Andrews Federal Credit Union Develops Andrews in Action Partnership, Brings Summer Fun and Community Building to Prince George’s County

By NATALIE TATE
Andrews Federal Credit Union

SUITLAND, Md. (Sept. 28, 2026)—Andrews Federal Credit Union continued its commitment to community connection and financial empowerment this summer through the Andrews In Action community engagement initiative.

The credit union provided a $50,000 contribution to support Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy’s 311 On the Go (311OTG) program and make resources, including financial education, more accessible to those who live and work in Prince George’s County.

The Andrews in Action initiatives kicked off with a celebration of Prince George’s County’s 330th birthday, during which Andrews Federal Vice President of Retail Delivery John Masteron spoke about the credit union’s commitment to serving the local community.

In addition, credit union volunteers facilitated free-to-attend community events across Prince George’s County throughout the summer. Attendees enjoyed fun evenings of connection and outdoor activities, while also accessing financial resources and building stronger bonds with neighbors and local business partners. According to Andrews Federal leadership, this program aligns with the “people helping people” mission that is foundational to the credit union movement.

“When we build community partnerships, our goal is to show up where people need support and to make resources more accessible to our communities,” said Damita Robinson, Chief Operating Officer of Andrews Federal Credit Union. “Through our Andrews in Action partnership with 311 On the Go, our team was empowered to spend the summer connecting with Prince George’s County residents, providing financial education and actively engaging with the communities we serve.”

 
Founded in 1948, Andrews Federal Credit Union has grown to serve more than 163,000 members in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and military installations in central Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. For more information about Andrews Federal, visit andrewsfcu.org.

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LEAP Forward Awards Scholarships to 10 PGC Students

By PRESS OFFICER
LEAP Forward, Inc.

On June 28, more than 200 scholars, friends, donors and sponsors celebrated the 25th Anniversary of LEAP Forward, Inc. This event honored high school graduates and college students for their outstanding academic, leadership, and community service achievements as well as provided an overview of the organization’s historical achievements and accomplishments.

The scholarship program started in 1998, when LEAP Forward awarded three book scholarships totaling $1,000. With the help of the community, volunteers, sponsors, family, corporations, friends, and board members, the organization has seen consistent growth in its service to local youth. In 2026, 69 scholarships were presented at a minimum award of $1,500, totaling $121,000. To date, LEAP Forward has awarded over 576 scholarships totaling more than $646,000.

“LEAP” Forward is named in memory of Wallace Lorenzo Leeper, a Calvert High Vocational Guidance Counselor, who was a strong advocate for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math career options. He is featured in Calvert High School’s Hall of Fame for his distinguished service to his job and his students.

This year’s theme, “A Silver Journey of Nurturing Students to Success—Honoring Our Legacy, Celebrating Our Impact, Inspiring the Future,” set the tone for the program. It featured career exploration, entertainment and interviews with the first scholarship recipient, selected donor families and past scholarship winners, all reflecting the spirit of the theme.

The following Prince George’s County scholarship recipients are college freshmen or returning students in a wide variety of programs at various colleges and universities:
 
Recipient of the Grace Parker $2,500 Memorial Scholarship: Vidal Bickersteth (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Computer Science - University of Maryland at Baltimore County).

Receiving the Lawrence Myers $2,000 Memorial Scholarship: Rebekah Bobo (Suitland High School; Music - Morgan State).

The selected scholarship recipient of the Violet Parker $2,500 Memorial Scholarship was Maximus Salawu (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Electrical Engineering - Princeton University)

Receiving the Gladys Henson $1,500 Memorial Scholarship was Keyona Tharpe (Suitland High School; Business Administration – North Carolina Central University)

The Thomas Family $1,500 Scholarship was presented to Kai Jones (Dematha Catholic High School; Accounting - Indiana University of Pennsylvania).

