Planting Seeds Early: Giving Back is a Way of Life for the Chaney Family

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For the Chaney family, giving back isn’t just a tradition—it’s a way of life, passed down through generations like a treasured heirloom. What began with Eugene “Babe” Chaney, founder of Chaney Enterprises, a ready-mix concrete, sand, and gravel supplier, has grown into a legacy of philanthropy with each generation building upon the one before it. From the long-running Chaney Bull Roast to hands-on volunteering at local nonprofits, the family’s deep-rooted commitment to giving back has positively impacted the local community for decades.

The seeds for giving were planted early. Rebekah (R.G.) Chaney Lare, vice president of Chaney Cares, Chaney Enterprise’s philanthropic arm, said that as long as she can remember, she and her family volunteered. “My mom, Mary Mac, was very active in the community,” she said. “She grew up in Shady Side, and ever since I can remember, I tagged along while she volunteered at pretty much every local organization you can imagine from the Captain Salem Avery House to London Town. She always made it fun.

“It’s part of our extended family,” she adds. “My grandfather, my father, my uncle, and all my cousins are all fully involved in Chaney Cares. It’s just part of our lives. I hope to keep it going for future generations.”

Chaney Cares is dedicated to making a difference in the communities where their employees live and work—a commitment reflected in Chaney Care’s motto, pouring our heart and soul into our communities.

“We really wanted to bring our employees to the forefront and focus on creating foundations for family success through education, employment, and homeownership,” said R.G. about the Chaney Cares mission. “Through the goal of education, we decided to go back to our roots in Lothian, and open up a Boys & Girls Club.”

R.G. said that CFAAC’s Community Needs Assessment Report was an invaluable tool for them when making the decision to open the club, especially when looking at the county’s needs and statistics. The assessment highlighted key issues in Southern Anne Arundel County, including a higher than average rate of free and reduced lunches, a shortage of child care providers, and a lower median household income. These insights were crucial in demonstrating the need for a new Boys & Girls Club in Lothian. 

“The needs assessment was key to us in building our campaign and showing need in Lothian for the Boys & Girls Club,” said R.G., who also related that she was inspired when the Chaney family started working with CFAAC. “I’d say that working with the Community Foundation was a turning point for me because that’s when it started to unveil the need in the community. Working with CFAAC also inspired me because I was with other community donors and heard their stories.”

It was those stories and the revealed needs that led to the Lothian Boys & Girls Club proposal. The club, slated for opening in 2027, is currently in its planning phase as it raises funds through the Chaney Impact Fund at CFAAC. The proposed 11,000 square-foot building and additional 8,500 square-foot gymnasium will be situated on 19 acres and features multipurpose classrooms, a tech center, a teen center, a teaching kitchen, a game room, reading nooks, staff offices, conference spaces, and more.

“This will primarily be a Boys & Girls Club, but it is our hope to incorporate many other local organizations to utilize the space at its full potential,” said R.G. “The Boys & Girls Club will only be using the space in the evenings, weekdays, and then during the summer as a camp. So there are many other hours where it can be utilized by the rest of the community for meeting spaces, club organizations, or sports teams; we also hope local youth organizations will use the farmland.”

One use of the farmland will be a community garden, named after R.G.’s mom, who loved gardening. “We’ll have a teaching kitchen with cooking classes for the kids, teach them how to grow their own food, and cook with their own food. It will be a full circle learning experience,” she said.

Donations to the Chaney Impact Fund at CFAAC will go directly to building the Lothian Boys & Girls Club.