The Karen Feroli Community Champion Award - About Karen Kappes Feroli, R.N.
On August 10, 2010, our long-term member, colleague and dear friend, Karen Ann Kappes Feroli succumbed to an extraordinary battle with cancer which she had waged valiantly for several years. Karen served on the original community health assessment project establishing The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County; was co-chair of The Partnership’s original Community Advisory Council, pioneered the annual community forum event of the organization; and generally served as the consummate champion for The Partnership organization and our mission of health improvement.
Karen lived an exemplary life of service to her home community of Carroll County, Maryland, through her many personal and professional activities. She mentored countless others in this community to similar service pursuits. While still a student at Westminster High School (Class of 1976), she was already beginning her health care career, working as a home health aide at a nursing home across the street from the school. This early preparation, plus her many years of experience as a registered nurse and hospice volunteer, led to the post she loved so much as Executive Director of Carroll Home Care and Carroll Hospice.
Her spirit of caring led her to earn an Associate of Arts degree in Nursing from Catonsville Community College and she was working towards her B.S.N. at Notre Dame of Maryland. She was a member of St. John Catholic Church and served on many community service groups, including Senior Public Awareness, the Advisory Council on Career and Technology Education, Carroll County Woman's Fair, Carroll County Health Promotion Council, the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Committee, Senior Providers Information Network (SPIN), GFWC Junior Woman's Club of Westminster, the Family Health Festival Planning Committee, and the Leadership Carroll Alumni. She was a past board member of the Community Services Council.
Karen was a critical leader in the development of Access Carroll, Inc., helping to develop the first clinic operations, serving on the interim Board of Directors, and serving as the organization’s first Executive Director. In 2007, Karen was honored with the Community Service Council’s Humanitarian of the Year Award which she humbly accepted by recognizing all those she had worked with.
The Partnership’s Board of Directors wishes to honor her unique style, encourage others to similar community service, and perpetuate Karen’s dream of health and quality living for all in this community. In October 2010, The Board moved to honor her work and her memory by renaming our existing Community Champion Award, to be forevermore known as the Karen Feroli Community Champion Award. It is our profound hope that the inspiring life of service and action which was the hallmark of this wonderful woman, leader, colleague, and friend will abide in our community forever.
Page updated: 01/11
