LA PLATA, Md. (March 10, 2009)—The College of Southern Maryland's first major
fundraising campaign netted $7.7 million, $2.7 million more than their stated
goal of $5 million. More than 700 organizations, individuals, and businesses
contributed.
"Campaign for the Next 50 Years" was spearheaded by the college's fundraising arm, the CSM Foundation. Campaign Chair Mike Besche said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.
"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 community's college," said Besche.
Besche is CEO of Besche Oil. He has also served as chair of the CSM Board of Trustees as well as of the college's foundation.
The funds realized through the campaign, which began more than 20 months ago, 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.
"They (the donors) understand that by supporting CSM's campaign, they are helping to enhance lives of thousands of Southern Maryland residents ... we will be able to serve even more citizens and will do so with more state-of-the-art programs and equipment," said college president Dr. Brad Gottfried.
Working with Besche on 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, CSM's vice president of advancement.
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 college's 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. Mary's 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. Mary's 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. Mary's 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 that were included in the campaign total, 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 information about the CSM Foundation, visit http://www.csmd.edu/foundation/ or call 301-934-7604.