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On Saturday, May 16, families from across the community gathered at the EM Tobias Family Center for Bester Community of Hope’s annual Family Day celebration. This year’s Hollywood-themed event, “You Are the Star of Your Story,” welcomed more than 100 children, parents, caregivers, volunteers, and community partners for a day of fun, learning, and connection centered on strengthening families and celebrating community.

As families arrived through the VIP entrance, they were welcomed onto a red-carpet experience that set the tone for a fun-filled afternoon. The event transformed the EM Tobias Family Center into a Hollywood-inspired celebration featuring games, prizes, activity stations, food, and family engagement opportunities.

Family Day is an annual event designed around the Five Protective Factors framework, which promotes healthy families and helps prevent child abuse and neglect. Throughout the event, families participated in activity stations representing each of the protective factors:

• Parental Resilience
• Knowledge of Child Development
• Social Connections
• Concrete Supports in Times of Need
• Social and Emotional Competence of Children

Each station provided interactive activities and opportunities for families to learn, connect, and build skills together in a welcoming and supportive environment. Through these activities, families were encouraged to strengthen relationships, access resources, and celebrate the important role they play in their children’s lives.

One of the highlights of the day was the Hollywood Stage Photo Booth, where families posed for memorable photos and received their very own Oscar award as a reminder that every family’s story matters and deserves to be celebrated. The activity reflected the event’s theme by highlighting the strengths, resilience, and unique stories of the families who participated.

The event also featured a special reading corner centered around the children’s book Mae Among the Stars, which tells the inspiring story of the first African American woman in space. Volunteer readers included Councilwoman Tiara Burnett, BCOH Neighborhood Ambassador, and an Early Head Start teacher. Each family received a copy of the book to take home, encouraging continued family reading and learning beyond the event.

Following an afternoon of activities in the main atrium, families were invited to the concession area where they enjoyed pizza, nachos, soft pretzels, chips, and movie-sized boxes of candy for every attendee, young and old.

Before leaving, families also received personal care items distributed by United Way staff. In addition, Bester Community of Hope provided each family with a beach bag filled with family-centered resources including a first aid kit, sunscreen, and family time activities to encourage healthy and positive family engagement throughout the summer months.

Families were encouraged to complete an event survey to provide feedback and were entered into a raffle drawing as a thank-you for sharing their experiences.

Bester Community of Hope extends sincere gratitude to the volunteers, staff, community partners, and families who helped make Family Day 2026 a success. Events like Family Day reflect the organization’s continued commitment to cultivating hope and well-being in children, families, and the community.

On April 11, 2026, Bester Elementary School was filled with excitement, laughter, and the joyful energy of families coming together for a truly special milestone at the 10th Annual Babypalooza Community Baby Shower. With over 200 families and 600 community members in attendance, the school transformed into a vibrant hub of connection, celebration, and support, reinforcing the importance of coming together to uplift parents and children.

This year’s theme, “Sweet as Can Bee: Buzzing with Love for Growing Families,” brought a playful atmosphere to the event. From the moment families walked through the door, they were greeted with warmth and enthusiasm as they stepped into an engaging Early Learning Carnival. Local early intervention agencies created a lively space filled with interactive activity stations where children explored hands-on sensory experiences, practiced motor skill development activities, and enjoyed developmentally appropriate games that highlighted how fun early learning can be. Families also had the chance to capture lasting memories at the popular photo booth, proudly sponsored once again by the Washington County Family Center.

After enjoying the Early Learning Carnival, families transitioned into the school gymnasium, where they found over 40 community resource vendors, offering valuable information and guidance on topics ranging from health care and childhood development to family services, home safety, and additional community-based supports. The vendor area served as an important bridge between families and organizations committed to helping them thrive and creating meaningful opportunities for continued support beyond the event as summed up by Karla Baker, who attended for the first time representing Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County. “This is a wonderful gathering of community resources. The support for this event is evident by the large number of vendors here and shows their willingness to support the community.”

New to this year’s event, Bester Community of Hope proudly hosted a special performance by Arts for Learning, Maryland. Children and caregivers were treated to a fun and engaging interactive reading of the popular children’s book, “The Day the Crayons Quit.” The performance encouraged participation, creativity, and imagination, as children became part of the storytelling experience.

To make the event even more memorable, we were honored to welcome Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller who visited with families and resource vendors, eagerly demonstrating her support for families and early childhood initiatives in our community. One mother commented, “I am just so happy to be here, connecting with friends and learning about so many different resources available to me. The best part was meeting the Lieutenant Governor! Today was so much fun!”

