K EEPER K RONICLE

August 2010

August 2010
P.O. Box 1566 Waldorf, MD 20604

MSK National hosts 5th scholarship luncheon, awards $1,000 to student

By Lisa Slappy, MSK National Chapter Vice President
My Sister’s Keeper National Chapter held its 5th
annual scholarship luncheon July 24 at the Club Meade
on Fort Meade.

During the event, the ladies of MSK awarded $1,000 to

Breanna Keys, a graduate of Carver Vocational
Technical High School in Baltimore, who ranked
second in her senior class.

“Education: Stairway to Success,” was the theme for

the luncheon and guest speaker Command Sgt. Maj.
Emma Krouser, of the Defense Information School on
Fort Meade offered Keys, great advice about the MSK members DeLace Burch, JoAnn Joseph, Lisa Slappy,
journey she is embarking on. Marcia Hart-Wise and Stephanie Tillman presents Breanna
Keys with her scholarship check during the My Sister’s
Keeper National Chapter 5th Annual Scholarship Luncheon
“You are on the threshold of adulthood and learning held July 24 at the Fort Meade Club.
how to become an independent woman. College is the
first step on that journey. Surround yourself with Her activities included member of the National Honor So-
positive people; people who set goals for themselves, ciety, working as the school store manager, a secretary as-
and do everything they can to work toward achieving sistant at Youth Works and volunteering for the Watershed
those goals,” Krouser said. Traveler’s Project and the Social Studies History Fair.
“When you’re in the military and you go through the “Her attitude and drive for success have a positive effect
obstacle course, one of things you’re instructed to do is on those around her, said Daniel P. Gibbs, Keys’ English
to maintain four points of contact for safety. I would instructor at CVTHS.
tell you the same thing as you prepare to climb the
ladder of success. Both hands and feet are on the ladder Keys said one of her goals is to help others in need and that
for security and to help you pull yourself up to the next her ultimate goal is to correct the justice system and bring
higher rung,” she said some justice back into the justice system.
Krouser reminded Keys to stay focused and remember During the scholarship luncheon the guest were treated to a
it’s not where she came from, but it’s where she is poem read by JoAnn Joseph, MSK historian. Members of
going. “You have your whole life ahead of you, and the MSK also thanked members and organizations in the
future for you begins now.” community that assisted the organization throughout 2009
and 2010.
Keys said she plans to attend the University of
Baltimore in the fall. She said she wants to obtain her “The luncheon is a culmination of hard work and
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and continue her community support. We would not be able to do this
education to become an attorney. without the community support,” said Marcia Hart Wise,
MSK president and founder.
Keys said she is determined to be successful in her
endeavors. During her high school years, she was My Sister's Keeper scholarships are awarded on the basis
involved in several school and community-based of scholastic excellence, financial need and community
extracurricular activities while also pursuing her service to students whose home of records is in Maryland,
professional goals. Virginia or the District of Columbia.
Page 2 Keeper Kronicles

Assistance needed for Doswell Elementary School Ice Cream Social

My Sister’s Keeper is hosting a Back-2-School Ice
Cream Social for the children of Doswell E.
Brooks Elementary School Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. and we need your help.

“We are trying to provide a fun-filled day for the

children and give them school supplies to ensure they
have a positive start to the school year,” said LaTosha
Greene, MSK National fundraising chair.

The event will feature ice cream treats, music, face

painting and school supplies for the more than 300
students at the school.
LaTosha Greene, MSK National founding member, hands
”We are reaching out to the community for help to school supplies to a Doswell E. Brooks Elementary
make this event successful,” said Cyndi Brown, MSK School student during the MSK 2009 Ice Cream Social.
National membership director. “So, we are asking
clubs, organizations and businesses interested in Sistas 4 Life M/C
helping to contact us.” Flirt M/C
Pure Elegance M/C
MSK would like to thank the following organizations Diverse G.E.M.S.
and persons for their support: Throttle Queens M/C
Shanae Dix
Down N Dirty MC Breyers Ice Cream
MD Stealth Riders M/C A/C S/C
Platinum Dreams Sport Riders M/C For more information, e-mail [email protected]
Silk Stockings S/C or call Cyndi Brown at 301-908-1708.

