Secretaries of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and Department of General Services to Be “Dunked” for Charity

ANNAPOLIS, Md.  ‪(January 23, 2017)  – As part of the 2016 Maryland Charity Campaign, Secretary Kenneth C. Holt of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and Secretary Ellington Churchill initiated a challenge. The agency with the lowest participation rate would see its secretary sitting in a dunking booth in January. Throughout the campaign, the secretaries created a series of humorous videos to increase employee interest in the challenge, taking on the alter egos of The Godfather of Housing and Community Development and Ellington “Ness.”

The challenge was a resounding success, with both agencies exceeding their donation goals.

The Department of Housing and Community Development had a higher participation rate and was declared the winner of the challenge. As a show of good sportsmanship, both Secretary Churchill and Secretary Holt will take turns in the dunking booth to raise money for Special Olympics Maryland. The event is scheduled ahead of the Polar Bear Plunge, January 27-28, a charity event sponsored by the Maryland State Police where thousands of participants take a dip in the Chesapeake Bay in support of the Special Olympics.

What: 
A dunking booth to raise proceeds for Special Olympics Maryland

Where:  

29 St. Johns Street, Parking Lot B, Annapolis, MD 21401

When:
Thursday, January 26, 2017
11 a.m. to noon

Who:   
Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Kenneth C. Holt and Department of General Services Secretary Ellington Churchill

Videos:
Secretary Holt Challenges DGS: https://youtu.be/ryCtRCrNIks
Secretary Churchill Fires Back: https://youtu.be/-llkxWG5p2s
Secretary Holt Gets the Last Laugh: https://youtu.be/qc3cxLBwYE0
The Secretaries Thank Their Staff: https://youtu.be/f4dUlDEVzPo

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CONTACT:
Sara Luell
Director of Communications
sara.luell@maryland.gov
Office: 301-429-7803
Cell: 301-458-1995