The Military Bowl Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates premier events in the National Capital Region to benefit our nation’s current and former service members. In addition to running the Military Bowl college football game each December, the Foundation also operates the DC Touchdown Club and Patriot Point, a 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The Stuart Plank family has been prominent in local sports, business, philanthropy and government for decades. Stuart Plank identified the property as a prospective respite for veterans, their families and caregivers, and recommended purchase to Steve Beck, executive director of the Military Bowl Foundation. Additional members of the Plank family have also contributed significantly to the renovations of property, sponsoring events and creation of the Under Armour Freedom Fitness Center. Patriot Point is a priority for the Stuart Plank family‘s philanthropy and he remains actively engaged in growth and management on a regular basis.
The Taishoff Family Foundation mission includes addressing lifestyle issues of veterans and others with special needs and cognitive disabilities. In addition to Patriot Point, the Foundation funds InclusiveU at Syracuse University and the Lawrence B. Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, also at SU. A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Board, the Foundation operates Promise Landing Farm, an inclusive therapeutic riding community, in Upper Marlboro, MD. Another of its two dozen beneficiaries is Big Sky Ski, a program of Eagle Mount adaptive sports in Bozeman, Mont.
Steve Beck is the President & Executive Director of the Military Bowl Foundation, which is responsible for the operation of the Military Bowl college football bowl game, Patriot Point and the DC Touchdown Club.
Beck has been in charge of the Military Bowl Foundation since its inaugural year in 2008. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the game, which is held each December.
In addition to running the Military Bowl college football game each December, the Foundation also operates the DC Touchdown Club and Patriot Point, a 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. He has been the primary fundraiser and developer of Patriot Point and is responsible for operations and relationships with programming partners such as the USO and the Yellow Ribbon Fund. He and his wife Christy have four grown children and live in Kensington, Md.
Stuart Plank provides hands-on building experience and community outreach, engaging donors and in-kind contributors to the growth of Patriot Point. He has more than 30 years experience in local residential and commercial development. He regularly spends time with veterans on the property. Stuart is an active DC philanthropist. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech, where he was a member of the football team and has been on the coaching staff of Georgetown Prep for more than 20 years. He resides in Kensington, Md, with his wife Laura and two sons, Jack and Casey.
Captain Rob Taishoff, JAGC, USN (ret) is an original funder of Patriot Point, Chairman of the Taishoff Family Foundation and Chairman of Promise Landing Farm board of directors. He is a decorated veteran with 22 years of service and the CEO of Annapolis Yacht Sales. Rob graduated from Syracuse University where he is a trustee, and Widener Law School in May 1989. He completed an LLM summa cum laude from George Washington University School of Law. He lives in Annapolis with his wife Kathy and their five children, two daughters and three sons.
Mike Howell, a long time board member of the Taishoff Family Foundation and Vice President of Promise Landing Farm board of directors, serves as the active TFF representative manager for Patriot Point. He is a principal and Vice President of Operations for Evans Consulting Group, Inc. and has more than 30 years experience in commercial construction in the DC area. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Building Construction, and provides technical advice and strategic management support for Patriot Point. He and his wife Sherry have two daughters and a son and live in Bethesda, Md.
