The Associated Black Charities of Maryland (ABC) celebrated 25 years of progress, while honoring African-American innovators and role models in higher education.

To mark the 25th Anniversary of its founding, the Associated Black Charities of  Maryland (ABC) reflected on past accomplishments, highlighted current initiatives – such as More in the Middle and Place Matters – outlined future plans, and spotlighted innovators in higher education at Baltimore’s Hyatt Regency on Saturday, June 12, 2010.

“These eight honorees collectively represent a variety of profound achievements in higher education,” said ABC Board of Directors Chair Walter Amprey, former  Baltimore City Public Schools Superintendent.  “As individuals, they demonstrate the highest levels of educational proficiency, and a special way of giving back to the community.”

According to Diane Bell-McKoy, the CEO and President of Associated Black Charities, “Education was one of the earliest priorities for ABC when it was founded 25 years ago, so it is particularly appropriate for us to honor and recommit to that concept today.  If we are to build and expand a strong African-American middle class, we must teach our young people the importance of education for wealth-building, home ownership, and quality employment.”

Major sponsors of the event include M & T Bank, Will & Jada Smith Family Foundation, McCormick & Company, Lifebridge, Verizon, Pfizer, First Step, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Constellation Energy.  The Afro-American Newspapers are the Gala’s media sponsor.

The Anniversary will also highlight 25 years of service and philanthropy throughout Central Maryland.  The Associated Black Charities’ founders are well-renown community leaders: The Reverend Marion Bascom, Reverend Harold Carter, Reverend ACD Vaughn, developer Otis Warren, Dwight Taylor, and past-president of Coppin State College Dr. Calvin Burnett.

Bernard Wynder was born and raised in Baltimore City, and graduated in 1974 from Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School, where he served as President of the Student Senate for the Baltimore City School System.  He is a 1978 graduate of Frostburg State University and received his Master of Education in 1984 from FSU.

Mr. Wynder started his professional career in January 1979, accepting the position of Admissions Counselor & Minority Recruiter at Frostburg State, moving to Coordinator of Minority Recruitment as Slippery Rock University, then back to FSU in 1982 as Associate Director of Admissions and served in this role until 1986.  Promoted to the Director of the Office of Student Human Relations and Minority Affairs he improved the campus climate for those who bring diversity to the FSU campus and the development of the academic monitoring program, which is still in use today.  As a consultant in the area of Human Relations he has conducted workshops and lectures for high schools, churches, universities, businesses, and civic groups.  In 1996, Mr. Wynder took over the management duties of both the Admissions and Financial Aid offices at FSU, and cross-trained the staffs, while setting enrollment goals for the university.  As the Director of Recruitment Services, he exceeded the enrollment goal for 1997, 98, and 99.  In 2000 FSU brought in the largest freshmen class in the university’s history.  In 2001, Mr. Wynder moved to the Athletic Department where he served as the Assistant Director of Athletics.  While there he worked with coaches and the Office of Enrollment Services to develop recruitment activities for athletes and to increase their retention rates.  As a result of a task force on transfer students, the President asked Mr. Wynder to create an Advising Center that would serve transfer and undeclared students.  He served as Director there until his recent promotion to Assistant Vice President of Student Services.

In 1986, he received the Trio Achiever’s Award for the State of Maryland, was inducted in to Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School’s Hall of Fame in 1993, received the Frostburg State University’s Alumni Achiever’s Award in 1997, and the College Admissions Representative of the Year award given by the College Bound Foundation for service to Baltimore City high school students in 2002; and in 2005, he received the NAACP Image Award.

Over the last 30 years, Mr. Wynder has served on numerous Organizational Boards in the Western Maryland area: MD Salem Children’s Trust, Western Maryland Food Bank, Potomac Council Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Allegany County Multicultural Committee, American Red Cross the City of Cumberland Mediation Advisory Council; and he is currently serving on the Allegany County Human Relation Commission and as chair of the Friends of the NAACP.