Communities get to know ‘Cakes’

Ross, an eight-year resident of Frederick, has worked with an advisory board for several months to set up the structure of the operation and establish their nonprofit status. The organization is also working with the Community Foundation of Frederick County to raise funds for operations through donations.

That goal brought Ross to visit her sister, Amy,who organized a fundraiser in Elk Grove, California to help with the endeavor. A wine reception and talk by Ross raised more than $3,000 for the organization.

‘‘It went really well,” Ross said. ‘‘...When I started this whole thing officially in January, [my sister] said she wanted to put together a fundraiser to help. She did this all herself.”

Ross said she hopes the California event can be used as a model here in Frederick for similar fundraising efforts to help spread the mission and focus of Cakes for Cause.

‘‘This is something that is important not just for our community in Frederick or theirs [in California], but everywhere in the United States,” she said. ‘‘[Aging out of foster care] is an issue every community is dealing with.”

To give local residents a ‘‘taste” of the organization, Ross and some helpers are also participating in the Frederick Farmers Market each Saturday from now until the fall. Each week, a booth at the market will not only educate visitors about the group, but also tempt their taste buds with breads and pastries that will be made by students in the program at Moxie.

The bakery will be part of the North Market Community Center, part of the HOPE VI federal housing ownership initiative. The building is slated to open in January at the corner of North Market and 7th streets, housing several nonprofit groups.

‘‘We are very excited about being at the farmer’s market as it is a good opportunity for people to get to know us and our products,” Ross said. ‘‘The booth will have the feel of our café and have items for them to enjoy now and when we open.”

For more information on Cakes for Cause, contact Ross at 240-344-0295 or cakesforcause@gmail.com.

Hood awards degrees

Several Frederick residents were among those receiving degrees from Hood College during commencement ceremonies on May 17. With 345 undergraduates and 193 graduate students, the class of 2008 represented the largest in Hood’s 111-year-history.

Receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree were: Carroll Alexander, Jessica Ayton, Ashley Carroll, Wendi Custer, Dorothy Dean, Fatou Doucoure, Lisa Doyon, Bethany Duvall, Kristina Eggleston, April English, Frederick Ephraim, Kyle Fullmer, Victor Gigante-Hueber, Cindy Glover, Eric Gonzales, Hannah Grant, Yael Guillaume, Collin Hart, Jamie Hostler, Elizabeth Hummel, John Kline, Alison Klingmeyer, Natalie Koos, Elizabeth Lipke, Lauren Lowe, Cassandra Lyons, Molly Marsh, Krystal McCarthy, Mehwash Naseem, Katie Nuckols, William Oconis, Jr., Steven Plummer, Dominique Procopio, Lauren Procter, Andrea Putz, Amy Rembold, Kira Rogers, Marigny Rusk, Christie Saba, Samantha Snyder, Jessica Strevig, Brittany Thomas, Heather Weiser, Robert White, Jeddy Wilkinson, and Meghan Williams.

Three Frederick students earned Bachelor of Science degrees: Paul Batholomew, Timothy Butler and Michael Naylor.

Those receiving Master of Science degrees were: Marcus Allen, Jason Bowser, Patricia Crowell, Vanessa Dorsey, Beverly Dyas, Brandie Fullmer, Nicole Greene, Doina Joseph, Tara Ann Kenny, Patricia Komons, Jennie Lane, M. Kathryn Lane, Michael Maynard, TamMara Peer, David Perlowski, Jared Pulliam, Laila Shamsi, Donna Ross, Jonathan Smith, Sarah Starr, Kathryn Sullivan, Elizabeth Watkins, and Michael Watson.

Twelve students earned their Master of Business Education degree. They are: Marijan Bankovic, Rosa Bankovic, Daniel Chambers, Michael Coe, Suzanne High, Maria Iacob, Katherine Nash, Tino Philip, Nadine Simkins, Westley Tibbs, Ann Westerman, and Xiaojing Zhang.

Do you have an item for City Beat? Contact reporter Keith L. Martin at 301-846-2134, e-mail kmartin@gazette.net or fax news to 301-846-2124.