Corpsmember of the Year | Friends of the MCCC, Inc.
Funding Needs | Fee-For-Services Projects

The MCCC became less dependent on public support six years ago by becomming a fee-for-service program. However, this has meant less training time and resources for corpsmembers. So the MCCC still needs help to meet all of its financial obligations, particularly in the areas of corpsmember development and equipment acquisition and replacement. Fund raising through The Friends of the MCCC, Inc., seeks corporate and foundation support for corpsmember development/training endeavors as:

• the annual three-day trip to the Clagett Farm for Environmental Education
• job skills training in conservation, carpentry and landscaping
• life skills development to prepare corpsmember for economic independence
• corpsmember incentive program designed to cultivate leadership development, acquisition of successful work habits, educational advancement, earning a program diploma and achieving a GED diploma
• upgrading the corpsmember computer laboratory
• job search skills and job placement services
• internships transition Corps members to career employment

Every fall at our annual open house, the MCCC, in partnership with the Friends of the MCCC, has recognized the most outstanding corps member for the past six years with a plaque and a $1,000 check.  This award, known as the Neal Potter Corps member of the Year Award, was sponsored in 1999 by PEPCO, and by Century Pool Management in 1997 and 1998.

In the fall of 1999, Bill Hutchinson, Home Depot District Manager, and Robert Woodward, Manager of the Home Depot Store in Aspen Hill, stopped by at our invitation to see the MCCC program.   At the conclusion of the visit, they said they liked what they saw and wanted to partner with the MCCC program.   Among the things Home Depot might help the MCCC program with, in addition to the cash donation, are providing their associates for skill training workshops and interviewing MCCC program graduates for employment at Home Depot.   For its part, the MCCC has pledged to occasionally provide a crew to work with Home Depot employees on local community projects. 

Last year, Home Depot sponsored the 2000 Neal Potter Corps member of the Year Award and to the two corps member runners-up.   The Friends Board and MCCC staff are proud to have Home Depot once again as our 2001 award sponsor and look forward to a long relationship.

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FRIENDS OF THE MCCC, INC.:  This 501(C)(3) non-profit organization's main goal is to support the existence of MCCC while improving its impact on the lives of all corpsmembers. The Friends of the MCCC is leading the search for new sources of support through corporate and foundation funding, and donations of equipment, tools and supplies. Presently Friends are seeking tax deductible donations for the following funding needs:

	Sporting Events Tickets
	Movie Tickets
	Tractor blade attachment
	Tractor roto tiller attachment
	Uniforms for one crew
	One commercial lawnmower
	Sponsorship of Driver's Education
	Rear tine roto tiller
	Wood jointer
	Roto Zip saw
	Airless paint sprayer and safety gear
	Commercial weed eater
	Back pack blower
	Educational software
	Updating MCCC promotional video

Anyone interested in supporting the MCCC program can contact the Friends of the MCCC at (301) 929-5554 or by fax (301) 929-5560 or Email

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THE FRIENDS OF THE MCCC IS APPROVED AS A MEMBER OF THE UNITED WAY OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL AREA

We want all of our friends and supporters to know that the Friends of the Montgomery County Conservation Corps, Inc., has been accepted as a member of the United Way of the National Capital Area for the 2001 fall campaign. The funds raised from the United Way will be earmarked to support the Corpsmember Development Program that was mentined previously.

Much of the success of the Conservation Corps program derives from the many incentives we employ to motivate corpsmembers to become "all that they can be." Because of our reduced public funding, these critical corpsmembers recognitions would not be possible without support from the Friends of the MCCC, Inc. Therefore, we request your help in supporting this nationally recognized program by designating a portion of your United Way campaign contribution to The FMCCC, Inc., - our United Way designation number is 8290. Even small United Way contributions are welcomed because together it all adds up.

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FEE-FOR-SERVICES PROJECTS:  The MCCC is required to raise over $200,000 of its annual budget in revenues charged for the work performed by our crews in the areas of conservation, carpentry and landscaping and related work. We are always looking for new project sponsors to hire us. We also seeking new buyers for our line of wood products which include among other things various size picnic tables, various size cutting boards, bird houses, bird feeders, an out door chess set, various size outdoor benches, etc.