Columbia, Maryland - October 17, 2008

Rebuilding Together Howard County and Delphine “Dee” Peck each received awards at The Columbia Foundation’s annual dinner held Wednesday October 15 at Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, Maryland.

Rebuilding Together Howard County, formerly known as Christmas in April, received the “Casey Willis Making a Difference” award, presented by Eugene Willis, M.D., husband of the late Casey Willis. Ms. Willis was a longtime community activist in Howard County whose family established the award with The Columbia Foundation in her memory. Each year the family selects a nonprofit organization that has made a significant contribution to Howard County residents.

Dr. Willis presented Executive Director Courtney Workman with the $5,000 cash award in recognition of the organization’s activities, including their Annual Rebuilding Day. They coordinate volunteers to repair and rehabilitate homes for low-income elderly and disabled homeowners in Howard County. In 2008, Rebuilding Together matched 540 local volunteers with 13 homes and three non-profit facilities throughout the County to provide free repairs and home modifications.

The Columbia Foundation Board of Trustees awarded former Columbia Foundation trustee Delphine “Dee” Peck with the James W. Rouse Award. Presented only on occasion, this award recognizes an individual’s extraordinary commitment to The Columbia Foundation and the community.

Ms. Peck joined the Board in 1985 and has remained active, serving each year on the organization’s Investment Committee. She and her husband Charles “Ted” Peck were one of the first donors to the Foundation’s endowment, and have built up their named endowment fund over the years. Recently, they transferred money from their fund to establish the National Family Resiliency Center agency endowment at the Foundation.

Ms. Peck has been a tireless advocate for organizations dedicated to fighting mental health and depression. While serving on the board of the Johns Hopkins Advisors of Psychiatry, she became one of the founding members of the Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association. She then went on to be an advocate and volunteer for the National Alliance on Mental Illness for many years.

Founded in 1969, the Foundation has awarded $10 million in grants to Howard County nonprofit organizations delivering human service, arts and cultural, educational and civic programs. Money for the grant programs comes primarily from income generated by the Foundation’s endowment supported by over 230 funds established by Howard County businesses, families and individuals. For more information on The Columbia Foundation, visit www.columbiafoundation.org or call 410-730-7840.

COLUMBIA, MD – JANUARY 15, 2008 - Rebuilding Together Howard County has hired Courtney A. Workman as their new executive director.

“Courtney’s tremendous background and breadth of knowledge will greatly enhance Rebuilding Together Howard County,” stated Bob Schurter, President, Rebuilding Together Howard County. “We are excited that she has chosen to join us as our new Executive Director.”

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to become the executive director of an organization that has such a positive impact on Howard County and its residents. I am especially looking forward to participating in my first National Rebuilding Day on April 26,” said Courtney Workman.

Workman, whose background includes nonprofit management and social sector programming, will be able to help the Howard County affiliate to grow and better serve the needs of low-income homeowners improve their homes by providing home repairs, improvements or modifications.

Workman most recently served as a Senior Program and Policy Analyst for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) where she monitored numerous nonprofit organizations receiving Federal grants. In 2007, the ACF recognized Workman by awarding her the Assistant Secretary’s 2007 Organizational Team Achievement Award, and in 2006, Workman was recognized as a Council for Excellence in Government Senior Fellow. She is a former Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was the Assistant Director of the Maryland Leadership Institute in College Park, Maryland. Workman is a graduate of the Maryland School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland – College Park.

Rebuilding Together Howard County is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping elderly and/or disabled low-income homeowners, and families with children through home renovation and repair. Our goal is to keep people living in warmth, safety, and independence, while helping to build better communities in Howard County. To find out more about Rebuilding Together Howard County and its programs or how you can help please call Rebuilding Together Howard County at 410-381-3338.

Applications for Homeowners and Sponsors for 2007-2008 Now available!

To apply for assistance from Rebuilding Together please complete the Homeowner Application Form on the Forms page and return by January 31, 2008.

To apply to be a Sponsor of a house rehabilitation, please complete the Sponsor Application Form on the Forms page and return to Rebuilding Together Howard County.

Rebuilding Together Howard County Would Like to Thank Our 2007 Sponsors!

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A big thank you and congratulations to our sponsor of 2007:
Kendall's Hardware

HOUSE SPONSORS
Bet Aviv Congregation
Beth Shalom of Columbia
Clarksville Rotary Club
Columbia Baptist Fellowship
Columbia Church of Christ
Columbia Jewish Congregation
Ellicott City Rotary Club
Emmanuel United Methodist Church
First Presbyterian Church of Howard County
Friends in Need Rotary Club of Ellicott City
Glen Mar United Methodist Church
Glenelg Country Day School
Honeywell Corporation
Howard County Police Department
Kittamaqundi Community
Linden Linthicum United Methodist Church
Niro Inc.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Pulte Homes
Rotary Club of Columbia
Sandy Spring Bank
Shalom Aleichem
St. John's Episcopal Church
Sunrise Ellicott City Rotary Club
The Arbitron Company
The Columbia Bank
Wells Fargo
Winchester Homes, Inc.

FINANCIAL SPONSORS
Fireside Hearth & Home
Kendall's Hardware
Restoration Interior Designs
Weyerhauser Corporation