Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church Celebrates 147 Years of Faith & Community Connection
By PRESS OFFICER
Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church
Bowie, Md. (Sept. 24, 2024)—September 28–29, Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church, a pillar of faith and service in the local community, will commemorate its 147th anniversary with a celebration this weekend.
Established on June 8, 1877, by a group of freed slaves, the church has grown from a small congregation in a log cabin to a dynamic spiritual home for thousands, deeply woven into the fabric of the Bowie community.
The church’s first home—a humble log cabin built on one acre of land purchased for $134.55—became a gathering place for a congregation bound by faith and a commitment to supporting one another. Over the years, the church has continued to embody these values, serving as a beacon of hope, service, and connection to the local community.
In celebration of this milestone, Greater Mt. Nebo Church will host a homecoming and church anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 28, at 11a.m. and Sunday, September 29, at 10 a.m. Church Service, Combined Choirs -Majestics, Brotherhood, and Children’s Choir.
The event will include historical reflections, moving musical performances, and messages of faith, unity, and community involvement.
As it looks toward the future, Greater Mt. Nebo remains focused on expanding its outreach and service to the community. Upcoming initiatives include:
• Affordable Housing: Aimed at providing secure, dignified homes for local residents in need.
• Family Life, Wellness, and Inter-generational Center: A space dedicated to fostering physical, mental, and emotional well-being for families of all ages.
• Assisted-Care Living Facility: Supporting the aging population with compassion and quality care.
“From our earliest days, we’ve been committed to not only uplifting our members but also meeting the needs of our neighbors,” said Rev. Dr. Gerald Folsom, Senior Pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo. “As we celebrate this anniversary, we continue to focus on being a church that connects with the community and serves as a catalyst for positive change.”
The church invites the local community to join in this celebration, which will honor its history, celebrate the present, and share its vision for the future.
Event Details:
Date: September 28–September 29, 2024
Location: 1001 Old Mitchellville Rd., Bowie MD 20716
For more information, please contact Rev. Donna Durham at churchoffice@gmnebo.org.
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Bob Hall Beverage Company Named Anheuser-Busch 2023 National Champion
Week-Long Celebrations in Southern Maryland Included Appearances by the Iconic Budweiser Clydesdales, Donations to Folds of Honor and Customer and Team Events
By PRESS OFFICER
Bob Hall Beverage Company
Upper Marlboro, Md. (Sept. 18, 2024)—Bob Hall Beverage Company, a 91-year-old family-owned beer and beverage distributor serving Calvert, Charles, and Prince George’s Counties, brought their local community, customers, and team members together for a week-long celebration that included a significant focus on and donation to the Folds of Honor foundation. Bob Hall Beverage Co. achieved great success last year and was named an Ambassador of Excellence for 2023—a feat achieved by only five percent of Anheuser-Busch’s nationwide wholesaler network. The longtime Maryland-based distributor also was recognized as the National Champion for 2023, signifying their place as the number one Anheuser-Busch wholesaler in the United States.
Achieving this elite status is a result of Bob Hall Beverage Company consistently demonstrating outstanding sales, service, customer support, and community involvement, combined with the hard-working, dedicated team that the company has built in its local Maryland community.
Southern Maryland is the heart and soul of our company, and we can't think of a better way to celebrate this outstanding achievement than alongside the Budweiser Clydesdales right here in our hometown,” said Dan Hoose, General Manager at Bob Hall. “Our success would not be possible without the stellar team we have built and the unwavering support of our local community, customers, and partners. These parades are for them, along with our local military families and first responders who keep us free and safe every day of the year.”
Folds of Honor Recognition
This year, Anheuser-Busch, its brands and wholesaler partners celebrated 14 years of partnership with Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization that provides academic scholarships to the families of fallen or disabled U.S. service members and first responders. To celebrate this milestone, the Budweiser Clydesdales embarked on a cross-country tour and joined the Bob Hall Beverage Company in Southern Maryland. Together, they hosted a series of festivities, including a VIP event to thank retailers, a grand team celebration, and parades featuring the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales in Solomons Island and National Harbor.
During the visit, Bob Hall Beverage Company was proud to donate $20K to Folds of Honor, which Budweiser matched for a total donation of $40K. These events also honored a previous recipient and his family, Michael Lammey, a United States Navy Petty Officer who served our country honorably for over nine years during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Rocky Sickmann, Folds of Honor member and U.S. military hero, joined the festivities as well to further the organization’s mission. “Thanks to the unwavering support from Anheuser-Busch, its brands and its wholesaler partners like Bob Hall, they have donated $28 million, which has funded over 5,000 scholarships for Folds of Honor recipients. We are incredibly grateful for the past 14 years of partnership and the profound difference we have been able to make for families. We look forward to many more years of partnership and ongoing impact within and beyond the Maryland community.”
Bob Hall Beverage Company was founded in 1933, the same year as the repeal of Prohibition. Since then, the 91-year-old family-owned beer and beverage wholesale distribution company has been a consistent supporter of Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s County communities. The company’s portfolio is composed of the Anheuser-Busch InBev family of beers, Constellation family of beers, high-quality craft beers and non-alcoholic beverages. Bob Hall has a long history of corporate social responsibility, environment preservation and making a difference in the communities where its retail customers, consumers and team members live and work. Go to www.bobhallbeverage.com for more information.
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of US military service members and first responders who have fallen or been disabled while serving our country and communities. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K–12, tuition for college, technical or trade school and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Funds for a second bachelor’s degree or trade/technical program certification are also available. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. It was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
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First Lady Moore Announces Lady Brion as Maryland’s 11th Poet Laureate
By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the First Lady
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Sept. 16, 2024)—First Lady Dawn Moore and the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) today announced the appointment of Lady Brion as Maryland’s 11th Poet Laureate. The first lady was joined by Maryland State Arts Council Executive Director Steven Skerritt-Davis and local members of the arts community in a ceremony at The Clifton House in Baltimore.
“Lady Brion uses her voice to speak up for those who have gone overlooked and been left behind for too long. She is an ambassador for those who need hope, an advocate for those who need a fighter —and she will be a champion for all Marylanders, no matter their background, zip code, or personal story,” said First Lady Moore. “As First Lady, I am committed to working within the Moore-Miller administration to ensure that the arts are not just celebrated but are elevated in this state.”
Based in Baltimore City, Lady Brion is a spoken word artist, writer, cultural worker, and activist whose efforts focus on women’s empowerment and telling the story of the Black experience. The author of several written and recorded publications, Lady Brion is a mainstay in state, national, and international spoken word scenes. In 2023, she performed before the inauguration ceremony of Governor Wes Moore and during the inauguration ceremony for Comptroller Brooke Lierman.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the appointment as Poet Laureate of Maryland, a role that allows me to pay homage to the extraordinary poet Lucille Clifton. It is my mission to build upon her legacy, using the power of words to spark dialogue while fostering greater creativity, empathy, and understanding across the state of Maryland,” said Lady Brion. “Special thanks to Governor and First Lady Moore, as well as the Maryland State Arts Council, for selecting me.”
Appointed by Governor Wes Moore, Lady Brion will serve as Poet Laureate providing public readings and programs for the citizens of Maryland. The honorary state position was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 1959.
“Lady Brion exemplifies what it means to be Poet Laureate,” said Maryland State Arts Council Executive Director Skerritt-Davis. “Her talent, dedication to her craft, and innate ability to engage people make her a natural fit for this prestigious role.”
For history of the Maryland Poet Laureate program and more details on Lady Brion’s role and booking information as Poet Laureate, visit msac.org/programs/poet-laureate.
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