24-hour, Online Event Kicks Off a Season of Generosity

LA PLATA, Md. -- Unselfishness and the spirit of giving will be the hallmark of Southern Maryland Dec. 2 as the community doubles its impact by supporting student scholarships and programs at the College of Southern Maryland during the third annual Giving Tuesday.

An international day of generosity following Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, GivingTuesday launches a season of generosity, focused on giving to others after three days focused on consumerism. Donations to CSM's one-day, online GivingTuesday event Dec. 2 will support scholarships for students attending CSM as well as programs in the arts, athletics, health sciences, or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Supporting #GivingTuesday with matching scholarship funds on Dec. 2 are the Florence B. Trueman Scholarship fund in Calvert County, the Greater Waldorf Jaycees Foundation Scholarship Fund in Charles County and the Chiaramonte Hope Scholarship Fund in St. Mary's County. Additionally, the CSM Foundation will match all donations given Dec. 2 toward arts, athletics, health sciences, Career Starters Scholarships and STEM.

"At this present moment, the opportunity to return to college is a joyous gift," said recent scholarship recipient Liza Dalrymple of Prince Frederick who returned to college to pursue a passion in art. "I'm living in the moment-and enjoying the present. But I'm also living with the understanding that everything I do, every class I take, every teacher's lecture, every art project-is shaping my future. I want to promise the donors of the scholarships that I received--I will make you proud. I promise, your generous donations are appreciated." (Scholarship Recipient Liza Dalrymple's remarks may be viewed at http://youtu.be/Tp2UGhbksnU).

With the CSM Foundation offering more than 90 scholarships and $360,000 available in scholarship funds for the 2014-2015 academic year, Development Coordinator Erika Abell said the college's goal is "to make as great an impact we can and award every scholarship we have available. It is critical that we help our students reach their academic goals so that they can pursue their goals and in turn become our region's future-the educators, engineers and nurses that will be working in our community tomorrow."

CSM's online giving page is at www.csmd.edu/Foundation where supporters will be able to donate as well as use social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email and other platforms to share with their friends and family throughout the day, either from their keyboards or smartphones.

#GivingTuesday also provides opportunities to win hourly prizes, which can be viewed at www.csmd.edu/Foundation and include a wellness package and a GoPro Camera provided by the CSM Wellness, Fitness and Aquatics and the CSM College Store, a sports package featuring a golf outing by Swan Point Yacht and County Club and University of Maryland men's lacrosse tickets by parents of a UMD Men's Lacrosse player, a holiday dinner for four from McKay's Food Stores, and a Holiday package featuring Solomons Business Association members.

Any size donation is appreciated, but a minimum $10 donation is required to give online. To learn about CSM's projects and to donate beginning at 12 a.m., Dec. 2, visit www.csmd.edu/Foundation.