Last Updated on April 1, 2019
Cindy Potter Ripple is a wonderful example of the success of our Scholarship Program. Cindy began working at Charlestown 18 years ago. She worked in the Atrium Dining Room while attending Western Tech High School. After receiving the Charlestown Scholarship, she attended CCBC where she earned a Nursing Assistant Certification. Throughout this time Cindy continued working at Charlestown, in dining, dining management, and then becoming the Move-Out Coordinator in Finance in 2014. In 2016, Cindy was moved to General Services, and is now the General Services Office/Customer Service Administrator. We see her at our General Services Town Hall meetings.
Da’Twaun Raikes was in the 2016 Charlestown Scholars’ Class. Da’Twaun currently works behind the scenes in our Short Line/Chesapeake kitchen is one of our short line cooks, while he attends school. He is attending a vocational school, the Stratford University Culinary Arts School in Baltimore. Da’Twaun began working in the Refectory in March 2015, and graduated from Catonsville High School in June 2016. When he graduated from high school and began going to Culinary School he began working full-time here at Charlestown. Since he is employed at Charlestown full-time, in addition to his Charlestown Scholarship, he is also eligible to receive tuition-reimbursement. This is a great benefit for Da’Twaun in giving him the ability to complete his studies, have hands-on training, and continue to give back to the residents that help to fund our Scholars’ Program here at Charlestown.
Cindy and Da’Twaun are just two of the many Charlestown Scholars’ that make the decision to continue working at Charlestown throughout and/or after receiving their degree. This is another benefit to your support of the Charlestown Scholars’ Program, because these Scholars’ become valuable long-term employees that continue to share their gifts with the residents of our community. In Mid-March you received a Scholars’ Campaign packet in your cubby. This packet included a brochure about our Scholars’ Program, and an appeal letter from our Residents’ Council President, Wendel Thompson. The Scholars’ Fund was established in 1988 by John Erickson with a donation of $200,000. Since that time, residents have donated more than $3.6 million providing scholarships to more than 1500 students for college. This annual campaign is an opportunity for us as residents to promote the opportunity of higher education to our dining staff members that do so much for us as individuals and as a community. In many cases this scholarship assistance give our student-employees the ability to attend college.
Our Charlestown Scholars’ Fund Campaign is in full swing and continues through April 30th. Every resident can help us make a difference for our Scholars’ through some contribution, great or small. Participation by all residents makes an even greater impact on this program and for our students. Our goal is always to have 100% participation among our residents. The gift of education can be priceless, so please consider making a donation.
Some easy ways to contribute are: monthly deductions on your Resident Account, or credit card, check, and/or cash donations to the Philanthropy Office in Cross Creek or deposited in the collection boxes located at the reception desks. Checks may be made payable to the Scholars’ Fund. Please be generous, our scholars work hard and need our help! Scholarship payments are made directly to the college or university for each student (not to the student) and your donation is 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law. Your family and friends outside of Charlestown are also welcome to donate to the campaign.
If you have not yet made your donation to the Scholars’ Fund, please do so NOW! If you have already donated, thank you very much. Please be an ambassador of the program by talking to your friends and neighbors in the hallways and during meal times about how important giving is in supporting our students’ educational pursuits. Our goal is to raise more than $190,000 to help support this years’ 40 scholars and also those students currently in the program. This program is not just a benefit to our students, but also to our community when our Scholars’ continue and/or return to work at Charlestown.
Any further questions may be directed to our Scholar Committee members: Pat Kasuda, Norma Goldberg, Roland Gray, Tony Hansen, Mel Milio, Marie Skane, Ed DeLong, Jackie Graham, Eugenia High, or contact Lisa Zehring in the Philanthropy Office at 410-737-8838 x8397.
Thank you for supporting our scholars!
Charlie Eichenlaub
Scholar Committee Chair