shoreupdate.com

By Avra Sullivan

For the last eight years, Chester resident Merry Tobin has been helping to bring awareness about the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center to residents and visitors alike. As the chair for their largest fundraiser held each fall, she is acutely aware of the influence she and other volunteers make towards CBEC. “Many people do not know that CBEC receives no federal, state or county funding. Funds are raised through grants, fundraising, camps, memberships and school programs. CBEC is very fortunate to have a large number of very dedicated volunteers.”

She says living in Queen Anne’s County, she has “never experienced so many people giving back to the community”. Amazed that so many people have never been, or have not even heard of, the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, which she says is a Queen Anne’s County treasure, she is “personally trying to bring awareness to the community.” One of the best ways she is doing that is through the Wet & Wiled fundraiser which will be held September 22nd from 4-8pm at the Environmental Center. An auction, this fundraiser helps raise money for the continuation of the many programs CBEC offers. Merry has chaired this event for the last six years.

Originally from the Midwest, Merry and her husband Pat moved to Stevensville from Montgomery County in 1999. She is co-owner on Chesapeake Real Estate Associates, LLC. In addition to her work with the Chesapeake Environmental Center, Merry has been on the board of Directors for the United Way of Queen Anne’s county, and has been involved with the Chesapeake’s Women’s Network and Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce. She believes that “volunteer work is the heart of the community”. They have a son in Colorado and “two great Labrador Retrievers.”

For tickets or more information on the Wet & Wild fundraiser, or the Chesapeake Environmental Center, please visit www.bayrestoration.org or by calling 410-827-6694