Charlotte Hall, MD – Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot arrived at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home Tuesday, May 24 to honor Stephen and Shirley Mattingly with the 2016 William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award.
Stephen and Shirley Mattingly are the creators of Stephen’s Fund, an organization that gives scholarships to local high school graduates, helps local disabilities organizations and donates directly to individuals with disabilities and their families.
Stephen’s Fund was created after the Mattinglys’ son Stephen passed away from Leukemia before his tenth birthday. Stephen was born with Down syndrome but that did not stop him from being a light to everyone he met.
“His favorite saying was ‘sunny day, dad, sunny day,’” said Stephen Mattingly. “His life wasn’t about his disabilities. It was about his abilities.”
Stephen’s death prompted many people to donate to the Mattingly family and to The Arc of Southern Maryland, where Stephen Mattingly Sr. was a board member at the time. This inspired the Mattinglys to create Stephen’s Fund to help individuals with disabilities and those who wish to study special education.
“When Stephen died, we couldn’t let his memory go with him,” Stephen Mattingly said.
Stephen’s Fund hosted a basket bingo fundraiser and, 17 years later, the event is still the sole fundraiser the organization holds.
“It is the community that keeps it going,” said Shirley Mattingly. “We have had the same sponsors for 17 years.”
The William Donald Schaefer Helping People Award was created by Comptroller Peter Franchot in 2012 to honor former governor, comptroller and Baltimore City mayor William Donald Schaefer’s commitment to public service.
“If you ever go and visit Schaefer’s resting place, the tombstone says two words ‘he cared,’” said Comptroller Franchot. “That’s how he defined his legacy of public service. And frankly, I think those words represent what Shirley and Stephen have done.”
Comptroller Franchot is dedicated to continuing Schaefer’s legacy through the recognition of those who go above and beyond for their community.
“There are people like Stephen and Shirley all over Maryland,” Comptroller Franchot said. “Rarely do they get recognized. They reach out with good values and help people. The state of Maryland could never do what they do.”
The honorees are selected based on their demonstration to improve the community, to promptly respond to a citizen problem through effective government intervention, to directly aid those most vulnerable in society or to establish a public/private partnership to improve the lives of fellow Marylanders, said Franchot.
“Stephen and Shirley are able to honor their son’s life through helping others,” Franchot said. “[Stephen’s death] is a terrible thing but they were able to help others because of it. Stephen’s memory lives on. Lives have been changed for the better because of Shirley and Stephen’s passion and commitment to help others.”
Stephen’s Fund, in collaboration with the Charlotte Hall Rotary Club, has raised over $100,000 in scholarships and contributions to local individuals with disabilities.
“Receiving this award is very humbling,” Shirley Mattingly said. “It keeps Stephen’s memory alive, which is what Stephen’s Fund is all about.”
