Todd Ferrante
Longtime resident, Todd Ferrante is no stranger to hard work, philanthropy and volunteerism. At the age of 19, Todd started working in the Telescope Pictures business. From 1984 to 1996, he worked as the owner operator, providing residents and tourists alike with life long memories captured by a camera lens. Looking to get into a more stable line of work Todd received some business advice from a friend in the jewelry business and the rest is history.
In May of 1996, he opened his first store on 5th Street – Michael’s Fine Jewelers. Three years later he opened Park Place Jewelers at its current location between 2nd and 3rd Street. His wife, Jill, joined him in 1999. As their business began to grow, so did their need for additional showroom space. On October 23, 2018, the husband and wife team opened a second location, a 3,000-square-foot jewelry showroom giving customers a high class, unique shopping experience right here on the Shore. Their new shop features high ceilings, opulent crystal chandeliers, gleaming oval and round display cases with accents of shimmering Anatolia Baroque glass tiles.
While being a successful business owner and father, Todd also finds time to give back as an active member of many not-for-profits in Worcester County like The Education Foundation, Believe In Tomorrow, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, Ocean City Development Corporation, Rebecca and Leighton Moore Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit and Atlantic General Hospital. He believes that to fully understand your community you need to be a part of it. Over the years, Todd has played his part well, taking on various leadership positions leveraging his experience and expertise to help guide nonprofits’ success.
Todd’s involvement with AGH began in 2010. Fast forward to 2021, where he currently sits on both the Hospital Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board of Directors. Todd joined the Foundation board in 2011. He spent two years on the board before being nominated to join the Executive Committee as Vice Chair. After two years as Vice Chair, he became Board Chair in 2015. Todd, also serves as the Foundation representative with the Hospital Board of Trustees. Over the last seven years the Foundation has seen his leadership take on many different forms, from his innovative ideas, strategic and forward thinking to his tireless efforts to increase the credibility and visibility of AGH in our community and surrounding areas or his incredible fundraising efforts in helping secure the largest single major gift to date, coming in the form of a $4 million dollar donation from the Gudelsky’s to our Campaign for the Future!
Todd’s desire to become involved with our hospital dates back to a time when AGH was not here, leaving residents and visitors to drive 30 minutes or more to receive medical treatment. He thought that giving back to the hospital would be a perfect way to couple his love for philanthropy and volunteerism. Todd’s philanthropic nature extends from just his involvement at the board level. He is a major donor himself; his contributions total over $85,000. Todd recognizes how many lives the hospital impacts and its importance, stating that if everyone was willing to give back to the communities they lived in, all the communities would be better off.