Last Updated on June 19, 2020
THANK YOU and congratulations Charlestown residents! With your support and generous donations, our 2020 Campaign exceeded the goal and raised a total of $218,266 for the Charlestown Scholars’ Program. This year’s campaign had the challenge of occurring in the early days of a pandemic outbreak, so while our participation was at its lowest amount this year (46%), we were thankful for a generous realized planned gift of over $28,800 from the estate of Connie Morrison to help us exceed our goal.
The Charlestown Scholars’ Program allows us to offer academic financial assistance to our eligible student-employees. This year we extended this program to include a One-Year scholarship to our staff for adult-learners who are looking to pursue their education in coursework related to the Charlestown scope of business. Traditional Scholars will receive up to $2000 per year for up to 4 years, sent to their school to offset their academic tuition expenses. The One-Year Scholars will receive up to $2000 for one year, sent to their school, with the potential option to renew.
On Saturday, June 6th the “Virtual” Scholars’ Ceremony aired on Ch.972, and then was repeated over the next week. If you did not catch it, be sure to log in to MyErickson, under Community Videos to view it there. The ceremony allowed us the opportunity to celebrate our incoming class of 31 new Scholars who will join the current 85 active Scholars. It was announced during this ceremony that we had 19 Charlestown Scholars earn their college degrees this past year!
In addition to the Charlestown Scholarship, the Scholar candidates had an opportunity to apply for additional merit-based Named Scholarships. The following Scholars received these special awards:
Eniola Osunnuga, The Andrew Murray Myers Scholarship ($2000)
Kaiyah Covington, The Fenton & Ted Robb Memorial Scholarship ($2000)
Niya Carroll, The Committee Recognition Award ($1000)
Justice Mitchell, Community College of Baltimore County 2-year Award for $250 each year ($500)
Lisa Peoples, Community College of Baltimore County 2-year Award for $250 each year ($500)
Named Scholarships are funded by individuals or groups, and are provided to the selected students in addition to their Charlestown Scholarship. This year we had a new Named Scholarship Award, The Fenton and Ted Robb Memorial Scholarship. This award was established by two sisters, Nancy King and Karen Robb, in memory of their parents, Fenton (Smith) Robb and Ted Robb, who also lived here at Charlestown. Special scholarships need not be memorials but can also be established as a living tribute to friends and/or family members. Imagine what a delight a family member or special friend would have to meet a scholar who will be benefiting from such generous giving. If you are interested in learning more about establishing a Named Scholarship to be included in our Scholars’ Program, please contact Lisa Zehring in the Philanthropy office for more information.
We are grateful to this year’s guest speaker, Greg Johnson, our Charlestown Manager of Customer Service and Communications. His theme of “I remember when” took us back to his first day at Charlestown in 1999 and his experiences on our dining staff, through college. He became a Trainer and Asst. Manager of the Chesapeake Restaurant, which, no doubt, helped him as the leader of the transitory Concierge program during this pandemic.
Again, we thank all who have supported this campaign to make it so successful. The gift of education can be priceless, and donations can be made year-round in many ways. You can give monthly via your Resident Account or Credit Card. Check and/or cash donations can be sent to the Philanthropy Office in Cross Creek. Checks may be made payable to the Scholars’ Fund. In addition, a new easy way to give to both the Scholars Fund and the Benevolent Care Fund, is online through your MyErickson page. You may also explore giving opportunities with the recent Cares Act, or Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs), for both Benevolent Care and Scholars’ Funds. Contact Philanthropy for details.
As always, my sincere thanks of appreciation to our Scholars’ Committee members: Norma Goldberg, Roland Gray, Mel Milio, Marie Skane, Ed DeLong, Jackie Graham, Eugenia High, and Mimi O’Donnell, and also to the Philanthropy Department team of Patti Santoni, Emily Fowler, and Lisa Zehring.
Charlie Eichenlaub
Scholars’ Fund Committee (Chair)