Community

Freedom’s support of and activity in the Harford County, MD community.

Golden Apple Award Winners Announced

Winner and Runners-Up Selected in Golden Apple Plus Annual Educator Award Competition

Golden Apple Annual Award Winners 2016
At back, left-to-right are Freedom President/CEO Michael MacPherson and runner-up Thomas Fare. In front, left-to-right are Shelly Sparks, runner-up, winner Alisa Janiski, and Patrice Ricciardi, Freedom Business Development Specialist.

We’re pleased to announce that Alisa Janiski is the winner of our 2016 Golden Apple Plus Annual Educator Award competition. Ms. Janiski, a teacher at both Church Creek Elementary and Roye-Williams Elementary, won the top $1,000 prize for her concept called “Code for Change.” The award is for a Freedom member who is a deserving teacher, school administrator or school support employee.

Ms. Janiski’s winning concept will use computer programming in a lesson plan designed for elementary school students. It uses LEGO and K’NEX pieces combined with programing to teach engineering, robotics and problem-solving. As a result, she said, students will be able to work in teams to design, construct, and program to solve a problem.

According to Ms Janiski, possibly the best aspect of computer coding is the element of failure that the students experience. They are forced to troubleshoot, debug, and recreate multiple times until they reach success.Through her work at two schools, Ms. Janiski has the potential to impact 1,300 students.

Runner-Up Awards

First and second place runner-up awards of $250 each-were won by Thomas Fare, a second grade teacher at Hall’s Cross Roads Elementary, and Shelly Sparks who teaches at North Harford High School.

Mr. Fare’s winning entry included several ideas, such as engaging parents by filming students in the classroom for parents to view on a secure web site. He also developed a concept to make writing, proofreading and editing fun by turning the process into an experience like operating on a patient. In addition, he wants to secure an English as a Second Language (ESOL) certification to help non-English speaking students at his school.

Ms. Sparks won for her idea to purchase a document camera to incorporate additional STEM concepts into her Mathematics lessons. The camera, she said, will help students learn the step-by-step processes of problem solving, and will engage them to demonstrate their reasoning skills and perseverance to solve math problems. Seeing how different students can interpret and solve a problem will help the students reinforce that there is not just one way to think mathematically. By energizing and motivating the students, she hopes they may decide to pursue careers involving mathematics.

All applicants were asked to submit an essay demonstrating how their idea would serve their students, class, school and the Harford County community. Entries were judged by a panel of Freedom employees, board members, and a business partner; including President/CEO Mike MacPherson, Chief Risk Officer Michele Young, Board members Ronnie Davis and Lisa Ermatinger, and Mary Hastler, President of the Harford County Public Library Foundation.

Kids 2017 Calendar Art Contest slideshow

Slideshow of Winning Artwork

Congratulations to the people whose artwork will appear in our charity calendar! The winners names are listed below the slideshow.

The winners, in order of appearance, are:

Lindsay Young (17)
Sam Tannahill (12)
Devin Buchanon (11)
Kendall Barnes (7)
Kierra Sjole (8)
Lorali Parsons (7)
Mackenzie Hamilton (12)
Matthew Miles (11)
Sydney Kennedy (8)
Zachery Slattery (8)
Camila Colvard (8)
Tyler Mangold (5)

Freedom Personnel Graduate from Harford Leadership Academy

Board and Staff Member in Academy’s Graduating Class

A smiling Rick Gerety, Freedom Board member, poses with Victor Cryan, Director, Corporate and Professional Training at Harford Community College and fellow Harofgraduate Bob Wehland, Freedom Vice President, Business Banking and Business Development.
Congratulations to Freedom’s 2016 Harford Leadership Academy Graduates!
Pictured are (L to R); Rick Gerety, Freedom’s Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors; Victor Cryan, Director, Corporate and Professional Training at Harford Community College; and Bob Wehland, Freedom Vice President, Business Banking and Business Development.

The Harford Leadership Academy (HLA) is a Community-Development program, co-sponsored by Harford Community College and the Harford County Chamber of Commerce. The Academy is designed to promote the development of existing and emerging leaders and to create a committed, involved, and diverse network of leaders in Harford County.

In addition to this year’s Academy graduates — VP of Business Banking Bob Wehland and Board member Rick Gerety —  several other Freedom employees are HLA graduates. These include Mike MacPherson, President/CEO (2000); Dawn Hamilton, Lending Program Manager (2005); Patrice Ricciardi, Business Development Specialist (2013); and Sue Manning, Business Development Specialist (2014).  Additional Freedom board members who are HLA graduates include George Heidelmaier (2000); and Ronnie Davis (2009).