As the 10th annual Babypalooza wrapped up, one message remained clear: this event is more than just a baby shower, it has become an essential community event bringing together families, local organizations, and service providers that share the same mission; creating a nurturing environment where every child and parent has the opportunity to grow, succeed, and feel supported. One resident offered, “I look forward to this event because it is way for me to make connections and learn about so many different resources that are available.” Year after year, Babypalooza stands as a powerful reminder of what is possible when a community comes together with compassion, purpose, and a commitment to resiliency. Through connection, resources, fun, and shared celebration, Babypalooza demonstrated the strength of community support. A highlight of the day was the opportunity for families to win one of 15 prize bundles, sponsored by Bester Community of Hope and made possible through the generosity of community partners. These bundles provided meaningful items that families could use immediately, reinforcing the purpose of this event, offering tangible support while celebrating the journey of parenthood.

Bester Community of Hope provides supports and opportunities for families in the South End of Hagerstown through the partnership and funding by The Governor’s Office of Children ENOUGH grant, Washington County Department of Social Services, and the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation. If you are interested in learning more about our efforts, please contact us at: 240-513-6370 or visit us at www.besterhope.org.

The Governor’s Office for Children partially funded this project under award number 2026- ENGH-003. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.

In collaboration with the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Hagerstown Community College, Washington County Public Schools, F&M Trust, First United Bank, and Washington County Public Schools, Bester Community of Hope proudly hosted a cohort of 13 students from South Hagerstown High School for the third year of the Cash N’ Dreams financial empowerment program. Over the course of six months, students participated in interactive financial literacy sessions and developed personalized plans to support their college, career, and entrepreneurship goals. Each session featured inspiring presentations from diverse local leaders representing both the business and community sectors, who shared their personal and professional journeys toward success. The program culminated with a celebration ceremony in May at South Hagerstown High School, honoring the 2024–2025 Cash N’ Dreams graduates. Equipped with practical knowledge, mentorship, and tangible resources, these students are now empowered to take meaningful steps toward turning their dreams into reality.

A graduating senior, Felix has a clear vision for his future: becoming a physician serving under-resourced communities. After being accepted into the Biology Pre-Med program at Frostburg State University, Felix received a scholarship from Cash N’ Dreams to help cover a portion of his first-semester tuition and related college expenses.

Markell aspires to one day own his own business and create multiple streams of income. From the beginning, he shared his desire not to be confined to a single field but to explore a range of career paths. Through Cash N’ Dreams, Markell connected with professionals in business, law enforcement, law, and cybersecurity; all areas of interest he plans to pursue. He also received financial assistance to secure safe, reliable transportation to his various jobs, supporting his efforts to save for future college expenses.

A senior this year, Nadia is actively pursuing her dream of becoming a real estate broker. While attending Cash N’ Dreams sessions, she worked toward earning her real estate license and expressed interest in building her business knowledge base. She was accepted into Penn State University York’s Business School, where a Cash N’ Dreams scholarship will help offset the cost of her first semester.

Rachel demonstrated a strong passion for speech-language pathology while also managing her own graphic design business. To support her dual goals, she received a laptop and design accessories, giving her access to professional software and a dedicated workspace. Additionally, Cash N’ Dreams partnered with the Pediatric Movement Center to create an apprenticeship, where Rachel shadowed their speech-language pathologists and gained valuable hands-on experience.

“Thank you so much for the opportunity to shadow a speech-language pathologist. It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it. I think this has solidified my plan to move forward in speech therapy!”

From the start, Jermella shared her dream of becoming an architect. To help her build a portfolio and develop her design skills, Cash N’ Dreams provided her with a laptop and architecture software, equipping her with the tools needed to begin preparing for college-level architecture programs.

Malia expressed interest in exploring careers in the healthcare field. With support from Cash N’ Dreams, she received a scholarship and placement in Hagerstown Community College’s Discover Medicine summer program; an immersive, hands-on experience that introduced her to real-world medical environments.

Eveohn is exploring several potential career paths, including anesthesiology. Currently enrolled in the Early College Program at Hagerstown Community College, she is on track to earn both her high school diploma and associate degree. Cash N’ Dreams awarded her scholarships to cover transportation and driver’s education at Allegany Driving School, helping her gain greater independence as she balances school and career goals.

With dreams of entering the modeling industry, Manuella is taking her first steps toward a professional career. Cash N’ Dreams covered the cost of working with a local modeling consultant who provided one-on-one coaching, portfolio development, and professional photo sessions — helping Manuella begin to build a competitive portfolio.

