'Taste of Carroll Celebrates 25 Years with Anniversary Sponsor M&T Bank'

BridgingLife to Host Celebration on April 29 Featuring 45 of the Area’s Finest Food and Beverage Providers and Honoring 11 Hospice Heroes

Westminster, Md. – (April 29, 2024) — This year Taste of Carroll, the popular culinary fundraising event supporting BridgingLife Hospice and Palliative Care, marks its 25th anniversary. ‘Taste of Carroll Celebrates 25 Years with Anniversary Sponsor M & T Bank’ will take place Monday, April 29 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1623 Brewing Company, located at 5975 Exchange Drive, in Eldersburg.

“Twenty-five years is a milestone celebration and that’s why we are really looking forward to enjoying this year’s event,” says Michelle Williams, the vice president and senior relationship manager at M&T Bank.

With 45 food and beverage vendors, attendees can expect every course to be covered from the region's finest restaurants, bakeries, cafes, breweries, distilleries and specialty food purveyors. Samplings will include pulled chicken over apple slaw with collard greens, mini crabcakes, pork belly crostini, seared ahi tuna, meatballs marinara, crab deviled eggs, charcutier boards, gourmet popcorn, decadent desserts, craft beer and 25-year anniversary signature cocktails, including a faux-jito, to name a few.

“The only thing more plentiful than the culinary offerings is the comradery,” says Mike McKelvin, co-owner of 1623 Brewing Company who also sits on the Carroll Hospital Foundation board. He adds, “We’ll have a deejay, Ravens running back Justice Hill will attend the sponsor reception and the ‘Honor our Hospice Heroes’ will again be a highlight.”

“Honor our Hospice Heroes” is a recognition of staff and community champions for their outstanding commitment to the service. This year there are 11 honorees including volunteer Jo Fleck and her pet therapy dog, Maggie. This recognition is especially meaningful, as Fleck sat on the original volunteer committee in the 1970s when the community began to realize hospice was needed in the region. This committee advocated for the program’s inception until 1986 when Carroll Hospice was established.

Erin DiNello of Penguin Random House is the chair of this year’s Taste of Carroll. She says she learned first-hand how important hospice can be after losing her father to ALS in 2017. “Not only did hospice assist my father, but the care team showed me, my mom and my brothers how to help make my dad’s final days the most comfortable. I am honored to be involved and encourage residents to attend and support such a worthy cause.”

All Hospice Heroes will receive a proclamation from the state, a dove pin and plenty of photos and congratulations.

All the proceeds from Taste of Carroll benefit the hospice services that BridgingLife provides, including end-of-life care costs not covered by a patient’s insurance and the vast array of grief services offered to patients’ families and the community at large.

This year’s attire is smart-casual. Tickets are $125 per person and are on sale now. The event is expected to sell out. Sponsorships are also available. For more information, visit tasteofcarroll.org.

A LifeBridge Health partner, BridgingLife is a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the delivery of high-quality care for patients and those who love them through the end of life. Accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), BridgingLife is also Medicare certified and licensed by the State of Maryland.

Contact: Theodosha Hayes, thayes3@lifebridgehealth.org, 410-601-2296