When Nancy Kellar stepped down from the Kids’ Chance of Maryland (KCMD) Board of Directors earlier this year, the organization marked the occasion with its Distinguished Service Award and the designation of director emeritus to honor three decades of dedication and leadership in advancing the KCMD mission.

Kellar’s contributions to KCMD have been transformative. Her history with the organization is even more remarkable, however, when you consider that getting involved in KCMD was not on Kellar's bingo card 30 years ago when she was working as an executive assistant to Paul Rose, who at the time was the CEO of the State Accident Fund (now called Chesapeake Employers Insurance).

“Paul was working with two of his colleagues to form a Kids’ Chance organization for Maryland,” Kellar said. “Most of the meetings were taking place at our offices, which meant that I was the one setting up and taking notes. It was informal at first.”

It wasn’t long before Kids’ Chance of Maryland (KCMD) was holding formal board meetings and planning to host events. “They decided to do a golf tournament as well as a cocktail party,” she recalled. “They hired a consultant to help with planning. Paul encouraged me to get more involved, which is how I learned about meeting and event planning.”

“It was thrilling to award those first scholarships,” she continued. “These kids had been through so much hardship. It was very gratifying to learn firsthand the difference Kids’ Chance was making in their lives.”

More events followed, and she began to take a bigger role, becoming the KCMD’s first executive director, while she remained working for Chesapeake Employers’ Insurance Company, which was and continues to be a Presenting Sponsor.

Although she retired from Chesapeake Employers’ 10 years ago and transitioned out of the executive director role, Kellar was asked to serve on the KCMD Board of Directors a few years after.  The organization has grown considerably and has awarded eligible students over $60,000 this academic semester. 

The board also formed a student outreach committee to strengthen the lines of communication between KCMD and its scholarship recipients. “The [Kaleidescope] online scholarship application reduces our administrative burden, making it easier to manage multiple scholarships,” she said. “Our goal is to invest this time in becoming a supportive network for our students.”

KCMD promotes the Kids’ Chance Planning for the Future Program (PFF) platform as well, to gather information about future KCMD scholarship candidates. “We know that there are so many more students out there who could benefit from KCMD,” she said. “It is important to get the word out about our scholarships.”

Despite appearances, it would be wrong to assume that retiring from the board represents the end of Kellar’s KCMD story. She is participating on a new Legacy Giving committee to ensure long-term financial sustainability by cultivating, promoting and stewarding gifts made through donors’ will and estate plans, or any other planned gift. “We hope this will support the mission for years to come, strengthening relationships with the most dedicated supporters." 

Once again charting new territory for KCMD and its donors, Kellar remains laser focused on KCMD’s mission. “Giving to KCMD is an opportunity to have a positive impact in the lives of families devastated by a workplace accident.”

‍

‍