The Kahlert Foundation Provides Support Behind the Scenes
Early support from the Maryland-based organization proves vital to The Inn of Tomorrow
As The Children’s Inn at NIH has developed plans for The Inn of the Tomorrow, it has received support from many sources. One of those sources has been The Kahlert Foundation, a family philanthropic organization based in Carroll County, Maryland, which has partnered with The Inn over the past two years to provide early grant support for the necessary infrastructure upgrades to transform the existing Inn and meet the needs of young patients and families well into the future.
“The thought that The Kahlert Foundation can impact kids and families who are going through the unimaginable is rewarding for us,” said Ellen Myers,The Kahlert Foundation Executive Director. “Really, you’re helping kids in Maryland and all over the world with very rare diseases. It’s unique that The Inn is in our backyard … I don’t think enough people recognize the significant impact that The Inn has for families and young kids. So to be able to have a place like home to go to when you’re going through treatment just spoke to the Kahlert Family.”
The Kahlert Foundation has focused on strengthening the Maryland community since its founding more than 30 years ago. In fact, the commitment to community goes back even further than that.
Ellen Myers,The Kahlert Foundation Executive DirectorI don’t think enough people recognize the significant impact that The Inn has for families and young kids. So to be able to have a place like home to go to when you’re going through treatment just spoke to the Kahlert Family.”
“William E. Kahlert, ‘Bill’ who was the founder of the foundation, started a company in Maryland back in the 1970s that make commercial HVAC and industrial refrigeration,” explained Kahlert Foundation Executive Director Ellen Myers, who is a member of the Capital Campaign Committee. “It’s an employee-owned company. What’s great is that over the last 50 years, when the company has had success, the employees have been part of that.”
In 1991, after more than 15 years running the industry-leading Evapco, Inc., Bill Kahlert founded The Kahlert Foundation with a desire to make a difference in the communities where he lived and worked. A small family foundation focused primarily in its home territory of Carroll, Howard, and Baltimore Counties, The Kahlert Foundation expanded its reach when its founder passed away in 2011 and bequeathed part of his estate to the foundation.
The foundation focuses on health care and education, with more than 60% of the grants awarded each year going to support causes in those areas.
In 2022, Myers and Greg Kahlert, Bill’s son and the current president of the Foundation, toured The Inn, and they were excited about what they saw. At first, they made a gift to support family programming. But soon, the foundation was directly involved in the development of the plans for The Inn of Tomorrow.
Kahlert grant support was instrumental in securing $1.4 million in capital funds from the State of Maryland, which required that The Inn raise the same amount in matching funds.
“We started our support early in the infrastructure (renovation) phase,” Myers said. “That is not always the most attractive things to fund. They’re things behind the scenes, like air handling and electricity—all the operational stuff that you have to do in order to ultimately create the beautiful kids’ playground and welcome area and renovated rooms.”
It was a natural fit for the foundation born out of the success of Evapco, a manufacturing company dedicated to designing and manufacturing the highest quality products for the evaporative cooling and industrial refrigeration markets around the globe.
Though the support The Kahlert Foundation provides may not catch the attention of many of The Inn’s younger residents, the opportunity to make a positive difference in their lives remains important to the Foundation. With a geographic focus on making an impact in Maryland, The Kahlert Foundation also welcomes the opportunity to have a global impact through The Inn.
Thanks to the dedication of The Kahlert Foundation, The Inn of Tomorrow is closer to becoming a reality. And the partnership has no end in sight.
“We would love to continue to support The Inn and see The Inn of Tomorrow come to fruition,” Myers said. “I’ve personally been involved on the Campaign Committee, so I’ve been learning more about so many generous people and companies who have made this come together. I’ve also gotten to know the staff at The Children’s Inn, and they’re just amazing. As a foundation, we have enjoyed getting to know the team, and we are happy to be a part of that [future].”
