Gram's Promise Charitable Foundation

Congratulations to Kendall Huber, Northern Garrett High School. Through her involvement with the 4-H, school leadership projects, athletics, and community service Kendall has demonstrated that she cares deeply about the long-term health and well-being of our youth. Kendall is interested in pursuing a career in healthcare where she can focus on preventable health issues, including those caused by smoking. She is dedicated to helping others live heathy lifestyles.

Congratulations to Brady Martin, Rising Sun High School. Brady is or 2025 recipient. Brady’s participation as a youth leader of the Drug Free Cecil Youth Coalition enabled the opportunity to engage in dozens of community prevention activities. As a volunteer with Drug Free Cecil, Brady participated in the “Take Back Your 10” youth movement, a project designed to raise awareness of the potential ten years of life lost to tobacco consumption and empower youth to make a change in their community and fight back against commercial tobacco companies. Congratulations, Brady!

Congratulations to Kenneth Watters, Rising Sun High School. Kenneth is our 2024 scholarship recipient. Kenneth’s leadership skills and time volunteering with the “Drug Free Cecil Youth Coalition” helped earn this recognition. Best of luck to Kenneth as he moves forward into the future, attending Cecil College in the Fall of 2024.

Congratulations to Marielle Fitzgerald, our 2023 scholarship recipient. Marielle is a graduate of Rising Sun High School, Elkton, MD. Marielle has been a strong advocate against smoking and vaping. Best of luck to Marielle as she pursues her dream of becoming a nurse and living in a world that is smoke-free!

Congratulations to Samantha Meis, Bohemia Manor High School. Throughout her high school career, Samantha was an active member of an organization called “Drug Free Cecil”. She attended multiple youth leadership conferences to create anti-drug and alcohol campaigns. These PSAs aired on television and billboards, and served to educate the community. She also worked with a group from her school to create a presentation on the risks associated with drug and alcohol use which was shared with other area middle and high schools. This group also created posters that were hung around the school advocating the negative effects of using tobacco and nicotine related products. Congratulations Samantha!

Congratulations to Mariya Klochkova, Quince Orchard High School. In recent years, Mariya made significant contributions to the fight against tobacco, primarily through her work with the Montgomery County for Health Organization. For example, she actively participated in a video campaign, voicing support for MD House Bill 134 and Senate Bill 177. The video presentation was sent directly to lawmakers in order to create change within the state of Maryland, including the discontinuation of flavored tobacco. Mariya also designed and published multiple anti-drug and anti-smoking informational resources through social media. Please join us in congratulating Mariya!

The 2020 recipient of the Elizabeth Ann Frist Memorial Scholarship is Prescilia Johnson, Clarksburg High School. Prescilia was very active in her high school’s SGA, during which time she advocated against tobacco and drug use. Prescilia also volunteered her time at Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington – Germantown Branch where she taught the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Congratulations Prescilia!

We are proud to announce that Sage Leonard from Bohemia Manor High School is our 2019 recipient of the Elizabeth Ann Frist Memorial Scholarship. As a member of the Cecil County Youth Leadership Program, Sage worked to advocate for drug and tobacco free lifestyles. She worked on a special project that produced a public service announcement video and billboards focused on solving on issue related to tobacco use. Activities also included addressing the current Juul and vape epidemic in her school by highlighting the negative effects of using such products. Lastly, a Twitter page and school campaign including posters and assemblies were utilized to the spread the message. Congratulations Sage!

Last month, Gram’s Promise once again sponsored a Christmas tree in support of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and the “Festival of Trees”. Our 2018 “Patriotic Tree” caught the attention of many attendees and sold for $175! Special thanks to Steph Bagley for taking the lead and organizing this event on behalf of Gram’s Promise.

Our 2018 scholarship winner is Jane Bailey from Leonardtown High School. Jane’s application was most impressive! In 2017, Jane worked closely with the St. Mary’s County Health Department to further the priorities of the organization. As part of the Tobacco Free Living action team, she worked to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. In particular, Jane kick started the Smoke Free Holy Grounds Initiative by reaching out to more than 300 faith-based organizations throughout the county to provide the tools and expertise needed to promote health and wellness for their congregations. She developed surveys and constructed ready-made anti-smoking tool kits to be distributed at faith-based events, as well as pamphlets and flyers to inform congregations on the anti-tobacco use programs provided by the department. To date, Smoke Free Holy Grounds has been fully implemented in more than 20 local faith-based organizations. Jane also assisted the St. Mary’s County Health Department directly by administering a survey to high school students on their perspectives on smoking and vaping. This information was used to assist the department with targeted advertising campaigns. Jane will be attending Baylor University this Fall.

Congratulations Jane!