The 2009 CAC Holland Awards Dinner was held on Thursday, October 8, 2009, at the Sheraton Columbia Hotel, 10207 Wincopin Circle, Columbia.

Baltimore Ravens' Willis McGahee was the 2009 Humanitarian Award winner and was honored at the dinner.

Willis McGahee accepts Commununity Action
Council of Howard County's Humanitarian Award.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman
congratulates Willis McGahee for
receiving CAC's Humanitarian Award
as CAC's Fundraising Committee
Chairperson U. Michael Currie
looks on.

CAC's Board Chairperson Natalie Janiszewski,
Acting President Bita Dayhoff, and Howard
County Executive Ken Ulman pose for a
picture at the Holland Dinner.

About our 2009 Humanitarian Award Recipient

Baltimore Ravens' Willis McGahee became a Community Action Council of Howard County, MD, Inc. partner in 2007 and has supported CAC on many fronts.

In 2007 and 2008, Mr. McGahee inspired the entired community to donate toys to our Head Start children. Through his leadership and community engagement, each child in our three Head Start centers received new toys, which he personally handed out in 2007. In 2008, he distributed turkeys to our low-income families at our Thanksgiving Giveaway. This year, Mr. McGahee provided 20 Hooked on Phonics reading programs and 400 books to our Head Start. In addition this year, the Willis McGahee Foundation donated $2,500 and 350 calculators to Prepare For Success, a program that provides backpacks and supplies to students at the beginning of each school year. CAC, in partnership with the Howard County Public School System and other community organizations, collects these school supplies.

In the summer of 2008, Mr. McGahee was given the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at an Orioles game. Instead, he invited a child from a Head Start family whom he had brought to the game to throw the pitch.

As a professional football player, Mr. McGahee is a role model for many young people. The Community Action Council of Howard County, MD, Inc. is delighted at his contributions and outstanding example.

The Reverend John W. Holland

The Reverend John W. Holland Humanitarian Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates extraordinary commitment and dedication to service to the disadvantaged community in Howard County. The award is named in honor of the late Reverend John W. Holland, whose life of tireless services was an example and inspiration for all. Born February 3, 1910, in Cooksville, Reverend Holland was a lifelong resident of Howard County. Through his ministry and civic leadership, he was a force in shaping the quality of life in the County.

Reverend Holland became president of the local branch of the NAACP in the late 1950s, a post he retained for ten years. During his tenure, he provided exemplary leadership to a community that openly and aggressively protested discriminatory practices of businesses and government in Howard County. He was inspired by the late Lille Jackson and traveled throughout the state and country with her, trying to ensure human rights for all people. In the late 1970s, Reverend Holland joined the Community Action Council (CAC) Board of Directors. During his 17 years of services on the Board, Reverend Holland was faithful, dedicated and always sought solutions to problems and obstacles confronting the disadvantaged. Reverend Holland worked closely with the CAC staff and led his congregation to offer its facilities to be used as a Senior Citizen Satellite Center, the first senior center in Western Howard County.

Reverend Holland was a founding member of the Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum, vice president of the Maryland State Conference of NAACP Branches, member of the Human Relations Council of Howard County, Black Family Life, the Ministerial Alliance, Howard County Commission on Aging and the Howard County Association for Retarded Citizens. On November 25, 1987, Reverend Holland's journey through this life ended. Having won the respect of friends and foes, he left a legacy and a lifetime of memories of a gallant man, committed to his family, his community, and his God.

Reverend John W. Holland Humanitarian Award Criteria For Selection of Awardee

Humanitarian award nominees will be evaluated on three criteria: basic requirements, community contribution, and leadership/example.

The basic requirements that must be met to receive the Humanitarian Award are the following:

1. Howard County resident,

2. High standing and respect within the community, and

3. Prior association and/or involvement with CAC or work central to CAC's mission.

The community contribution component consists of having a history of community and county-wide service in the areas of human services, health, education, and/or faith communities.

The Leadership/Example criteria consists of three factors:

1. Community and organizational inspirational leader and role model,

2. Demonstrates ability to successfully lead community toward positive goals, and

3. Mobilizes others to higher goals.

Recipients of The CAC Holland Awards Dinner Humanitarian Award

1992 Rev. John W. Holland

1994 Dr. Silas Craft, Sr.

1995 Dr. Morris Woodson

1996 Mr. James W. Rouse

1997 Mrs. May Ruth Seidel

1998 Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr.

1999 Mrs. Jean W. Toomer

2000 Mrs. Leola Dorsey

2001 Mrs. Celonia Walden

2003 Dr. C. Vernon Gray

2004 Senator Robert H. Kittleman

2006 Mr. Victor Broccolino

2007 Ms. Barbara Lawson

2008 Delegate Elizabeth Bobo

2009 Willis McGahee