From Policy to People: The Power of Partnership in Advocacy and Beyond
October 9, 2026 · Rocky Gap Casino Resort, Flintstone, Maryland
Nomination deadline: October 2, 2026
| Conference Hotel |
Rocky Gap Casino Resort 16701 Lakeview Rd NE Flintstone, MD 21530 Room Reservation Link |
| Room Rate | $119 (without fees) — Thursday Oct 8 – Friday Oct 9 |
| Conference Space | Allegheny Events Center — see venue map below |
Recognition of Innovation and Community Impact — open for nominations. Deadline: October 2, 2026
MASSB Foundation's Lifting Lives Award has been designed to expand upon the previous Innovative Program Awards. Two categories of nominations within this single award are now allowed. The first category continues our historic recognition of innovation. The second category is for programs that may not be innovative but have made a significant impact on the members of your community.
Awarded annually as part of MASSB's annual conference, each local board is invited to nominate a program that is either Innovative or one that is not new but has a significant Impact on your community. Awards are ranked by those considered most Innovative or Impactful — is it new, can it be replicated to other counties, was the local board involved in the development or execution of the program, and what is the program's estimated impact to your community.
The award includes a monetary allocation to the winning board's MASSB Foundation account: First Place $1,500, Second Place $1,000, Third Place $500.
To nominate a program, submit a 1–2 page description including families/staff impacted, cost of activity, any resulting cost/time savings, and likelihood for replication. Nominees should be prepared to make a 5–10 minute presentation highlighting the program/initiative during the MASSB Annual Conference.
Bio to be announced.
Addie Nardi is the Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Washington County and serves as President of the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. Over her more than nine years with the organization, Addie has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision, spearheading advocacy efforts that led to the replacement of the Club's flagship Hagerstown facility with a 22,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art community center. This nearly $15 million project included not only the demolition of the former building, but also the strategic acquisition of adjacent properties to allow for future growth and expanded program delivery. In her role with the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Addie collaborates with peer organizations across the state and with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to advocate for funding and advance initiatives that positively impact youth throughout Maryland. Addie is deeply committed to community engagement and service. She has served as a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Hagerstown Safer Stronger Together Initiative and is an active member of the Greater Hagerstown Committee and the Hagerstown Rotary Club.
A certified and credentialed leadership coach, Mary Ellen Waltemire engages individuals and organizations in purposeful planning for continued success. Her passion for enthusiastic collaboration and teambuilding is evidenced by successful intentional work with various not-for-profit, for-purpose organizations. Strategic board development, team building, and creative thinking for all leaders are topics where she excels as a facilitator and coach.
Brittany Wedd is the Executive Director of Children In Need, Inc., where she leads programs serving thousands of children experiencing poverty throughout Washington County, Maryland. With more than a decade of nonprofit leadership experience, she is passionate about helping organizations use data and storytelling to strengthen board engagement, inspire donors, and demonstrate community impact. As a former foster youth, Brittany brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She was named the 2026 Young Professional of the Year and is committed to equipping nonprofit leaders with practical strategies that create lasting change.
Maryland Department of Human Services
