Local Nonprofits Awarded $100,000

Three Baltimore area nonprofits will be honored Tuesday evening at a ceremony in Hunt Valley for winning a social network campaign, which allowed them each to receive $30,000. 

The contest, run by Liberty Mutual Insurance, enabled locals to vote on Facebook for their favorite nonprofits, nominated by Liberty Mutual agents. The top three vote-getters—Harford House in Aberdeen, Maryland SPCA in Hampden and Youth Dreamers in Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello—were awarded funds for improvements and renovations. 

"We had many people rooting for us," said Joyce Duffy, executive director of Harford Family House. "We even got a celebrity vote from Tom Hanks."

The Harford Family House, which works with homeless families, plans to use its $30,000 to provide transitional housing for those in need. The nonprofit will also help these individuals work toward self-sufficiency.

"We could not have done this without the support of our community," Duffy said. "We are a small organization and it's nice to get recognized."

The Maryland SPCA plans to use its winnings to expand the spay and neuter program. 

"Right now, we [spay or neuter] about 8,000 animals a year," said David Drake, director of development and marketing for the Maryland SPCA. "We hope to increase that number."

On its website, The Youth Dreamers state its mission is providing opportunities for youth to achieve personal goals, work in their communities and develop leadership potential.

Near the end of the competition, Dominique Davis, who participated in The Youth Dreamers program, wrote about the importance of nonprofits in the Baltimore area.

"I am a faithful, longtime Youth Dreamer, and no matter how this turns out all of our organizations are deserving, and we all together make Baltimore what it is," she wrote on the nonprofit's website. "Thank you all who supported the Youth Dreamers as well as those who supported other groups. This competition proved one thing, that we are all important to many people out there in Baltimore who need us!"

More than 54,000 votes were cast in the competition, said Debra Lacey, area manager for Liberty Mutual.

"Liberty Mutual wanted to show its commitment to the community and create awareness of who we are," Lacey said. 

Seven nonprofits participated in the contest. The four runners-up, which include the Maryland Food Bank in Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in Annapolis, received $2,500. 

The winning causes will be celebrated at a ceremony at the Liberty Mutual office in Hunt Valley, located at 11350 McCormick Road, Suite 100, at 5 p.m this evening.