February 22, 2019
Media Contacts:
Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, (202) 277-9412
Cheryl Mattis, Executive Secretary, Commission for Women, 410-313-6400
ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Howard County Commission for Women today announced the 2019 inductees for the County’s Women’s Hall of Fame.
This year, the Commission has selected three outstanding Howard County women for induction: Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz, Georgia Eacker and Cathy Hudson.
“I appreciate the contributions of these women to Howard County,” said Ball. “Their stewardship of our community has contributed to a better quality of life for county residents. Their achievements in philanthropy, environmental education and historic preservation, are truly an inspiration for future generations.”
Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz – A philanthropic leader, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz’s professional career, volunteer efforts and activism have focused on human rights, women’s issues and social change through philanthropy. Buffy began her career working for an international human rights organization in Washington, D.C., then served as the Communications Director at the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Currently she is president of her own firm, BBS Consulting, working with foundations and nonprofits on project management, philanthropy, marketing, communications and social media.
Buffy has served as a role model and mentor throughout her career. She is a recognized national leader on Women's Giving Circles, and the co-founder of the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County (WGC), which has empowered generations of women in Howard County through philanthropy. Buffy is also a co-author of the award-winning book Women & Philanthropy: Boldly Shaping a Better World, and a co-founder of the groups, Howard County Women Against Gun Violence and Howard County Sandy Hook Promise.
Buffy has been honored by The Daily Record as one of Maryland's Top 100 Women three times and was named an "Innovator of the Year" in 2004; she was also selected as one of "40 Under 40" in 2004 by the Baltimore Business Journal and as a first Impact Award Winner in 2012 by The Mall in Columbia and the WGC. She has also served on the boards of Our Maryland, the Community Foundation of Howard County, HopeWorks, the Women’s Giving Circle of Howard County and the Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System.
Georgia L. Eacker – Georgia Eacker has always been an educator. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education from Tufts University, and a certificate in Occupational Therapy from the Boston School of Occupational Therapy, she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from Boston University and accepted a position at Tufts University.
When Georgia’s husband Jim accepted a job with the Rouse Company, the family relocated to Howard County. The move brought a new focus and direction to Georgia’s life, reawakening her interest in horticulture. After completing Maryland Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener training program, she accepted the Master Gardener Coordinator position with the University of Maryland Extension – Howard County. Since then, Georgia’s goal has been to educate the community on the environment, to encourage everyone to interact with it and how to conserve and preserve our natural resources.
A member of Howard County’s Sustainability Board, Georgia has guided many County residents and Marylanders towards a more sustainable lifestyle through her leadership and professional and community service
Cathy Malkmus Hudson – For the past three decades, Elkridge resident Cathy Hudson has actively participated in the Rockburn Land Trust, responsible for protecting more than 200 acres of land in the Elkridge area from development. She has also served on a number of Howard County task forces related to planning, the environment and affordable housing. In addition, she spearheaded a nine-year effort to preserve Belmont, an historic and environmental treasure. As a result, Howard County purchased Belmont in 2013, preserving this piece of history forever.
In 2007, Cathy formed a coalition of local environmental groups to develop the Howard County Green Central Station website. Two years later, the group launched HoLLIE (Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment) and since its inception, HoLLIE has trained 146 community leaders to become environmental activists on issues of climate change and storm water management. Cathy has also served on the board of The League of Women Voters, Howard County’s Environmental Sustainability Board, the Howard County Farm Bureau and Howard County’s Agriculture Preservation Board.
In 2010, Cathy and her husband purchased an eight-acre parcel in her home community of Lawyers Hill to protect it from development. Two years later, she began farming with her friend, Van Wensil and established Myrtle Woods Farm in Elkridge, a small, regenerative, community farm. During the most recent comprehensive rezoning process, Cathy advocated to protect the right to farm in eastern Howard County.
The 2019 class of inductees will be honored at the annual Women’s Hall of Fame ceremony on Thursday, March 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. The event is free and open to the public; sign language interpretation will be provided. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception.
Each March since 1996, the Howard County Commission for Women has inducted up to five honorees as part of Women’s History Month.
"The Howard County Commission for Women is honored to recognize our 2019 Women's Hall of Fame inductees and the impact they have made in our community,” said Kashonna Holland, chair of the Commission. “They are amazing examples of perseverance, resilience and strength for women and girls alike. These women are extraordinary in their own right and we stand proud and privileged to celebrate them."