Jaidyn’s passion for landscape and nature photography continues to grow. Recognizing that his previous camera equipment limited his creative work, Cash N’ Dreams provided him with a new digital camera and accessories to support both his photography coursework at South High and personal projects.

An accomplished athlete, Naomi plans to continue her basketball career at Hagerstown Community College while pursuing her academic studies. Cash N’ Dreams supported her with one-on-one personal training sessions to strengthen her athletic performance and provided a laptop and accessories essential for her coursework success.

Another senior in this year’s cohort, Briyana plans to study Business and Digital Marketing at Hagerstown Community College. To support her academic journey and help her develop a professional portfolio, Cash N’ Dreams provided her with a personal laptop.

As two of the youngest members of this year’s group, Dorian and William are already entrepreneurs, managing a business that resells trending retail products. Cash N’ Dreams awarded them scholarships for driver’s education classes through Allegany Driving School, expanding their ability to manage deliveries and grow their business. As their career goals continue to evolve, they’ll also be connected to local professionals for mentorship and guidance.

Looking Ahead: The 2025–2026 Cash N’ Dreams Cohort

An orientation session for the 2025–2026 Cash N’ Dreams Financial Empowerment Program was held on October 15, 2025, at South Hagerstown High School. During the session, program facilitators provided students with an overview of the program’s goals, structure, and opportunities, while applications were distributed to all attendees. Students interested in joining this year’s cohort should submit completed applications to their grade-level guidance counselor by November 14, 2025. For more information about the Cash N’ Dreams program, please contact Alicia Taluskie, Neighborhood Partnership Coordinator, at [email protected] or 240-513-6370.

Bester Community of Hope is a prevention-first, community-driven initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, focused on holistically supporting and strengthening children & families in the South End of Hagerstown. This project is funded by the Governor’s Office for Children under award number 2025-ENGH-008. All points of view expressed in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of any State or Federal agency.

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Bester Community of Hope marked a major milestone by hosting its 10th Annual South End Community Block Party, a beloved celebration of family, community, and connection. Drawing nearly 2,000 attendees to Hagerstown City Park, the event brought neighbors together for an afternoon filled with music, food, activities, and meaningful engagement. The festivities began with a lively performance by the South Hagerstown High School Marching Band, returning for a second year to energize the crowd and set the tone for the afternoon. Their performance underscored the event’s focus on youth, local talent, and community pride. More than 40 local vendors and organizations were on-site to offer valuable resources in areas like healthcare, education, childcare, and a clothing give away. Residents had the chance to speak directly with service providers, ask questions, and learn about programs available to support families.

Tamela Lyons of RPL Holistic Wellness, a returning vendor, shared:

“I was so excited to return for this year’s event because of the connections I see being made between the residents and community partners. I truly enjoy seeing how this event brings people together.”

To ensure the event remained accessible to all, the local nonprofit It’s A Blessing to Be A Blessing generously provided free small plate food samples, removing cost barriers and allowing families to enjoy a day full of memories. A standout moment of the day was the performance by the legendary Chuck Brown Band, whose roots in go-go music brought an electric energy to the park. Hagerstown resident Kathleen shared her excitement:

“I unexpectedly came across an actually famous band playing at City Park! I’ve been a huge fan of go-go music since Chuck Brown introduced it in the ’80s. What a kick to get to see his band play. And play they did! That music was all I needed.”

New to this year’s event was a community mural project led by Joyce and Malaika, two students from the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts. Together with children and families, they created a mobile mural celebrating community pride and creativity, which will be displayed at various events throughout the South End. Families also enjoyed a wide range of free activities, including laser tag, archery, and axe throwing, hosted by Joint Training Facility (JTF). And to the delight of many young guests, Spider-Man himself made a surprise appearance — offering high-fives, photo ops, and plenty of superhero charm.

The South End Community Block Party is more than just a fun afternoon, it’s a living example of how community collaboration and connection can drive lasting change. It provides a space where families can enjoy quality time together, residents can access vital resources, and the strength of the South End is celebrated loud and proud.

Bester Community of Hope is a community-driven initiative of San Mar Family & Community Services, focused on supporting and strengthening families in the South End of Hagerstown. Its holistic, prevention-first approach is made possible through strong partnerships with the Maryland Governor’s Office of Children, Washington County Department of Social Services, and the Alice Virginia and David W. Fletcher Foundation.

To learn more about Bester Community of Hope and its work to build a thriving South End, visit www.besterhope.org.

The Governor’s Office for Children funded this project under award number 2025- ENGH-008. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal agency.

Photography provided by Evermoore Artistry.