IHA’s Director of Programs and Community Relations Wins Prestigious Leadership Award

inte8821 • May 30, 2013

Mary Ellen Mitchell was selected as the recipient of the 2013 Kitty Reed Outstanding Leadership Award!

Here is the article published in the Frederick News-Post on May 30, 2013:

Mary Ellen Mitchell’s service to the community through nonprofit and educational organizations was highlighted Wednesday when she received the third annual Kitty Reed Outstanding Leadership Award at the Leadership Frederick County Graduation & Alumni Celebration.

Kathryn “Kitty” Mercer Reed was the first female chairwoman of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and served as the chamber’s executive director from 1980 to 1993. Reed also initiated the Leadership Frederick County program and was known for her enthusiastic and passionate dedication to the chamber, the community and its members.

Many nominees for the award have impressive records of volunteering and public service, said Diane DeMarco, who nominated Mitchell for the award.

“What makes Mary Ellen stand out is that she has founded or co-founded a number of successful fundraising events and these events continue to this day,” DeMarco said.

Through her career, Mitchell has raised more than $4 million for Frederick County nonprofit organizations and has recruited and trained thousands of volunteers in her 20-plus years in Frederick County for nonprofit employers and for causes near and dear to her heart to expand awareness, educate and improve the lives of the less fortunate in the county, DeMarco said.

Mitchell, who is director of programs and community relations at Interfaith Housing Alliance, is a 2008 Leadership Frederick County alumna and member of the LFC Council. She is the first woman to win the Kitty Reed Leadership Award. The previous winners were Fred Genau and Michael Boyd.

“Leadership Frederick County is probably one of the most significant impacts on my life, both personally and professionally, and I am very honored to receive this award,” Mitchell said. “I can hardly walk downtown without running into someone affiliated with Leadership Frederick County.

“Fredericktonians are so interested in making our community better. We take so much pride in our community and I’m happy that each graduate has committed to making a difference.”

Keynote graduation ceremony speaker Bill Graham encouraged the 43 new Leadership Frederick County graduates to lead with passion and emotion.

Leadership is not a promotion and being in charge does not make you a leader; it’s a responsibility, said Graham, a corporate and organizational trainer.

“As leaders, you have to find a way to get into people’s heads,” Graham said. “Be in a constant state of being better. There’s no reason to accept the status quo in what we do. Change is the only way we get better.”
Leadership is not just about taking in information, said Graham, who is on the faculty of Seton Hall’s communications department, George Mason’s sports management department, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Organizational Management.

“You take the information so you can lead passionately,” Graham said. “As leaders, you get to say, ‘Now, I get the chance to set a course, to row faster and better.’

“You’ve been given the opportunity to imagine a better Frederick, and I challenge you to do so.”
The new LFC class has given more than 1,200 hours of volunteer service to six local nonprofits, which amounts to about $80,000.

Credits: Ike Wilson, Staff Reporter, and Graham Cullen, Staff Photographer

Fall Updates from IHA

September 2, 2026
A quarter of grant wins, community partnerships, and small moments that remind us why this work matters. Here's what's been happening at Interfaith Housing Alliance since the summer. GRANTS & FUNDING: Four New Grants Fuel IHA's Work This Quarter Interfaith Housing Alliance is proud to announce four funding awards totaling $220,000 during the last quarter from our community partners. In June 2026, IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant by Ausherman Family Foundation. This capacity-building grant will provide funding support for the organization during its transition to new leadership. It will also support IHA's work with key community consultants with the goal of recentering IHA's programs and services in Frederick, MD. In July 2026, IHA was awarded a $125,000 grant from Morgan Stanley. This operational grant supports IHA in its ongoing quest to create and provide affordable housing opportunities for low- to moderate-income (LMI) community members. It also supports IHA's continued community programming, which provides access to financial education and affordable homeownership opportunities. In August 2026, IHA received two funding awards in support of IHA's Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services. IHA was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) Maryland Housing Counseling Fund (MHCF). IHA was also awarded a $35,000 grant by Rural Maryland Council (RMC) through their Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) program. These grants will support the full spectrum of community programming IHA offers, including group educational workshops on financial health, individualized financial coaching and housing counseling, and pathways to affordable homeownership. We are deeply grateful to these partners for their continued investment in this community.

Weinberg House Renovation Brings New Life to Senior Living

By Vickie Mills • June 2, 2026
Exciting, the final renovations of the last two units are underway at Weinberg House, a long-standing affordable senior living community in Fredrick, Maryland. Originally built in 1994, the property provided safe, stable housing for older adults for decades. Renovations began on May 1, 2023. At that time, they had a total of 23 units to renovate. The renovations included freshly painted walls, new carpet in the bedrooms, new flooring in the other rooms, new cabinets in the bathroom, as well as new kitchen cupboards, fixtures and new appliances. The final two units will be ready for lease up June 15, 2026. The renovation of Weinberg House represents a meaningful investment in both people and place. By modernizing the property while protecting its mission, this project will help ensure that affordable, welcoming housing remains available for seniors for years to come. It is an encouraging example of how thoughtful redevelopment can strengthen communities and honor the residents who call them home.

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce three funding awards during the last quarter from our community partners.

By Rachel Gardner • June 2, 2026
In March 2026, IHA was awarded a $50,000 grant through the Frederick County Government’s Helping Empower Area Resources Together (HEART). These one-time operational funds were awarded to mitigate the effects of the longest federal government shutdown in history. This grant has allowed IHA to continue providing essential programs and services to Frederick County residents despite challenges at the federal level. IHA was also awarded a $5,000 grant from the City of Frederick through the Community Promotion Grant program. This grant supports aging in place and youth development needs among City residents through IHA’s Supportive Services. The program serves residents of IHA’s senior and multi-family affordable rental communities at 222 Broadway Street (Weinberg House) and 520 N. Market Street, respectively. In April 2026, IHA was also awarded a $25,000 Community Partnership Grant from Frederick County Government. This grant supports IHA’s full range of Financial Dignity and Empowerment Services, including our homeownership and financial education programming. IHA’s Purchase-Repair Program provides an avenue to homeownership for those who otherwise would not qualify for a traditional home loan. In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp helps participants improve their skills in budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and financial goal setting. The Frederick Affordable Housing Incubator (FAHI) brings multiple sectors together to increase the affordable housing inventory in Frederick County.
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