Abilities Network Honors Two Longtime Board Members from Pikesville

TOWSON, Md. –Abilities Network recently held its 50th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Event, which honored 35 individuals, businesses and organizations that have created significant partnerships with the non-profit.

Two of the Board of Directors Service Awards were presented to Pikesville residents who have served on the Abilities Network board or 10 or more years:

▪ Maxine Seidman joined Abilities Network’s board in 2000 and currently serves as president. She also is a member of the Walkabout Abilities Committee, 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and Project ACT (All Children Together) Advisory Committee. She owns Play Keepers, which provides after school care. Her interest in early child care sparked her interest in the Project ACT program. In addition to lending her time and talent to Abilities Network, she volunteers with CHANA (an organization that offers a Jewish community response to the needs of persons who experience) and Chizuk Amuno Congregation.

▪ David Paulson joined Abilities Network’s board in 2002 and currently serves on the 50th Anniversary Steering Committee and the Executive Committee. Specializing in acquisitions and dispositions and select tenant and landlord assignments, he is senior vice president of Blue & Obrecht Realty. An active member of the Society of Office and Industrial Realtors, Paulson previously was a vice president at Manekin, worked for the Baltimore Economic Development Corporation and was the first executive director of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation.

In addition to the awards ceremony, this celebration highlighted the work of Abilities Network, which was initially incorporated in 1964 as the Epilepsy Association of Maryland and has since expanded to provide services to individuals with varying types of disabilities. Today, it serves over 10,000 individuals statewide.

The event also acknowledged the late Dr. John Freeman (one of the founders of the organization who has contributed to the its growth and success over the years) and paid tribute to late Diana Pillas (who worked in the epilepsy support center at Johns Hopkins Pediatric Epilepsy Center, served on the Abilities Network’s board for over 30 years and was instrumental in encouraging parents of children with epilepsy to get involved with the non-profit). 

About Abilities Network
Headquartered in Towson, Abilities Network is a non-profit organization that provides individualized services to people in Maryland with disabilities. Its mission is to challenge the community to acknowledge the value and equality of people of all abilities. Services include Autism Services, Community and Employment Partners, Epilepsy Services, Healthy Families of Baltimore County, Project ACT (All Children Together) and Senior Services. Abilities Network has been providing quality services since 1964. For more information, visit www.abilitiesnetwork.org.