Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the 2024 awardees of Baltimore County’s Community Heroes Awards, recognizing seven individuals from across the County who have made significant and meaningful contributions to their communities.
“The dedicated community stakeholders who invest their time and energy to advocate for their neighborhoods and neighbors exemplify the leadership and passion that makes Baltimore County a great place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “We are proud to continue supporting, celebrating, and building this network of community heroes whose selfless work makes a difference in the lives of our residents every day.”
There are two local winners were honored from eastern Baltimore County:
District 5: Pat Keller, Perry Hall Improvement Association
Pat Keller serves as president of the Perry Hall Improvement Association, where he uses his experience and expertise to advance community interests like the White Marsh Town Center Task Force and the Honeygo Regional Veterans Memorial. To ensure that our veterans receive recognition for their historic sacrifices, he has worked tirelessly to secure the majority of the funds needed for the memorial at no cost to the taxpayer. Keller takes pride in supporting his surrounding communities and continues to be a leader and a bold voice for neighbors in need.
District 7: Carlos Crespo, Crespo Productions/Nuestras Raices, Inc.
Carlos Crespo is the founder of Crespo Productions and co-founder of Nuestras Raices, Inc., a community organization dedicated to cultural preservation and support. He has spent the past 22 years empowering underserved and immigrant communities by distributing food boxes to the needy, providing vital assistance to neighbors during emergencies, and advocating for essential policies like DACA and the Dream Act. Crespo is an active volunteer whose efforts continue to strengthen our communities and celebrate cultural diversity.
Other winners include:
District 1: John Jay Dillow, Southwest Visions Foundation
District 2: Deborah Patterson, Pikesville Township/Pikesville Communities Corporation
District 3: Eric Rockel, Greater Timonium Community Council
District 4: Chrissy Thornton, Associated Black Charities
District 6: Nancy Goldring, Northeast Towson Improvement Association
All winners will be recognized at Baltimore County’s second-annual Community Leaders Summit on September 26.
