40 Years with Benedictine: Betsy's Story

Betsy Partridge is an engaging individual, a natural extrovert. She loves talking with people and has become a fixture in the Annapolis community where she lives in one of Benedictine's group homes. If you visit the Home Depot on Defense Highway in Annapolis, there's a good chance you'll see Betsy, who has worked there for an impressive 25 years. She helps customers with returns, restocks shelves and waters plants in the garden center. However, taking care of the plants is her least favorite task because she doesn't get to talk to as many people! She is adored by customers and her co-workers alike.

In addition to her afternoon job at Home Depot, Betsy works in the mornings in the cafeteria at Broadneck High School. "I love feeding the students and meeting a lot of people," Betsy says. She has worked at Broadneck for 12 years and says she enjoys watching the students grow up.

Betsy was named Employee of the Year for her work at Home Depot and Broadneck High School by Maryland Works, Inc., an association whose mission is to promote workforce development strategies that assure full inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Betsy was recognized at their annual Employment Awards Luncheon.

When Betsy's parents Pete, who serves on the Benedictine Board of Trustees, and her mother Joan look back at Betsy's time with Benedictine, they are amazed by what she has accomplished. Betsy first came to Benedictine as a 14-year-old student. She was always an outgoing person, but Benedictine helped her develop the interpersonal and work skills to become the best version of herself. Forty years later and she is thriving. She loves her Annapolis group home and besides working she enjoys doing girl stuff with her roommate like shopping and getting her nails done! She is grateful for the loving guidance and support of her long time Benedictine house counsellor, Marie Truitt.

Joan and Pete say they don't know what they would have done without Benedictine. When they brought Betsy to Benedictine, they had the comfort of knowing that Betsy was loved and well taken care of by her teachers and support staff, which in-turn gave them the ability to shift some of their focus at the time toward their younger daughter. "Benedictine allows families to thrive, not just survive," shared Joan.

Joan and Pete are long-time supporters of the Benedictine Foundation. They want to support Benedictine's incredible staff who take such great care of every student and adult. "It is so important to us to support the people who have supported our family," Pete says. "We are grateful beyond measure."