Columbia, Maryland - October 17, 2008 - Rebuilding Together Howard County and Delphine “Dee” Peck each received awards at The Columbia Foundation’s annual dinner held Wednesday October 15 at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, Maryland.

Rebuilding Together Howard County, formerly known as Christmas in April, received the “Casey Willis Making a Difference” award, presented by Eugene Willis, M.D., husband of the late Casey Willis. Ms. Willis was a longtime community activist in Howard County whose family established the award with The Columbia Foundation in her memory. Each year the family selects a nonprofit organization that has made a significant contribution to Howard County residents.

Dr. Willis presented Executive Director Courtney Workman with the $5,000 cash award in recognition of the organization’s activities, including their Annual Rebuilding Day. They coordinate volunteers to repair and rehabilitate homes for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners in Howard County. In 2007, Rebuilding Together matched 540 local volunteers with 13 homes and three non-profit facilities throughout the County to provide free repairs and home modifications.

The Co lumbia Foundation Board of Trustees awarded former Columbia Foundation trustee Delphine “Dee” Peck with the James W. Rouse Award. Presented only on occasion, this award recognizes an individual’s extraordinary commitment to The Columbia Foundation and the community.

Ms. Peck joined the Board in 1985 and has remained active, serving each year on the organization’s Investment Committee. She and her husband Charles “Ted” Peck were one of the first donors to the Foundation’s endowment, and have built up their named endowment fund over the years. Recently, they transferred money from their fund to establish the National Family Resiliency Center agency endowment at the Foundation.

Ms. Peck has been a tireless advocate for organizations dedicated to fighting mental health and depression. While serving on the board of the Johns Hopkins Advisors of Psychiatry, she became one of the founding members of the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association. She then went on to be an advocate and volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness for many years.

Founded in 1969, the Foundation has awarded $10 million in grants to Howard County nonprofit organizations delivering human service, arts and cultural, educational and civic programs. Money for the grant programs comes primarily from income generated by the Foundation’s endowment supported by over 230 funds established by Howard County businesses, families and individuals. For more information on The Columbia Foundation, visit www.columbiafoundation.org or call 410-730-7840.