Awards

The Capital
Annapolis, Maryland
Excerpts from the article published September 12, 2006
by Rick Hutzell, Business Editor

Wood Foundation donates $52,000 to community college

A foundation set up by the late founders of the Annapolis boat shows has awarded its first grant as part of a mission to give young people a chance to attend college.

The Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation gave $52,000 to Anne Arundel Community College earlier this year, according to Rick Franke, a spokesman for the foundation.

“Kathy and Jerry did not have any children of their own, but employed many young people in their business,” foundation trustee Sallie Hamrick said in a prepared statement. “The Woods took great pride in watching their young employees grow and mature as they took on increasing responsibility in their jobs.”

This fall, the college in Arnold offered 15 scholarships funded by the grant to students who applied to attend classes full-time, according to Linda Schulte, director of public relations and marketing.

The scholarships were awarded to one student from each of the county’s 12 high schools, as well as three who had been out of school for a few years and were interested in restarting their education, Mrs. Schulte said.

Mr. Wood, who died in 2003, started the United States Sailboat and Powerboat shows in the 1970s. Today, the October events pump a combined $51 million into the Annapolis area economy each year.  Mrs. Wood, who took over the business after her husband’s death, died in 2005.