Celebration of Charity

November 21st, 2024

Each year, Chesapeake Charities hosts an annual Celebration of Charity honoring exceptional volunteers, philanthropists, advocates and nonprofits in the Chesapeake Bay region who have had a profound impact on the community. This year we are pleased to honor Maryland’s Watermen and Seafood Industry.

This year’s deserving awardees are:

JACK BROOKS, J.M. Clayton Company, Advocate of the Year
No one has done more to protect Maryland’s seafood industry and the watermen who depend upon seafood for their livelihood than Jack Brooks. As President of the J.M. Clayton Company established by his great-grandfather in 1890, Jack maintains a singular commitment to sourcing and advancing Chesapeake Bay seafood. Jack represents the Chesapeake Bay Seafood Industries Association before regulatory and management agencies, the Maryland General Assembly, and the U.S. Congress.

OYSTER RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP, Nonprofit of the Year
Oyster Recovery Partnership’s (ORP) mission is to restore the Bay’s native oyster population by building sanctuary reefs, rebuilding public fishery reefs, supporting the aquaculture industry, recycling oyster shells, and getting the public involved through hands-on volunteering and events. Since their founding in 1994, ORP has planted more than 11.5 billion oysters on 3,000 acres of reef and recycled more than 300,000 bushels of shell.

STEVE PHILLIPS, Phillips Seafood, Philanthropist of the Year
Steve Phillips grew up working the waters of the Chesapeake Bay with his grandfathers and developed a love for the watermen who work every day to catch the crabs, oysters and fish served at restaurants throughout Maryland. As the CEO of Phillips Seafood, Steve has donated over $70,000 to the Maryland Watermen’s Association to protect the heritage and future of commercial watermen in Maryland. Phillips Seafood also provides shell for the Oyster Recovery Partnership’s efforts to rebuild oyster reefs.

JEFF HARRISON, Volunteer of the Year
Herman “Jeff” Harrison has a vast knowledge of the oyster industry and is often called upon to testify on waterman-related legislative issues. He has served on the Oyster Futures and the Oyster Advisory Commission and is currently President of the Talbot County Waterman Association. When not on a boat or in a Hearing Room, Jeff can be found shucking oysters at the many community fundraising and public education events.

Sponsorship Benefits

$10,000

Event Sponsor

  • A reserved table for eight (8) people
  • Two (2) of eight seats at the Guest of Honor table
  • Logo/Name recognition as Event Sponsor on print and online invitations (date sensitive)
  • Logo/Name recognition in event program, social media, website and email promotions
  • Onsite signage and menu logo/name recognition as Event Sponsor
  • Full page outside cover color ad in event program
  • Formal recognition from the stage during the luncheon
  • Name recognition in press releases/articles in regional newspapers and web publications

$7,500

Diamond Sponsor

  • Reserved seats for six (6) people
  • Logo/Name recognition as Diamond Sponsor on event web page
  • Logo/Name recognition in event program, social media, website and email promotions
  • Onsite signage logo/name recognition as Diamond Sponsor
  • Full page inside cover color ad in event program
  • Formal recognition from the stage during the luncheon

$5,000

Platinum Sponsor

  • Reserved seats for five (5) people
  • Logo/Name recognition in event program and on all social media, website and email promotions
  • Sponsor logo signage at registration
  • Full page color ad in event program
  • Formal recognition from the stage during the luncheon

$3,000

Gold Sponsor

  • Reserved seats for four (4) people
  • Logo/Name recognition in event program, social media, website and email promotions
  • Sponsor logo signage at registration
  • Half page color ad in event program
  • Verbal recognition from the stage

$1,500

Silver Sponsor

  • Reserved seats for three (3) people
  • Sponsor list signage at registration
  • Name recognition in event program
  • Quarter page color ad in event program

$1,000

Copper Sponsor

  • Reserved seats for two (2) people
  • Sponsor list signage at registration, name recognition in event program, social media
  • Eighth page full-color ad in event program

$500

Bronze Sponsor

  • Reserved seat for one (1) person
  • Name recognition in event program
Become a Sponsor
Sponsorship Packet (pdf)
Attend the Event

Highlights from the Celebration of Charity Events

Chesapeake Charities appreciates the generous support of our sponsors:

Event Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors
Elite Income Advisors
The Wills Group

Platinum Sponsor
K. Hovnanian Homes

Gold Sponsors
HM2 Buck for Hope Foundation
Jacob Sloan Foundation
Rural Maryland Council

Silver Sponsor

Mark and Diane Freestate
First National Bank
Fisherman’s Village

Copper Sponsors

Queenstown Bank
Titan Hospitality Group
Crescent Cities Charities, Inc.
Fred Frederick

Bronze Sponsors

Coldwell Banker Waterman Realty
The Schuh Family
Ruff Roofers
David A Bramble, Inc.
Choptank Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Easton Utlities
Crab Deck, LLC
Fisherman’s Inn, Inc.

If you have questions about becoming a 2024 Celebration of Charity sponsor, please contact events@chesapeakecharities.org. It’s an excellent way to support your community and feel connected with those making positive change in the Chesapeake Region.