We at Retriever Essentials would like to express our heartiest gratitude to all our collaborators and guests who made UMBC’s first Home for the Holidays event a reality. The event offered a communal atmosphere to UMBC members who cannot travel back home or did not have family living in proximity during this holiday break. The event was celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, November 28^th. 

Through the support of Chartwells team, True Grits Dining Hall became the “home” and through the contributions from the collaborators, the community became one big family. The collaborators brought various food items ranging from classic Thanksgiving dishes to international cuisines. OCA Mocha brought in its fresh coffee to warm up the guest on the cold windy afternoon. The event also included fun activities like board games, arts and craft time, letter writing, and music. The event concluded with a raffle contest where our guest won giveaways and goodies. 

Home for the Holidays brought the campus community together and provided a warmhearted holiday experience to its attendees. We thank all of those who participated in the event and hope that Home for the Holidays continues to become yet another inclusive tradition at UMBC. 

Our key collaborators were: Academic Success Center, Campus Dining Services, English Language Institute, Financial Literacy Committee, Off-Campus Student Services, Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, OCA Mocha, SAHAP Department, Student Government Association, The Campus Police, The Registrar’s Office, The Shriver Center, and UMBC Sustainability.

Here is a recap of the event: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UzdKkwIMStEmsT0n0yP6WZBcTT1nvLD7/view

For more updates from Retriever Essentials please visit our Facebook and Instagram pages.

During the holiday season, we celebrate the generosity of wonderful donors who make it possible for Chapter 22 UM-UMBC to sponsor children in Baltimore's Park Heights community as part of our early childhood literacy program.  The program is sponsored with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the St. Vincent De Paul Early Head Start in Baltimore. Thanks to our donors, 56 pre-school children are receiving a book each month that helps them to develop a love of reading, learning, and language.

Our goal this holiday season is to increase that number to 70 children.  We hope you will help us send the gift of books to fourteen more children this year.

Research and evaluation studies show that supporting literacy and learning in early childhood is one of the best ways to prepare children to succeed in school and in life.  

We hope you will be able to help us to bring joy to a child's life and encourage a life-long love of reading and learning.

·        A gift of $25 sends one book per month to one child for one year

·        A gift of $125 sends one book per month to one child from birth to age five

·        A gift of $500 sends one book per month to each child in a family for five years

PKP is a not-for-profit, 501-c-3 organization, and your contribution is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Contributions can be made by check or by credit card.

Simply click on the link below to donate through Paypal or by credit card

Paypal Link

To make a contribution by check, make it payable to PKP Chapter 22 UM-UMBC.  Be sure to note on the check: Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and mail it to:

Colleen Rebeiro

Office of the Provost

UMBC

1000 Hilltop Circle

Baltimore, MD 21250

Thank you so much for your support for our literacy project and the children and families it serves in our city.

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,
Beth Wells
Special Projects Officer
Chapter 22 UM-UMBC
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi  

Click the link below to see a short PBS video on Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Disorder-assisted graph coloring on quantum annealers