More than 700 individuals have completed this outstanding program, including leaders representing the areas of business and industry, education, government and civic organizations.  Attendees complete thirteen sessions on the topics how government works; economic development and planning for the future; education and workforce development; agriculture and the environment; ethical leadership; public safety; emergency response; healthcare; Aberdeen Proving Ground-focused social issues; volunteerism and personal vision; leadership; meeting with county administration; and Academy wrap-up.

Congratulations to this year’s Academy graduates!

Freedom Staff Spend Weekend Time Helping Others

Participation in Local Stone Soup Event Helps Feed 1,800

Freedom staffer Michelle Young and son
Employee Michelle Young and son
Stone Soup Event Volunteers
Freedom employees Andrea Woodard, Danielle Hart and Mike MacPherson.

Volunteers from Freedom helped make the United Way of Central Maryland’s recent Stone Soup Event a success.

Staffers came out to Bel Air United Methodist Church on Saturday May 21 to help assemble meals for those in need. Some brought their children to help out as well!

Volunteers were able to prepare 150 casserole dishes to serve approximately 1800 people.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the United Way of Central Maryland on their web site.

 

39th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon

As the Premier Sponsor of the 39th Annual Military Appreciation Luncheon, Freedom understands the importance of honoring those who serve in the United States Armed Forces and the families who support them. Thank you for your devotion and service.

The event expressed gratitude to all veterans, including those who have served in the Vietnam War. This marks the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. In honor of the anniversary, Maryland Public Television will be showing “Maryland Vietnam War Stories” premiering in three parts, May 24; 25; and 26 at 8pm. See program details here.

An LZ (landing zone) Maryland event will be held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, June 18-19 in honor of our Vietnam Veterans. The event includes a Tribute Ceremony, Honor Ride, Aircraft and Motor Pool Displays, Veteran Art Gallery, and much more. See full event details.

Freedom has a long history of serving military members and their families, dating to 1953. We are proud to continue that service!

Charity Calendar Contest Brings Out Artist in Young Members

Kids 2017 Calendar Art Contest

Freedom is having a Kids’ Art Calendar contest to benefit the Greater Excellence in Education Foundation (GEEF)!

Enter your kid’s artwork by June 1, 2016 for a chance to have it published in our 2017 calendar. Each entry chosen for the calendar will win a great prize! To participate, kids must be a Freedom Youth Club Member.

“People Helping People”
Kids are asked to use the theme of “People Helping People” in their artwork. Demonstrate how Freedom achieves its mission of giving back to the community, or how we encourage members to meet their financial goals. Calendars will be available for free at our branches, although members will be asked to make a donation to GEEF in support of their annual school supply drive.

Artists Aged 4 – 17 Are Eligible to Enter
The three age groupings are: 4 – 7, 8 – 12, 13 – 17.
Twelve calendar entries will be chosen, one for each month, and four from each age group. Entries will be judged by a panel of Freedom employees, board members and volunteers. Winning artists chosen from the 4 – 7 age group will win a Nabi tablet; those from the 8 – 12 and 13 – 17 age groups will win a Kindle Fire.

In addition to the prizes for artwork chosen, three $50 drawing prizes will be awarded, one from each age group. Please see Contest Instructions and full Sweepstakes Rules. The Permission to Use Art form must be submitted with artwork, and is available online or in branches.

 

Youth-Month-Calendar-Image

 

 

Patriot Program Rewards Civic Knowledge and Patriotism

Civics Program Support Now Reaching 24 Local Schools

We understand the importance of informed, active citizens. To this end, the Patriot Programs offered by many of Harford County’s public schools help students learn about their country. Each school’s program is voluntary, teaching national and state geographic facts, patriotism, and our history. The Patriot Program grows students’ sense of citizenship and pride in our shared American heritage.

For years we have underwritten the materials used to reward Patriot Program graduates. We have added several schools over the last few years, and our support now extends to 24 Harford County schools! Schools supported include the following:

  • Bakerfield Elementary
  • Bel Air elementary
  • Church Creek Elementary
  • Churchville Elementary
  • Dublin Elementary
  • Edgewood Elementary
  • Emmorton Elementary
  • Forest Hill
  • Forest Lakes Elementary
  • Fountain Green
  • Havre De Grace Elementary
  • Hickory Elementary
  • Homestead Wakefield Elementary
  • Joppatowne Elementary
  • Meadowvale Elementary
  • Norrisville Elementary
  • North Harford Elementary
  • Prospect Mill Elementary
  • Red Pump Elementary
  • Ring Factory Elementary
  • Roye Williams Elementary
  • William Paca Elementary
  • William S James Elementary
  • Youth Benefit Elementary

We look forward to continuing and growing our support of this great program in 2017. If you would like to discuss support for your school’s Patriot Program, please contact our Marketing Department, at marketing@freedomfcu.org.