The CB Cares Educational Foundation celebrated its 25th year of service to the Central Bucks community earlier this year with a celebration luncheon that included the presentation of awards and scholarships to deserving students.
The attendees included present and past board members, educators and community partners of CB Cares EF.
Guest speakers included state Sen. Steve Santarsiero and Doylestown Mayor Noni West, who presented outgoing board president, the Rev. Steven McComas, with special citations for the organization’s 25 year commitment to the youth and their families in Central Bucks. Both Santarsiero and West remarked about the organization’s longstanding efforts to bring youth-centric programs and valuable initiative for a healthier community.
In his remarks, McComas reminded those in attendance the timeline of impactful programs and work the organization has achieved since 1997. Specifically, CB Cares work with the “Drug Take Back” program way back when the initial campaign was “Clean Stream, Clean Streets” and there was only a couple Rx Take Back box in the region.
The luncheon also provided the organization an opportunity to present the Boomerang Scholarships and other awards to deserving students. A total of 10 Boomerang Scholarships were presented to seniors who graduated in 2022, including (CB East) Jake Hecklin and Jason Rackas, (CB South) Olivia Dallmer, Brianna Jucewicz, Alexander Kozik, Leah Marucci and Anshul Shukla (CB West) Skyler Koba, Justine Maraska and Owen Quimby. Each student was awarded $500 toward their higher education.
This past spring the organization established the Linda Felt Community Service Scholarship to honor the memory and legacy of former CB Cares’ board member Linda Felt. Annually the scholarship will be presented to a deserving senior who embodies the qualities that Linda possessed in the spirit of volunteerism and community service. The first-ever Linda Felt Community Service scholarship was awarded to CB South’s Michelle Arellano, who has demonstrated not only a strong sense of volunteerism but leadership skills overseeing CB Cares Volunteer Teens since her sophomore year. She received a $1,000 scholarship.
Another special recognition was the first-ever Boomerang Buddies Award. In March, sisters Rylee and Grace Decker were both nominated for the longstanding Boomerang Youth Recognition Award while the award has always been awarded to an individual, CB Cares was inspired by these two young people and created the “Boomerang Buddies” to honor them for March’s Asset #26 Caring. The sisters were presented with personalized boomerangs and gift cards to Monkey’s Uncle retro boutique.
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