December 2010

Dialogue

The SpiriT of GivinG iS Alive And Well in BAlTimore

Despite the brisk pace of business and last-minute Christmas shopping, employees in the Baltimore office rallied together to give to those in need as well as share their favorite baked goods. For the fourth year in a row, Lynn Beamon, land development, led the Toys for Tots collection program. More than 65 toys were stuffed into an oversize box in the reception area. Lynn, a former Marine, introduced the Marine Corps Reserve-sponsored program to the Baltimore office.

While not as altruistic, the Baltimore office continued another seasonal tradition—the annual cookie exchange. Wendy Evans, in accounting, started the exchange five years ago. Each year a handful of employees gather in the kitchen after lunch several days before Christmas to give away their treasures in return for a sampling of their co-workers’ sugar-sprinkled confections.

The spirit of giving will reappear after the holiday break when the office conducts a food drive to restock the area’s food pantries depleted during the Christmas season.

Above: Lynn Beamon, who leads the Toys for Tots collection program.

Left: Cookie exchange participants display their goods (from l to r): Christy Mainley, Paula Sessoms, Angel Bowersox, Brandy Frazier, & Wendy Evans. Not pictured: Karolina Legwant, Donovan Olsen, & Nate Lehigh.

by Marta Mills, marketing editor, Baltimore