Greater Bel Air Community Foundation raises over $100,000

The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation raised more than $100,000 at its 22nd annual golf classic in October. In its 25th year, the foundation has distributed more than $95,000 this year to nonprofits in the community. The foundation has also elected new board members and presented the Thomas P. Broumel Memorial Award.

Grant recipients include the Town of Bel Air, for playground equipment for all inclusion-accessibility in Shamrock Park; Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding, for ceiling fans and fire extinguishers; Grace Classical Academy, for classroom expansion; C. Milton Wright Athletic Boosters, for dugout and press box renovations; The Liriodendron Foundation, for the museum project; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for renovations to its headquarters; Bear Legacy Trail, for insurance and trail repairs for the reopening; and Winter
Wonderland, to enhance the holiday presence in the Town of Bel Air. Additional grants will be made to other nonprofits by year’s end.

Four new members were elected to the foundation’s board. They are Chad Arrington, partner, The Kelly Group; Jason Gasior, sales manager and senior mortgage loan originator, Southern Trust Mortgage; Nathan Holloway, director of retail operations, The Mill of
Bel Air; and Qadry Ismail, freelance graphic designer.

Since 2016, The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation has presented the Thomas P. Broumel Memorial Award annually to honor a person whose commitment and service make Bel Air a better place to live, work and play. Margaret “Peg” Lucas, who has spent more than 40 years volunteering for numerous community organizations and who has served on many Town of Bel Air boards and commissions, is the 2023 recipient. The award was presented to Lucas during a meeting of the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Oct. 16.

“What a great year it’s been for The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation,” said Sarah Klein, vice chair of the foundation. “We received so many grant applications for projects that will positively impact our community. One that I am particularly excited about is
the accessible renovations at Shamrock Park. The playground equipment will enable more families to enjoy all that the park has to offer.”

Since its founding in 1998, The Greater Bel Air Community Foundation has provided more than $1.2 million in funding to assist 91 projects that enhance community schools, parks and playgrounds. For more information on what projects the foundation supports or to make a grant request, visit gbacf.net.