Last Updated on April 21, 2022
Collectively, Charlestown residents have committed to reward those who have served us well through our Charlestown Scholars’ Fund. This year, a total of 13 student-employees have qualified as Candidates for the Scholars’ Class of 2022. This year’s class includes 8 Traditional Scholars and 5 One-Year Scholars.
To be considered a Scholar Candidate, our student-employees must meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirement and will have worked at least 700 hours at Charlestown by May 2022. (The hour requirement was adjusted from 1000 to 700 for 2022 to take into account the effect of COVID on employee scheduling.)
You will see our Scholar Candidates on posters near the dining rooms, in promo spots on TV972, and in person throughout the community. In dining, they will be wearing special green aprons, and non-dining Candidates are wearing special navy blue masks, both stating “Scholar Candidate” on them. Please take a moment to congratulate the Scholar Candidates as you see them in your dining rooms and throughout campus. Tune in to TV972 throughout April to see members of the Class of 2022 and also some special appearances from past Scholars who have stopped by to share what the Scholarship meant to them and give an update on what they are doing now.
Campaign and donation materials were distributed to your cubby on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The Scholar Campaign will continue through April 30, 2022. Our 2022 Scholars’ Campaign goal is to raise $200,000 for the program and to achieve 100% participation among our residents. With everyone’s help – we know this is achievable. Last year, we were able to increase each Scholarship to $3000 per year for all the students in the program. This group of 13 will be joining the over 100 current Scholars who are supported by this program for four years of their undergraduate education. This is your chance to make a difference and to help change a young person’s life.
In addition to our Charlestown Scholarship, some residents, groups, and organizations have chosen to sponsor special Named Scholarships that Scholars may be eligible to apply for. Consideration for these scholarships requires a higher minimum GPA, an essay, and an interview with our Scholars Committee. We are pleased to offer two new Named Scholarships for 2022. One is a STEM Scholarship, which is sponsored by the Association of IT Professionals-Baltimore Chapter thanks to the assistance of one of our residents. The other is our Health Sciences Scholarship sponsored by the Charlestown Retired Nurses Group, which has recognized the increased number of student-employees that are pursuing education for careers in the medical field. If you are a medical professional who would like to donate to this Named Scholarship, please contact Lisa Zehring in Philanthropy.
The gift of education can be priceless, so please consider donating. In addition to donating through the campaign envelope included in your materials, you can also do a monthly or one-time donation on your Resident Account, credit card, check, and/or cash donations to the Philanthropy Office in Cross Creek at any time throughout the year. Checks may be made payable to the Scholars’ Fund. Online, you may use the My EricksonMy Erickson is a resident portal. It is provided by Erickson Corporate and is managed by Charlestown staff, mainly Community Resources. See Portal. READ MORE website Gift Box Donate icon for contributing to the Scholar Fund. Non-residents can log in to the MyErickson as a guest to donate. You may also share this link: elm.convio.net/
The Scholar Fund is almost completely funded by residents. Donations are 100% tax-deductible as allowed by law, and all monies collected are restricted to the Scholar Fund. As with our Benevolent Care Fund, some residents find it desirable to request a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) as part of their required minimum distribution (RMD) from their IRA trustee, directly to our Philanthropy Department for the Scholars’ Fund (see Lisa Zehring for details).
Any questions about the program may be directed to Lisa Zehring in the Philanthropy Office at 410-737-8838 x8397. I want to thank our Scholars’ Committee members: Norma Goldberg, Roland Gray, Mel Milio, Marie Skane, Ed DeLong, Jackie Graham, Eugenia High, Mimi O’Donnell, and Elva Tillman. Please mark your calendars for the Scholar Ceremony, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Details will be forthcoming.
Thank you for supporting our Scholars!
Charlie Eichenlaub
Scholars’ Committee Chair