How the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber Supports Its Local Community

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller

The Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce (GGCC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving back and supporting the community.

Volunteering is an experience. It is truly gratifying to serve a cause, practice one’s ideals, work with people, solve problems, see benefits, and know you had a hand in them. Helping our fellow man has long been seen as an altruistic behavioral model and a model the GGCC values.

Through cash donations and various collections, the GGCC has a history of contributing to community organizations. Our Chamber Members contributed food & cash donations to Manna Food Center. The food donated helped Manna feed many hungry families in our community.

The Chamber actively participates in the Montgomery County Police Santa Ride with a cash donation to assist families residing at the Children’s Inn at National Institutes of Health (NIH). Children come from across the country to receive groundbreaking medical treatments at the Inn.

2014 GGCC Montgomery College Scholarship recipients -Erick Garcia, Edem Bamezon, Fitzroy Henry and Emmanuel Foko Tito with Hughes Network Systems Assistant Vice President Jim Muir (center)- at the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce Annual Celebration Dinner and Awards Ceremony.

Scholarships totaling $6,100 were awarded to four Montgomery College students through the Montgomery College Scholarship Foundation. For 14 years, the GGCC, along with Chamber Member companies, has supported tomorrow’s future leaders to aspire and reach their dreams. In addition to funding current scholarships, the Chamber has established an endowment for future giving. The endowment is currently at $41,000, with a goal of $100,000. This will ensure that the GGCC continues to support Montgomery College in perpetuity.

For six years we have participated in the Montgomery County Summer Jobs Program. We are able to provide a youth with a priceless opportunity to gain meaningful work experience. Additionally, we support Northwest High School’s Internship program annually by sponsoring a student for the school year. This is an invaluable relationship where we are able to develop and watch our intern grow academically, professionally, and personally.

Recently, we created our Non-Profit Sector Group, a network of non-profits, foundations, business partners and individuals dedicated to supporting GGCC’s non-profit members. This program provides our non-profit members a monthly opportunity to gather and share best practices, discuss common concerns and find ways to partner so that each group increases the value of their unique offering while creating a stronger and more effective local community.

Every August, we are pleased to host our Annual Public Safety Awards breakfast, which honors the brave actions of our local law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel. This past August, we honored 57 men and women in cases ranging from a residential shooting involving a police officer, a mother who was performing an exorcism on her children, children who were stuck in an icy pond, and a head-on automobile collision where a patient was ejected from an automobile.

Every fall we host a non-profit showcase where our non-profit members have the opportunity to share with Chamber members the great work they do in our community and to solicit support from our Chamber members.

Through the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County (CVC-MC), we actively participate in the Montgomery County Public Schools Department of Family and Community Partnerships Back to School Drive in the summer. We believe it is essential for students to have the appropriate equipment to be successful. And we were able to participate on several CVC-MC’s “Workforce for Good” projects that included supporting non-profit organizations such as Wider Circle, Junior Achievement, Campus Kitchens and Manna Food Center.

We believe anyone who volunteers will feel better emotionally, physically, and psychologically. The GGCC is grateful to have the opportunity to support these organizations and share our story with you.

The GGCC is active in providing business-to-business networking opportunities throughout the year: a collective voice in local, regional, and state legislative affairs, professional development opportunities, and other services that enhance the business environment. Learn more about us at www.ggchamber.org. Or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Laura Rowles

Laura authors the blog Your Success is Our Business on MyMCMedia. Laura is the Director of Events & Marketing for the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce - a member-based organization of businesses that have joined together for the purpose of promoting the civic, commercial and industrial progress in our communities. The area's economic well-being is a result of the caliber of work that is done by the Chamber. The Chamber has a major impact on business, income and future growth of the area. My position at the Chamber - Director of Events & Marketing - affords me the opportunity to plan quality events for our Members and market the Chamber is a variety of avenues. At the GGCC, we typically have around 30 events each year including: breakfasts, lunches, after-five's, ribbon cuttings and special events. The consensus is we have high quality events with good energy. In 2012, we had over 2,040 people visit our events. Most our events are free to Members so securing sponsorships for all events. Additionally, I am responsible for planning networking, overseeing the budget and marketing of all events in order to make them successful. Lastly, I coordinate all marketing and communication efforts of the GGCC including weekly email blasts, its quarterly newsletter, all social media platforms, media relations and community outreach.

View all posts by Laura Rowles