CATONSVILLE, MD—Charlestown retirement community celebrated a year of giving at its Annual Volunteer Party on Thursday evening, November 15th.

Amidst carnival-style decorations in the Erickson Conference Center, resident volunteers enjoyed refreshments, dancing and games, along with accolades from community leaders.

During the festivities, State Delegate Steven DeBoy honored Rose Sands, the Volunteer Program Coordinator for Charlestown, with a citation from the Maryland General Assembly.

Under her leadership, the Volunteer Program logged more than 230,000 hours of service at its Catonsville campus and in the surrounding community in 2011.

A thirteen-year employee at Charlestown, Ms. Sands has served in her current role for five years, managing over 800 volunteers.  Locally, she has created partnerships with the Baltimore County Department of Aging, UMBC, Lansdowne Elementary, Our Daily Bread, Catonsville Rotary and Catonsville High School.

“Rose has grown our volunteer program by leaps and bounds,” stated Mary Evans, the senior community resources manager at Charlestown.  “But it’s way beyond the numbers with Rose.  She is passionate about what she does, puts other first and her positive attitude inspires others to serve.”