PARTNERSHIP IN THE NEWS

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS WELCOMES TALENTED NEW BOARD MEMBERS

The Community Partnerships for Children and Families (Partnership) is pleased to introduce the newest members to its governing board. Peg Anawalt, Becky Clark, Ralph Marketto, Sheriff Gery Hofmann, Geri Thompson and Bill Duffy will each serve a term of three years. The Partnership is Queen Anne’s County’s Local Management Board. Members are appointed by the County Commissioners and form the body that serves as the main entity to ensure that children and their families have the services they need.

Peg Anawalt, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Child Care Resource Center since 1999, has been involved in educational management for 35 years for both adults and children. She shares a home with one of her three sons. Her other sons live in the Annapolis area and she is the grandmother of three grandsons and two granddaughters ranging in age from 5 to 14. Anawalt thinks her enjoyment in writing grants, and her specific interest for the Early Childhood Education System of Care that the Partnership is pursuing, makes her a great fit for the board. She is looking forward to assisting the childcare community as well as improving services for families.

Becky Clark wanted to give back to the community and felt her expertise working with individuals who have special needs would be an asset to the Partnership Board. She has worked with children most of her life and is currently an educational consultant managing her own business, “Shore Perspective.” Through her business, Clark works with public school districts, private schools and other organizations to provide professional development on a variety of topics related to helping children. Moving to Centreville with her husband, Chris, and their three sons, Patrick, Brian and Jonathan, Clark enjoys watching her sons play a variety of sports including lacrosse, soccer and wrestling. States Clark, “We love the opportunity to raise our boys in this wonderful community.”

Ralph Marketto is the public school representative of the Partnership and is the Supervisor of Student Services for the Board of Education. He has worked in the county for 17 years and has been married for 35 years to Cathy Marketto. The Marketto’s have three sons: Erik, Aaron, and Jon, who is the Assistant Principal at Matapeake Middle School. Additionally, they are grandparents of two with a third expected soon. Marketto serves in several administrative positions within Queen Anne’s County and is a member of numerous advisory committees. Marketto believes his experience interacting with leaders that serve the interests of children throughout the county will lend itself well to the tasks involved as a member of the Partnership.

After being asked to join the board, Sheriff R. Gery “Gary” Hofmann, gladly accepted. Living in Centreville with his wife, Alison, and children, Laura and Joe, Hofmann is a graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development School, the National Sheriff’s Institute and the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy. His 18 years of law enforcement includes training on issues from community policing, crime prevention, domestic violence and traffic safety that he believes will give a varied perspective to the Partnership’s Board. States Hofmann, “I look forward to working with other members of the community on important issues regarding children and their families.”

As an early childhood teacher in the Queen Anne’s County Public Schools for 20 years, Geri Thompson now serves as the Director of the Judy Center Partnership and Even Start Programs. Reflecting on her career she notes, “This is my 31st year in education and this profession has brought me such joy to see children learn and then to become successful adults.” Thompson’s work now involves promoting school readiness by collaborating with agencies in Queen Anne’s County to provide comprehensive, community-based, early learning programs for pre-school children and their families. She lives in Centreville and has been a resident of Queen Anne’s County almost her entire life. She is married with two children, a stepdaughter and two beautiful grandchildren. Thompson is very pleased to join the board since it has been so supportive of the Judy Center’s goals and efforts over the years. She believes the Partnership plays a very important role for families and children in the community.

A community volunteer and concerned citizen, Bill Duffy wanted to become more involved when he learned the after school program was struggling to secure funding. He joined the Partnership because he wants to sustain current, local projects. With his background in retailing for the past 20 years, Duffy worked closely with projects such as Adopt-A-Bear. He resides in Queen Anne’s County and has a 10 year-old son. Duffy is very interested in pursuing available funds to support community programs. In summary he states, “I find the people in the community to be dedicated to making sure the quality of life is improved for everyone. I think with many people collaborating their thoughts and energy, that anything is possible.”

Collaboration among agencies and organizations, identifying solutions, and finding resources are goals of the Partnership. Paul Stearns, a member of the board since 2005, is the current President and looks forward to an exceptional year. “We have a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds from homemakers to business professionals. Each brings their unique talents and expertise that will enhance our work to improve the lives of our youth and their families.”

The County Commissioners are especially appreciative of the Partnership and its members. “The board members are dedicated to helping Queen Anne's County children and families and work hard to meet their needs. Each year the board is made up of individuals who are accomplished, hard working, dedicated and committed. They willingly give of their time to address critical issues and needs of those who may not be in a position to do so. We thank all the new members for joining with our current board to serve the people of Queen Anne’s County in this very important role.”

To find out more about the Community Partnerships for Children and Families, contact Michael Clark at 410-758-6677 or visit their website at www.communitypartnerships.info.

###