a pdf to an email and send to moprey@marylandtaxes.gov.