The Community Foundation of Howard County (CFHoCo) has announced that Greg & Roberta Kahlert and The Kahlert Foundation are the 2024 Howard County Philanthropists of the Year. The Philanthropist of the Year award was created to highlight the extraordinary generosity and leadership of philanthropists in Howard County and to recognize outstanding individuals and/or families, along with businesses and/or organizations, who have shown exceptional leadership in the areas of personal and corporate philanthropy. It’s these philanthropists who, through their giving, have made a remarkable difference in bringing about positive change in our community.
In keeping with CFHoCo’s mission of inspiring life-long giving and connecting people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County and beyond, the Foundation hopes the recipients will serve to inspire and challenge others to think about how they can have a lasting impact on Howard County’s future through their own philanthropy.
The Kahlert Foundation, spearheaded by president Greg Kahlert, has been a remarkable benefactor and friend to nonprofits across Maryland and Utah. Supporting primarily five areas of focus – health care, education, youth programs, veterans’ causes and human services – The Kahlert Foundation has supported institutions and organizations big and small for decades.
Last year, The Kahlert Foundation awarded nearly $22 million in grants, with $14,416,428 directed to Maryland nonprofits and $7,325,515 in Utah. Closer to home, The Kahlert Foundation and has made a tangible impact in the lives of so many Howard County residents. In FY2024 alone, The Kahlert Foundation poured more than $4.3 million into Howard County!
“Howard County is a better place because of Greg Kahlert and The Kahlert Foundation,” said Beverly White-Seals, president & CEO of the Community Foundation of Howard County. “The Kahlert Foundation has stepped up time and time again to support initiatives and nonprofits all across our community. Partnering with Greg and the team at The Kahlert Foundation is always such a pleasant and productive experience, and we’re so fortunate for its philanthropic leadership. The Community Foundation of Howard County is honored to name Greg & Roberta and The Kahlert Foundation as our 2024 Philanthropist of the Year.”
The Kahlert Foundation’s leadership can be seen across Howard County, both behind the scenes and in highly-visible places such as Howard Community College (HCC) and the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center campuses. The new Kahlert Foundation Complex at HCC will be 193,000 square feet across four floors for mostly mathematics and athletics. For mathematics, The Kahlert Foundation Complex will house a math learning center, class labs, study lounge, maker space and a research area. The athletics area will feature a competition gym, multipurpose gym, locker rooms, classroom, fitness center and weight room.
At the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center campus, the story is similar. For example, in 2022 The Kahlert Foundation made a $1.5 million gift to enhance women’s health services in Howard County by bringing a Johns Hopkins Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service clinic to the hospital’s Columbia campus and most recently, The Kahlert Foundation made a $3 million pledge to expand Observation Services as part of the Emergency Department expansion.
The Community Foundation of Howard County has also been a partner and grateful recipient of Kahlert Foundation grants, including operating grants to the Foundation, and a significant contribution to the Foundation’s Next 50 Fund endowment campaign. The gallery room at Athol Manor is named in recognition of The Kahlert Foundation’s sizable gift to the Next 50 Fund.
As philanthropic partners, The Kahlert Foundation has worked with CFHoCo to bring Operation Homefront’s Transitional Housing program to Howard County. The first veteran families moved in to Vista Wilde Lake Apartments in Columbia in 2023. Greg Kahlert was also the driving force behind the creation of CFHoCo’s Philanthropy Roundtable that brings like-minded philanthropists in Howard County together to discuss issues and solutions to significant matters affecting residents in the county.
Organization/Company Award Recipients
2024 The Kahlert Foundation
2023 Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc.
2022 M&T Bank
2017 Iron Bridge Wine Company
2016 Security Development Corporation
2015 Orchard Development/Armiger Management
2014 Howard Bank
2013 Carney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr
2012 Harkins Builders
Individual/Family Award Recipients
2024 Greg & Roberta Kahlert
2023 Dr. Carlessia Hussein
2022 Dr. Lillian Bauder
2017 Bob & Bach Jeffrey
2016 Fred & Mary Agnes Lewis
2015 Vivian “Millie” Bailey
2014 Ed & Fern Hamel
2013 The Doetsch Family
2012 The Lundy Family