With continued support for and commitment to the growth of the community, CEM awards 5 percent of its annual profits to organizations with philanthropic objectives and initiatives. Harford Family House, Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding and Eden Mill Nature Center received grants from CEM this month.
“There’s nothing more rewarding for our team than witnessing other organizations give back in ways that are unique and valuable to our community,” said Stephanie Hau, president and CEO of CEM. “Each of us has a role to play locally and beyond, and we feel fortunate to be in a position to help fellow organizations fulfill that role.”
A CEM grant recipient for the third time, Harford Family House serves as the largest provider of transitional housing for homeless families with children in Harford County. With an ultimate goal of ending homelessness in the county, the resources provided by the organization have expanded substantially since its inception in 1989. Today, Harford Family House offers 25 housing units to shelter families in need, while also providing education in life skills, job readiness and individualized case management to help families overcome the cause of their homelessness.“We are so very fortunate to have such a great community-minded and philanthropic company right here in our own backyard,” said Robin Tomechki, CEO of Harford Family House, of the organization’s partnership with CEM. “We thank CEM for their generosity and for continuing to make Harford County a better place to live and work.”
Helping fulfill a mission to provide healing and learning to individuals and groups whose minds, bodies and spirits will benefit from the transformative connection between people, CEM awarded a grant to Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding (CTR) for their unique approach to delivering customized and innovative therapy for a range of clientele.
“When corporations like CEM create a ‘generosity stream’ for small, nonprofit organizations, it can truly transform a community,” said Founder of CTR, Cathy Schmidt.
Schmidt initially founded the organization under the basic principle of connecting individuals with horses who may not otherwise have the opportunity to interact. The program expanded significantly beyond therapeutic riding. Programs include corporate teambuilding, leadership workshops and bereavement.
Inspired to provide local communities with educational programs centered on caring for the environment, CEM awarded a grant to Eden Mill Nature Center, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization located in Pylesville. The organization, founded in 1991, dedicates its programs to developing a greater awareness and appreciation of natural and historical resources in the area.
“One of the greatest and most productive relationships for any community is the connecting of local nonprofits and local businesses,” said Frank Marsden of Eden Mill Nature Center. “Eden Mill Nature Committee has been fortunate enough to have such a relationship with a local company, CEM. Through their support, Eden Mill has in the past been able to develop an outstanding Nature Center and recently the ability to enhance and grow our volunteer base and leadership, so that we can give back to our community.”
Through this Charitable Giving Program, CEM fulfills its commitment annually to giving back to the community, including non-profit groups striving to improve the human condition.
For more information on each of the 2017 CEM grant recipients, visit them on the web at www.HarfordFamilyHouse.org (Harford Family House); www.CTRChangingLives.org (Chesapeake Therapeutic Riding); www.EdenMill.org (Eden Mill Nature Center).
