2013 Kitty Reed Leadership Award presented to IHA’s Director of Programs and Community Relations

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

Gary Free resident at Residences at Railroad Square Apartments

March 3, 2025
Gary Free grew up in Brunswick, MD. The first time he saw the Residences at Railroad Square, he knew he would love to live in the apartments. Now all he can think to himself is, “I am living here!” Gary said the day he signed his lease he was so happy! He has a picture hanging in his apartment that says, “You’re Home.” Gary looks at it often and says to himself, “I am!” He finally feels at peace. Gary feels his home is nice! He also feels one of the ways of living at Residences of Railroad Square is that he now has everything he ever wanted, asked for and needed. The only thing he feels is a concern is that most of the time he gets lonely. His goal is to try to meet people. He says, “I’m a very friendly person.” Gary says his experience living at the Residences at Railroad Square has been rather good. If he has any concerns he can talk to the office staff. He feels it can’t get any better than this!

Lease-up of Residence of Railroad Square

By Crystal Thomas • March 3, 2025
With excitement and anticipation, I watched the groundbreaking on June 29, 2023, with my assistant Vickie and IHA’s Supportive Services coordinator, Sandi. By the middle of September 2023 concrete walls were being set up. We watched as the roof was completed; then the windows and doors were installed. We impatiently waited for the day we received permission to see the inside of the Residences of Railroad Square property. Finally, on September 25, 2024, we had the privilege to tour the inside of this beautiful property. On the weekend of September 27, 2024, the IHA property management team along with the CEO Jodie, held a two-day in-person application event. The owners of First Stop Brunswick generously donated their space at 2. E. Baltimore Street. That lease up kick off generated 56 applications. Over the next three months, ninety more applications were submitted. Each applicant came with their own story which stirred our hearts. No matter how different their stories may have been, they all had the same wish, a place to call home for Christmas! On November 5, 2024, the first resident signed their lease and on December 23, 2024, the last empty unit was filled! Not only were we able to fulfill these residents' Christmas wishes but it also filled our hearts with joy!

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce 4 funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

March 3, 2025
In November 2024, IHA was awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s three workshop series: Credit Café ; Financial Freedom Bootcamp ; and Ready, Set, Go… Home! In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp builds critical foundational skills for financial success. Ready, Set, Go… Home! walks participants through the entire homebuying process from start to finish. IHA also received a $1,574.37 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County. In December 2024, IHA was awarded a $29,498 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT). MAHT is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization. This grant program is a valuable resource for the advancement of affordable housing initiatives and will provide operational assistance to IHA’s affordable multifamily community in Cumberland, MD. In January 2025, IHA was awarded a $2,500 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.
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