​Book Club Memorializes Founder With Journey Scholarship

The First Thursday Book Club of Howard County has come up with a uniquely appropriate way to memorialize the club’s beloved founder, Mary Margaret Kamerman, who died in 2008 after a stroke. 

On Mary Margaret’s birthday each year, the remaining members each contribute a dollar to the Women’s Giving Circle for every year since Mary Margaret’s birth. The money supports scholarships for girls who want to attend Journey, the camp founded by WGC.

Mary Margaret was an original donor of the Women’s Giving Circle and nominated two girls in her neighborhood to attend the first Journey camp in 2006. At Mary Margaret’s memorial service, one of the girls’ mothers tearfully recalled Mary Margaret’s generous encouragement of her young daughter.

The idea for the memorial contribution came from book club member Mary McGraw, who explained, “Mary Margaret had three daughters and believed strongly in opportunities for young girls to grow and find their true worth.” 

​Mary Margaret’s daughters include Columbia residents Jacki Deblasio and Jill Belk and Virginia resident Jeannie Kinn.  

A Columbia resident since 1971 and a counselor at Long Reach High School at the time of her death, Mary Margaret started the book club in 1992, and the remaining members have been meeting monthly since then. In addition to Mary McGraw, club members include Sandi Berman, Kathy Flanagan, Phyllis Greenbaum, Helen Mitchell, Jean Moon and Francine Sheppard.

For information about WGC, visit www.womensgivingcircle.org

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