Mary Wray, of Bel Air, said her belief in President-elect Barack Obama motivated her to donate to his inaugural fund and election campaign, but she is not fighting traffic to see him inaugurated Jan. 20.
“It’s going to be crazy. I don’t think there’s a way down there,” Wray said, referring to the traffic congestion from the more than 1 million expected to attend this historic event in Washington D.C.
“Obama’s worked hard for where he is, and I’d love to go, but I don’t think so,” said the self-employed woman who donated $250 to the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Wray is one of 20 Marylanders from the Baltimore region who contributed more than $163,000 to the inaugural fund. More than $27 million has been raised nationwide, according to the group’s published donor list.
Big spenders
Four Baltimore area company presidents donated tens of thousands of dollars, with three giving the $50,000 maximum.
Wayne Rogers, president of Annapolis-based Synergics Inc., gave $50,000 toward Obama’s inauguration.
Synergics is a consulting firm dealing with wind and hydroelectric energy, the kind of alternative energy Obama championed for during his run to the White House.
Rogers did not return calls for comment.
Pless Jones, of P&J Contracting, a Baltimore-based, black-owned firm, also contributed the maximum amount. Jones was out of state and unavailable for comment.
John Hussman, of the Ellicott City investment firm Hussman Funds, said he did not want to comment on his $50,000 donation.
Jeff Hargrove, president of Baltimore-based Mahogany Inc., which has done carpentry work for the state, City of Baltimore and major contractors, pitched in $10,000.
Hargrove did not return calls for comment.
Those donors joined Halle Berry, Samuel L. Jackson, George Lucas and Barbara Streisand and nearly 400 others who have contributed the maximum amount.
Most of the state’s big donors are from Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, in particular Potomac and Chevy Chase.
Every little bit helps
Even in this difficult economic condition, more than a dozen area residents found ways to contribute a few hundred dollars.
Obama donors said they wanted to give money because of their support for the man whom they say will help bring the country out of the recession.
“Times are tough, but you find a way to do what you want to do,” said Betty Glascoe, of BJG Enterprises LLC, a Columbia-based business consultant, who donated $210 toward the inauguration and also donated to his election campaign.
“It was important for me to see [Obama] get into office. We have gone through such hell, and we wouldn’t be in such a fiasco if someone had cared about the people like he does.”
Glascoe said she is worried about the crowds, but she is hoping to go to the District. The Secret Service has created a three-mile security zone around the U.S. Capitol and closed bridges crossing into Washington D.C. from Virginia.
The Maryland Democratic Party played no role in garnering donations for the inauguration, though the Obama campaign staff had a list of 220,000 Maryland supporters they may have solicited, said David Paulson, the party’s communications director.
“I am constantly amazed to see individuals are so excited at being part of this historic event,” Paulson said.
DONATIONS FOR INAUGURAL FUND
Several residents from the Baltimore region donated a total of $163,762 to the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee. These same residents contributed a total of $14,200 to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
Top donors
» Wayne Rogers
Synergics Inc.
Annapolis
$50,000
(Contributed a total of $2,000 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» John Hussman
Hussman Funds
Ellicott City
$50,000
(Contributed a total of $2,300 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Pless Jones
P & J Contracting
Woodbine
$50,000
(Contributed a total of $2,300 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Jeff Hargrove
Mahogany Inc.
Hanover
$10,000
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
Donors who gave $500 or less
» Catherine Folkes
Merkle
Annapolis
$500
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Michael Collins
Self-employed
Columbia
$252
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Akinwale Akinpelu
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab
Ellicott City
$250
(Contributed a total of $1,700 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Matthew Bouillon
U.S. Army Aberdeen Testing Center
Belcamp
$250
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Greg Dunn
The Crew Works
Baltimore
$250
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Robin Harcum
Dcaa
Baltimore
$250
(Contributed a total of $1,250 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Rogers Lewis
American Radiology Services Inc.
Columbia
$250
(Contributed a total of $250 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Karen Moody
Office of the Attorney General of Maryland
Baltimore
$250
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Joe Okojie
O & A Inc.
Ellicott City
$250
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Mary Teddy Wray
Self employed
Bel Air
$250
(Contributed a total of $550 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Betty Glascoe
BJG Enterprises LLC
Columbia
$210
(Contributed a total of $1,000 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Lynn Buhler
The Park Avenue Group
Baltimore
$200
(Contributed a total of $2,100 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» James Craigen
Howard University
Baltimore
$200
(Contributed a total of $250 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Sandra Fletcher
S.K. Fletcher Investment Properties
Severn
$200
(Contributed a total of $500 to the Obama presidential campaign)
» Rita Tiller
Amylin Pharmaceuticals
Columbia
$200
(No listed contributions to the Obama presidential campaign)
Click here to see the full list of donations to the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Fast facts
» The 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee does not accept contributions from corporations, political action committees, labor unions, federally registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents.
» Donations ranged from $200 to no more than $50,000.
Source: 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee, Federal Election Commission
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
