Inaugural Better Together Fundraiser Generates Over $30,000 For Local Nonprofits

It’s a wonderful community. I think people in their heart really want to give and they want to work together, and these are the kind of events that just reiterate that we live in a good place.”

David Orso

Three area nonprofits can put more dollars toward their missions heading into the holidays and new year, thanks to a community fundraiser hosted by David and Dawn Orso. Roughly 150 community members gathered and donated during the Orsos’ inaugural “Better Together” event, held November 12 at Chartwell Golf & Country Club.

Over the last 21 years, David and Dawn Orso have helped more than 1,500 area families with their real estate needs and donated to more than 20 local charities.

Discouraged by the division he saw in the world but inspired by the unity he witnessed locally, David Orso hatched a vision to showcase area nonprofits and give back to his community in a fresh way earlier this year.

“What I have the luxury of seeing every day is how so many people in this county work hard together to make it a great place, so I just felt like it made the most sense to announce we’re ‘better together,’” Orso said, explaining how the name of the fundraiser was born.

He had just two objectives for the event: to give local nonprofits a platform to spread their message to a broad audience, and to raise funds for those nonprofits. Orso invited nonprofits to apply to be highlighted at Better Together and received nearly 50 submissions. To ensure fairness in selecting the nonprofits that would benefit from the event, he assembled a board of advisors from the community to review submissions and vote on the top three.

The Blue Ribbon Project, Anne Arundel County CASA Inc., and Katherine’s Light Foundation rose to the top. The evening of Better Together, leaders from each shared about their organization’s origin story, mission and vision in a five-minute speech. Then, attendees donated directly to one, two or all three using boxes labeled for each nonprofit.

There was no cost to attend the event; the Orsos provided the venue, food and beverages, all organized by Dawn. There was only one requirement: come prepared to donate a minimum of $100 to at least one of the three highlighted organizations. Following the pitches, those in attendance opened their hearts and wallets, and together, the nonprofits left with over $30,000.

“We’re just extremely thankful for not just David but people in the community showing support like that,” said Taylor Pyles, founder of The Blue Ribbon Project (TBRP), after presenting at Better Together. “There are so many great nonprofits in our community that need support, so it was an honor that we were selected.”

Founded in 2013, TBRP exists to support area victims of child abuse and youth in foster care. Pyles is a survivor of physical abuse who was placed in foster care at a young age and served in the Annapolis Police Department as a detective in the violent crimes section of the criminal investigation division. When Pyles entered foster care, he did not have the opportunity to go home for clothing and necessities; his only possessions were what he wore to school that day. That was something he wanted to change for children going through an already difficult transition.

TBRP offers many programs for children and adult survivors of childhood trauma, including Backpacks of Love, which supports children entering the foster care system by providing them with a bag of essential items such as clothing, toiletries, school supplies and comfort items like blankets. The nonprofit also offers a small clothing “store” where youth in care can come shop for free.

Pyles shared that TBRP is currently running low on clothing, and that the funds from Better Together will help his team restock needed items.

Anne Arundel County CASA Inc., which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, also supports children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Executive Director Rebecca Tingle, who gave a presentation at Better Together, explained that CASA’s mission is to provide volunteers to advocate for and support abused and neglected children in the court system to ensure their right to a safe, stable and permanent home.

Knowing that many nonprofits would apply to be a part of Better Together, Tingle shared her excitement and gratitude at receiving the news that CASA had been selected. “It was just a beautiful way to showcase three different nonprofits in our community and to hear the amazing work that they all do,” she said. “And then, to see the generosity and how folks were just so willing to give, it was amazing that there were so many people that actually donated to all three.”

Tingle noted that all funds help the organization reach kids who do not have a court-appointed special advocate. “Our goal is to provide CASAs to 100% of the children in care,” she shared. “We’re at about 75% so these funds will help us to train more CASAs and get more CASAs appointed, so that we can get closer to our goal – and it’s a goal that is doable – of a CASA for every child in care in Anne Arundel County.”

Katherine’s Light Foundation (KLF) was founded in 2023 in honor of Katherine Mueller by her mom and stepfather, Robin and Larry Sells. Katherine died in December of 2021 at the age of 31 after a three-year battle with a rare form of cancer. Through their nonprofit, the Sells have raised funds for the Katherine Mueller Nursing Scholarship at Anne Arundel Community College, in honor of Katherine’s desire to be a nurse; for the Wellness House of Annapolis; for the Baltimore Washington Medical Center’s Patient Care and Comfort Fund; and for the Katherine Mueller NET Cancer Research Fund. The funds from Better Together will enable KLF to continue its mission of supporting cancer research and area nonprofits that advocate for and assist those living with a cancer diagnosis.

“We look forward to the next one, because we’ll be a participant in the next one, as a donor,” Larry said of Better Together on behalf of his family.

Reflecting on the event, Robin was touched that many of the guests thanked her and Larry for the work that they are doing for those affected by cancer, including several who shared that they too had suffered the loss of a child, or the loss of a loved one to cancer.

David Orso considers November’s Better Together fundraiser to be the 1.0 version of an event he hopes to host annually, with the same format of three nonprofits being highlighted. “One-hundred percent, we will do it again,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful community,” Orso emphasized. “I think people in their heart really want to give and they want to work together, and these are the kind of events that just reiterate that we live in a good place.”

To learn more about or support The Blue Ribbon Project, Anne Arundel County CASA Inc., or Katherine’s Light Foundation, go to www.blueribbonproject.org, www.aacasa.org or www.katherineslight.org.