Tri-County Donations Demonstrate Support for CSM
Philanthropy is alive and well in Southern Maryland. More than $7.7 million in cash, pledges and grants donated by more than 700 supporters is the result of the College of Southern Marylands first major fundraising campaign marking a major milestone of its 50-year history. The CSM Foundations Campaign for the Next 50 Years: Envision the potentialMake a Difference has far exceeded its $5 million goal by raising more money than anticipated and new and old friends.
Quite frankly, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community and the full support that we have realized through this campaign, said Campaign Chair Mike Besche, who is also CEO of Besche Oil. He has served as chair of the CSM Board of Trustees as well as of the colleges foundation. To not only reach what we first imagined as a stretch goal of $5 million, but to also exceed it by more than $2.7 million is inspiring. We are honored by this willingness to support the ideals and vision of our communitys college, Besche said.
The funds realized through the campaign, which began more than 20 months ago under a relatively new president of the college, Dr. Brad Gottfried, will support key college initiatives including Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs, and Trades and Transportation, as well as address local nursing and healthcare workforce shortages, focus on educational excellence, and endow a student scholarship fund for access and success.
As a long-time resident, I care deeply about this community and its future, said CSM Board Chair Jamie Raley. I appreciate the special role the college plays in the Southern Maryland region, not only as a trustee, but also as a graduate of the college. Like my fellow Board members, I want the College of Southern Maryland to remain a vital community institution well into the future. With the colleges growing needs and budget concerns, we are particularly grateful for the support of our community.
Working with Besche in leading the campaign were CSM Foundation Chair Donald Parsons Jr., Foundation Directors Candice Quinn Kelly, Casey Smith, St. Clair Tweedie, John McWilliams, Steve Proctor, Ray Werneke, Rick Tepel and Jay Lilly under the management of Campaign Manager Michelle Goodwin, CSMs vice president of advancement.
The success of this campaign dramatically illustrates that the community we have served throughout the years sincerely appreciates CSMs critical role in building the vitality of our region. We are deeply grateful to the more than 700 organizations, individuals and businesses who have contributed to this campaign. They understand that by supporting CSMs campaign, they are helping to enhance lives of thousands of Southern Maryland residents. Because of their support we will be able to serve even more citizens and will do so with more state-of-the-art programs and equipment, Gottfried said.
The largest gift in the campaign was provided by Francis P. Chiaramonte, M.D., FACS, a community leader, founder of Southern Maryland Hospital Center and contributor of $1 million to the CSM Foundation. Providing the largest private cash donation in the colleges 50-year history, Dr. Chiaramonte was honored in October when the renovated science and technology building on the La Plata Campus was named in his honor as the Francis P. Chiaramonte, M.D. Center for Science and Technology.
Other partners making donations of $100,000 or more include: Energetics Technology Center, John Thomas Parran Jr. Estate, Chesapeake-Potomac Healthcare Alliance (Calvert Memorial Hospital, Civista Medical Center, St. Marys Hospital, Chesapeake Potomac Healthcare Alliance, Chesapeake Potomac Home Health Agency and Chesapeake-Potomac Regional Cancer Center), Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation, Constellation Energy, Besche Oil Company, Chaney Foundation by Frank Chaney, Community Bank of Tri-County, Edwin and Candice Kelly, PNC Bank and St. Marys Hospital.
Donations of between $50,000 and $99,999 were provided through the CSM Employee Giving Campaign, Rick and Kathleen Bailey, Evelyn and Vincent Hungerford,
Maryland Bank and Trust, Steve and Dianne Proctor, St. Marys County Commissioners, H. Thomas Waring and Thomas and Katie Watts.
Donors providing between $25,000 and $49,999 include BAE Systems, Comcast-Bay Shore Group, Sally Grainger, Dr. Robert and Jann Healy, Marrick Properties, Inc., Mike and Sara Middleton, Tom and Verna Posey, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), Southern Maryland Oil/Dash-In Food Stores and Vyalex Management Solutions, Inc.
The college also was the recipient of several grants, including the U.S. Department of Labor High Growth Job Training Initiative, the Delaware Department of Transportation Occupational Safety Training, Maryland Association of Community Colleges Nursing Programs, Maryland State Department of Education Career Technology and Adult Learning, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Drug Free Communities, U.S. Department of Labor Advancement of Construction and Transportation, Maryland State Department of Education Child Care Professional Development, U. S. Department of Education nursing Education, and Community College of Baltimore County TIME Center Robotics and Engineering Technology.
For a complete listing of donors, visit the CSM Foundation newsletter at www.csmd.edu/foundation/index.html
CSM, founded in 1958, is the fifth largest community college in Maryland. In its 50-year history, the college has grown to be the centerpiece of Southern Maryland, becoming an integral part of the community it serves with campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties and more than 21,000 annual enrollments. From a first graduation class of four in 1960, the college has celebrated more than 16,530 graduates. The college has been recognized with the Silver Level Quality Excellence Award through the Maryland Performance Excellence Award program, as a five-time recipient of the Workplace Excellence Award by the Alliance for Workplace Excellence, the 2007 Employer of the Year by the Maryland Department of Aging and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Partner in Business.
The College of Southern Maryland Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt organization governed by a corporate board of directors. Established in 1970, the mission of the Foundation is to promote academic excellence, growth, progress, and the general welfare of the college. The Foundation raises and manages funds, and provides support to strengthen and develop the college, and its objectives.
For information about the CSM Foundation, visit www.csmd.edu/foundation or call 301-934-7604.