Extend a day of giving into a season of generosity

Blog post by Christine Ross Christine Ross, the president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, has 20 years of leadership experience in the business community. She is a visionary coalition builder guiding the Maryland Chamber’s efforts to improve competitiveness, attract and retain talent, grow jobs, engage the community and provide legislative advocacy.

Today is GivingTuesday—a day that encourages people all around the world to do good work in their communities. It was created in 2012, and over the last seven years, it has expanded into an international movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to come together, give, and celebrate generosity.  

It is my hope that we can keep the spirit of giving alive long after GivingTuesday. Let’s make this holiday season a true season of generosity.  

I already know that the act of “giving back” is alive and well in the Maryland business community. Less than two weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure of presenting the 2019 Business Philanthropy Awards to three deserving Maryland businesses that have made philanthropy part of their corporate culture: Murthy Law Firm, Legal & General America and CareFirst. Whether they are providing educational services and school supplies to local schoolchildren, serving hot meals at Paul’s Place in Baltimore, helping to combat the opioid crisis, or contributing their own hard-earned money to a workplace giving campaign, the employees at these companies set a shining example for all of us. They show us what it really means to invest in and give back to our communities.  

Here at the Maryland Chamber Foundation, we too have made it our mission to give back, most notably in the area of advocating for education, especially education that leads Marylanders to high-skilled, high-wage jobs. We are working diligently to make education and workforce development—namely teacher externships, second-chance workforce reentry programs, and partnerships with P-TECH schools—a hallmark of our commitment to Maryland’s future. 

For example, we are now accepting applications for the 2020 Teacher Externship Program, a paid four-week program in July that connects high school science, technology, engineering, arts and math teachers with business partners to gain hands-on experience in industries related to the subjects they teach. The goal is for teachers to then use their newfound knowledge and real-world experiences to enhance their lesson plans and educate their students on the skills required to enter the workforce of the future.  

This is our second year operating this worthwhile but costly program, and while we’ve made great strides, we need your help to keep the momentum going. We are asking for contributions, either personal or business, at any level. Because we are a registered 501(c)(3) organization, your donation is completely tax-deductible.  

Your contribution allows the Maryland Chamber Foundation to expand educational and workforce development programs, like the Teacher Externship Program, that prepare Marylanders of all ages and backgrounds to enter (or re-enter) the workforce with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in an ever-changing, 21st -century business landscape. 

Thank you for your generosity—and happy holidays!  

If you are interested in learning more about our educational initiatives, please click here. To donate, please click here. 

If you’d like to learn more about GivingTuesday, please click here to visit the official website. The website includes a directory to help you find organizations and opportunities to give back in your own community.