Patch spoke with Beverly White-Seals who retired recently after 13 years at the helm of the Community Foundation of Howard County.
COLUMBIA, MD — Behind the financial backing of numerous nonprofits and initiatives across Howard County can be found one woman – the past president and chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Beverly White-Seals retired recently after 13 years at the helm of the foundation. During her tenure, White-Seals oversaw record-breaking fundraising efforts, enabling the Community Foundation to distribute more than $28 million in grants to nonprofits and established initiatives to address key issues facing Howard County.
“We’re deeply grateful to Beverly for her years of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to our community,” said Barbara Rishel, chair of the Community Foundation.
White-Seals told Patch she advocated to change the foundation’s name from the Columbia Foundation to the Community Foundation of Howard County, something she felt was important to do.
“The foundation represents all residents of Howard County and not just those living in the villages subject to the oversight of the Columbia Association,” she said. “The advantage of working at the Community Foundation is that I learned so much about the needs in our community and the plethora of nonprofit organizations which serve those needs. I do have to say, however, that health care and education have a special place in my heart.”
A second change White-Seals spearheaded was to inform residents about James Rouse and his vision for the planned community of Columbia.
“His vision has resulted in one of the most highly educated, wealthy and intentionally diverse communities in America. To have worked for The Rouse Company for 20 years and known him to be someone who made the impossible possible opened my eyes to the value of transformative change,” she said.
Reflecting fondly on her time with the foundation, White-Seals said she’s most proud of purchasing the fully renovated Athol Manor at no cost as the permanent home for the foundation, as well as “forging close relationships with people of all ages, religions, ethnic backgrounds and traditions.”
“I am so much richer for forming bonds beyond the essentially segregated African-American community in which I was raised,” White-Seals told Patch. “Working to improve the lives of others has been a lifelong passion I learned from my parents. They shared their knowledge, strong values and often what little money they had to help those in need. I have served on close to 25 nonprofit boards that have improved the lives of many throughout Howard County.”
As she sails into retirement, White-Seals said she plans to spend a lot of time “carpooling, diapering and cheek-kissing” with her two grandchildren who live with her daughter and her husband in Clarksville.
She also might put pen to paper and write about the challenges and successes her family faced throughout the generations.
“From slavery, through segregation and financial struggle to living in a wealthy community with friends who practice religions with which I was totally unfamiliar, who came from countries about which I knew little, who have dietary, wedding and funeral traditions different from mine. At the same time, they yet have family values similar to my own. What a journey,” White-Seals told Patch.