Monthly Message from MSB Superintendent Rob Hair

Fall is in full swing; the leaves have changed color and are flying and landing all around us. There is a chill in the air and you can find pumpkin flavored everything wherever you go.  The month of November is also the season of giving and of giving thanks!  Here at The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB), our dedicated staff give so much of their time and talents to our students every day.  They go above and beyond for students’ families as well.  They are a shining example of giving back and putting their purpose to action.  Spearheaded by our Psychology and Social Work teams, MSB staff are currently engaged in a food/gift card drive for our families in need for the Thanksgiving and winter seasons.  If our families have a need, we do our best to assist them.  At MSB, our in-state students and their families never have to pay for any of our programs or services, and we are here for them every step of the way.

Soon we all will be gathering with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is a time to stop and reflect on that for which we are thankful.  Personally I am grateful for so many things, but as Superintendent of MSB, I want to focus my gratitude this month on those who support our school.   Many do not realize that we are not a state school and that we are a private non-profit organization.  I am very grateful for the state funding that we do receive, which is the largest source of revenue for MSB, but it is not nearly enough needed to operate a school of this magnitude. We must continually advocate for a sustainable funding model and fair compensation for our staff every year.  This is one of the key areas of our strategic plan for the next five years.

In this month of “giving thanks” I am most thankful for our loyal donors who continue to give back to our school.  I am always humbled by their generosity.  Whether they give one dollar or 1,000 dollars, they are making a real difference for students who are blind or low vision, including those with multiple disabilities.  Without them, we could not fulfill our mission. 

The Eugene B. Casey Foundation is giving back to MSB in a big way by matching all gifts up to $50,000 in our current fundraising campaign.  Giving Tuesday, the national day of giving, is also approaching on November 30. By participating in this matching campaign, you can make your gift count twice!  

If you would like to support The Maryland School for the Blind, during this season of giving, visit www.marylandschoolfortheblind.org/support-us

Happy Thanksgiving!