Augustus F. “Gus” Brown, Esq., principal in the law firm of Brown, Brown & Young, P.A., has received the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Maryland – Harford County Chapter’s first ever “Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser” award, presented at 6th Annual Harford County Celebration of Philanthropy, held on National Philanthropy Day, Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the Maryland Golf & Country Clubs in Bel Air, Maryland.
The Harford County event was created to bestow deserved recognition upon members of the community who are “truly agents of change in our county,” according to the official program of the celebration. “Gus Brown has done a tremendous amount of work for many organizations in the county,” stated AFP-Maryland 2012 Planning Committee member Tamara Zavislan, herself the Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Harford County. “It’s amazing that he finds the time, considering how busy he is,” she added.
In introducing Gus Brown to those assembled for the ceremony, Thomas Kelso of Matrix Capital Markets remarked that this award “represents a lifetime of dedication by Gus to philanthropy, the result of his sincere passion to help others and make Harford County a better place.” Kelso also listed five separate Capital Fundraising Campaigns that Gus Brown had led or is leading, all for the benefit of educational or religious non-profit institutions. “He looks to build bridges and educate donors,” Kelso stated. “He works to increase donor participation!”
In accepting the honor, Gus Brown thanked his wife of almost 40 years, Penny Brown, describing her as “instrumental in helping with philanthropic work.” Gus reminded those attending that his dedication to bettering the lot of all people extends beyond Harford County, mentioning his work on behalf of victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. Gus also stated that the three requirements to being a successful fundraiser were that “you have to be direct, you have to be disciplined, and you have to be determined!” He noted that good philanthropic results require taking advantage of every opportunity to raise funds, and so he asked all in attendance to “pull out those checkbooks!”
Beginning in 2007, the Harford County chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals honored one family as Outstanding Philanthropists. In 2009, the separate honor of Outstanding Business Philanthropist was added, and in 2012 the third honor, that of Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser was created. Past recipients include the Ralph & Shirley Klein Family Foundation (2007), the Dresher Family (2008), the Family of Walter and Betty Ward (2009), the Cook Family and Harford Bank (2010), and the Lozinak Family and Harford Mutual Insurance Company (2011). Along with Augustus F. Brown, the 2012 honorees included Dr. Richard P. and Esther S. Street, Jr., and Family, and APG Federal Credit Union.
For more information about Augustus Brown and the Law Firm of Brown, Brown & Young, please visit http://lawbrown.com.
Augustus F. “Gus” Brown, Esq., at the podium thanking the the Harford County chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for naming him its first-ever Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.
Augustus F. “Gus” Brown, Esq. (left), and Thomas Kelso, who introduced Brown to the assembly and described his lifetime of fundraising achievements.
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