MSK Statesboro Pinning Ceremony

 Page 3 Keeper Kronicles

Community service volunteers more important now than ever before

Getting involved in your community can make a birthday or a holiday and instead asking for
difference in the life of someone less fortunate, as well donations to a charity or organization? This can
as your own. Community service often is associated with be an effective and fun way to support your
punishment since it’s offered to lesser offenders as an favorite community project. You can also:
alternative to fines or jail time. But community service
also can be altruistic. Giving back is more important than  Work in a concession stand to raise money
ever in these difficult and uncertain financial times. for a good cause.
 Volunteer at a health fair.
Community service comes in many forms, including
tutoring children, building homes in low-income areas  Run or walk in a charity race with friends.
with Habitat for Humanity, socializing animals at an
animal shelter, contributing to the operations of a  Practice random acts of kindness.
volunteer fire department or helping with civic
beautification, among others. “Living is the art of loving. Loving is the art of
caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the
Joining in organized activity isn’t the only way to give art of living,” said Booker T. Washington,
back to your community, however. Involvement can be America's foremost educator of the early 20th
provided on an individual level as well. century. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up
someone else.”
Helping a victim or his or her family fight back against a
senseless crime may uncover a wealth of personal Today is as good a time as any to get started.
strength and purpose. There is always more work to be done -
especially for families and individuals in need.
Your contributions need not be heroic or hugely
financial in scope. How about forgoing gifts on your Contact My Sister’s Keeper for way to assist.

Since 2006, Macy’s Shop For A Cause Event has

partnered with non-profits like MSK to raise more than $34
million for charity. On Oct. 16, 2010, you will have your
chance to be part of this monumental event.

Purchase a $5 Shopping Pass from MSK for exclusive

savings in every Macy’s store and online at macys.com on
Saturday, Oct. 16, and MSK keeps 100% of the proceeds.
You will also be entered to win a $500 Macy’s Gift Card.
Layettes of Love
MSK National would like to wish good luck to our latest
Find the magic of giving back, as Macy’s celebrates a Layettes of Love recipient. Layettes of Love is a new MSK
national day of support for our community. program that provides basic outfitting and supply needs for
newborn babies born to women or families in extreme need in
To purchase your $5 Shopping pass, send an e-mail to the MD, DC and Northern VA areas. For more information,
[email protected] or call Marcia at 240-346-8532. visit http://layettesoflove.vpweb.com/
Page 4 Keeper Kronicles

MSK Happenings

August 14

MD Stealth Riders are sponsoring

a Back-2-School Bike & Car Wash
and fish fry from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Clinton Cycles, 6709 Old
Branch Ave., Clinton, Md. Bring
school supplies and received a
reduced price car or bike wash.

August 28

My Sister's Keeper is hosting a

Back-2-School Ice Cream Social
for the children of Doswell E.
Brooks Elementary School Aug. 21
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. To donate
time, school supplies or other
items, please contact Cyndi at
301-908-1708.

October 16

MSK has partnered with Macy’s

Shop For A Cause Event to raise
money for charity. Purchase a $5
Shopping Pass from MSK for
exclusive savings in every Macy’s
store and online at macys.com on
MSK helps feed homeless in DC, VA
Saturday, Oct. 16. Please call The ladies of MSK National in conjunction with Silk Stockings S/C, MD
Marcia at 240-346-8532 to Stealth Riders, N2Deep Sista M/C, DC Sportsbike Riders M/C, Down N
purchase a shopping pass. Dirty M/C, Triple Threat M/C, BETC, Eclipse Sport Ryderz M/C, Game
__________________ Riderz M/C and Capitol Hill Premium Cigar & Tobacco have been on a
mission to improve the quality of life of homeless or transitioning persons
My Sister’s Keeper in the MD, DC and VA areas.
National Chapter
As part of this initiative, these organizations provide hundreds of lunches
P.O. Box 1566 to the residents of the Clean and Sober Street homeless shelter, located in
Waldorf, MD 20604 Washington, DC., the first Sunday of every month and prepare lunch once
Phone: 240-346-8532 a month for the residents of the Eleanor Kennedy Shelter located in
Fax: 240-222-354 Fairfax, Va.

[email protected] “We received a call from Silk Stockings to be part of this outreach
www.mysisters-keeper.org program, and we jumped at the change to make a difference in the
community,” said Marcia Hart-Wise, MSK National president. “I don’t
know what it feels like to be homeless or hungry, but I do know that we
have the responsibility to help those who do.”