Melwood Receives Largest Individual Commitment to Operation: Tohidu

Melwood Receives Largest Individual Commitment to Operation: Tohidu

Melwood Board Chair Donates $20,000 to Program

UPPER MARLBORO, MD (January 28, 2016) – Melwood’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, George Watkins, recently made the largest individual financial commitment to Melwood’s new program, Operation: Tohidu.  The  $20,000 pledge comes as the organization celebrated the one-year anniversary of the launch of Operation: Tohidu. 

“In November, Melwood celebrated a successful year of providing our new program to warfighters living with post-traumatic stress and other deployment related trauma.” said Melwood’s President and CEO, Cari DeSantis, “We owe a debt of gratitude to the small group of key stakeholders who played a role in Melwood creating this program. George Watkins is certainly one of those people.” 

George Watkins’ commitment to the program extends well beyond his financial investment. Mr. Watkins played a major role in the development of Operation: Tohidu; first as concept engineer, then serving on the planning committee that refined and implemented the program. Joined by his daughter, Clara, Watkins participated in a check presentation ceremony during the opening banquet of the January retreat.  During the ceremony George renewed his commitment to the future success of Operation: Tohidu.

“Together we’ve created a program that is helping our nation’s heroes discover new ways to cope with their unresolved trauma,” said Board Chair, George Watkins. “To date, we’ve helped nearly 170 veterans and active duty military members begin their journey to recovery.  I am honored to lend my support.”

Since 2010, George has contributed his time and expertise in accounting and corporate finance to the Melwood Board of Directors.  He assumed his new role as Board Chair in 2015. Prior to that he served as the Board Vice Chair and previously as the Treasurer. 

About Melwood Melwood is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization that is one of the largest employers of people with differing abilities in the Northeastern United States, proudly employing more than 800 people with differing abilities at over 40 contract sites in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC through the U.S. AbilityOne Program and partnerships with community employers. Melwood is headquartered in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, with related facilities located in Temple Hills, Waldorf and Nanjemoy, Maryland. We employ 1,426 people, including those with differing abilities, who work at one of our 43 contracts sites. Our business and service Lines include: Total Facilities Management, Janitorial/Custodial services, Landscaping and Grounds Keeping, Recycling, Electronics Recycling, Call Centers, Customized Job Training, Community Supports, Retreat and Recreational Services, Horticulture Therapy, Therapeutic Riding, Inclusive Camping, and more. Some of our notable federal clients include Fort George G. Meade, U.S. General Services Administration, the United States Naval Academy, Naval Air Station-Patuxent River, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Goddard Space Flight Center.

Melwood has a long history of working with and for veterans and their families. Customized job training and support helps individuals obtain employment either through Melwood’s own programs or local employers.  Through a contract with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Melwood operates a range of productive and highly acclaimed programs that provide training and work for veterans with differing abilities. For more information, visit Melwood on Facebook or www.melwood.org.