The Dorothy Mae Smith $1,500 Memorial Scholarship went to Brianna Reynolds (Bishop McNamara High School; Dance -Alabama State University)

The MasterMind Group $1,500 Scholarship was awarded to Boyan-Jise Tiwang (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Data Science – University of Michigan-Ann Arbor).

The $2,250 Martin Barnes Scholarship was awarded to Duke Boateng (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Information Science - University of Maryland).

The recipients of the Morsell Legacy Family $1,500 Scholarships were Lusenie Turay (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Information Science-University of Maryland College Park) and Muhammad Bilal (Charles Herbert Flowers High School; Computer Science - University of Maryland College Park).

A special thank you to the scholarship program committee, board members, family and organization donors, faithful contributors, volunteers, and Calvert High School and their outstanding and hardworking custodial staff. Sponsors for scholarships and the reception included United Way of Southern Maryland and the National Capital Area, Mallory and Associates, Battelle, Walmart sparkgood (Dunkirk), Shore United Bank, ParkerSimms Management Solutions, NAACP Calvert Branch, Calvert County Minority Business Alliance, State Farm Agent Esther Smith, Cedar Point Federal Credit Union, Lebowitz & Mzhen, Smart Ride, SMECO and DM Innovations. Special donations were received from Shelby’s Grab and Go in Waldorf, Maryland, and Lauretta Grier. Event planning was led by Special Touch Events Consulting.

More information about LEAP Forward, Inc. can be found at www.leapforwardinc.org and our 25th year highlight video can be viewed on the organization’s YouTube channel (LEAP Forward Inc and on LEAP Forward 25th Anniversary Facebook page.

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Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Popular Golf Tournament Raises More Than $220,000

By ELYZABETH MARCUSSEN
Hospice of the Chesapeake

PASADENA, Md. (Sept. 29, 2026)—Golfers, volunteers and sponsors came together once again to make Hospice of the Chesapeake’s annual Golf Tournament a resounding success. The event brought in more than $220,000 to support the nonprofit’s work caring for families across Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties.

The tournament took place Sept. 24 at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course, where players enjoyed a day full of friendly competition and outstanding food, including a made-to-order omelet bar at breakfast by Main & Market, a grilled lunch courtesy of Buddy’s Grill, and a gourmet dinner at the awards banquet by Two Rivers Steak & Fish House. Prizes and good company rounded out a memorable afternoon on the course.

None of it would be possible without the Hospice of the Chesapeake Golf Committee, whose year-round planning and dedication turn this tournament into an event that golfers look forward to every year. Their hard work makes a real difference for the patients and families the organization serves.

The success of this event is also made possible by Hospice of the Chesapeake’s Premier Sponsor, the Brian and Patricia Giese Foundation and Masters-level sponsors Green Point Wellness Dispensary and Safford Brown Auto Group, as well as U.S. Open-level sponsors Greenberg Gibbons and SMART; Augusta-level sponsor The Michael Stanley Foundation; and Heritage-level sponsors Crescent Cities Charities, Constellation, COPT Defense Properties, First National Bank, John & Terri Hussman, Weston Property Management and The Wilburn Company, and many other businesses, individuals and organizations.

Thank you as well to the event’s underwriters, including Breakfast underwriter The Davies Family Foundation, the Lunch-at-the-Turn underwriter University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Beverage Cart underwriters Sunmed Growers and University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, Cigar underwriter Flooring Partners, and Beverage Stations underwriter Sunmed Growers.

Days and people like this give families facing life’s hardest moments a chance to find joy, dignity and connection.

Hospice of the Chesapeake provides expert, compassionate care for individuals and families navigating serious, advanced illness and loss. Care is built around a genuine partnership between skilled clinicians, healthcare partners, and the patients and families we serve—centered on supporting quality of life at every stage. For more than 45 years, we have had the privilege of caring for more than 65,000 patients and more than 100,000 family members across the communities we serve. Hospice of the Chesapeake is proud to be a part of Chesapeake Health Partners, an organization focused on strengthening community-based care and support services across the region.

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