11-Yr-Old Grace Callwood, “We Cancerve Movement” Founder, Named Harford’s Most Beautiful Person

From We Cancerve Movement:

Grace E. G. Callwood, 11, was named Harford’s Most Beautiful Person during a ceremony at the Bel Air Church of the Nazarene. She was the only nominee under the age 18 in this year’s competition.

Callwood, who founded the We Cancerve Movement in 2011, was among the 22 individuals and four couples nominated for the top prize this year.

Each year, the Harford County Department of Community Services searches for local citizens who selflessly assist those around them, and honors their service at its annual Harford’s Most Beautiful People Awards Ceremony. According to the county’s website, the award nominees are volunteers of any age or background living anywhere in Harford County, with one thing in common: They have enriched the lives of our citizens through their acts of kindness and concern.

Callwood was nominated by Harford Family House’s Director of Operations Mary Barry, and by longtime community advocate and educator Claudia Perry Sconion.

“I was so happy and excited that I won. I was really unexpecting [stet] this and it was just amazing. I’m just thankful to my board, my parents and I’m really proud of all of the other nominees as well,” said Callwood.

Since age 2, Callwood has actively supported community initiatives. In 2006, she asked her family to donate a red wagon to the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center’s pediatric unit, after a brief hospitalization. There, she enjoyed riding the wagon throughout the halls of the hospital and wanted to make sure the hospital had two wagons to prevent other children from waiting for their turn at fun while hospitalized. In 2007, she asked for toys and games in lieu of gifts for her birthday, and donated them to that hospital.

In 2008, she joined her family in Louisiana in the spring and donated non-perishable food items to a Hurricane Katrina relief organization. Later that year, for her birthday, she requested non-perishable food items as presents when she learned from a local news station that the Maryland Food Bank’s supplies were running low. She donated several boxes of food to the food bank.

In 2013, Callwood named an all-youth board of advisors. Under her leadership, We Cancerve has donated more than $10,000 in cash grants and products, including more than $1,100 cash to Sinai Hospital and Casey Cares Foundation.

To date, We Cancerve has donated 318 Easter baskets and 210 new toys and gifts to homeless, sick and foster children; 140 back-to-school outfits to every child at a local homeless shelter for the past three years; 65 winter coats for homeless children and 150 TransFUNers kits and 41 Beach in a Bucket kits to pediatric patients. We Cancerve hosted several events for teen foster girls including a beauty night, movie and pizza night and a line dance party. In 2015, We Cancerve created and sponsored Camp Happy, a summer enrichment program created specifically for children living at Anna’s House, a homeless housing program for women and children in Bel Air.

Camp Happy II will launch in summer 2016 at Harford Family House in Aberdeen.

“I think that everybody that was there does amazing things. I think it’s so great that there so many people in the world who do amazing things like that,” said Sarah Beall, 10, who sits on the We Cancerve Movement’s Board of Advisors.

“People may think that what we do is great but they are giving me more. I think it’s awesome we get to help them and it’s an honor,” said Beall.

For October and November, We Cancerve is focusing its efforts on raising awareness of homeless youth.

Milkin’ It
We Cancerve has partnered with William S. James Elementary School on a month-long loose change fundraiser to purchase milk for homeless children at Eastside Family Emergency Center in Baltimore County, and homeless and less fortunate children and families who dine at the Sharing Table in Edgewood. The collection began October 2 and will conclude November 2.

October 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Hookup a Home @ Harford Family House
The We Cancerve Movement is going to prepare an apartment at the Harford Family House properties so that it’s ready for a family to move in. Join us in the community service project! Those interested in volunteering should email peoplewhocare@wecancerve.org.

October 23 from 7 p.m. to October 24 at 7 a.m. – Homeless for a Night
Sign up today at www.wecancerve.org to sleep in outdoors or in the scariest place in your house to place yourself in a homeless-like situation. This event will raise awareness of the plight of homeless youth, and raise money to support programs designed for them at three shelters: Anna’s House, Harford Family House and Eastside Family Emergency Shelter.

November 15 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Toiletries Packing Party
Let’s grab dinner at Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Abingdon then pack toiletry kits that will be delivered to homeless families in Harford County. RSVP today at www.wecancerve.org.

We Cancerve has established an accumulator fund with the Community Foundation of Harford County (CFHC). Contributions made to the Community Foundation of Harford County are tax-deductible, and can be designated to the We Cancerve Accumulator Fund. For more information, visit www.wecancerve.org