At Charlestown, Staff Appreciation Fund Spreads Cheer to Hourly Team Members

'Tis the season for cookies, cocoa, cheer—and showing appreciation for team members who go above and beyond for residents at Charlestown, the Erickson Senior Living community in Catonsville, Md., every day!

Every year around the holidays, a resident Staff Appreciation Fund committee joins forces with Charlestown’s Philanthropy team to collect contributions to recognize the year-round efforts of the hourly staff. And every year, residents support this campaign with enthusiasm and gratitude. This year was no exception. Thanks to the generous contributions of Charlestown residents, the 2023 campaign brought in a total of $320,000 to be used for holiday bonuses for hourly team members. This marks an $11,000 increase over last year’s total.

Last week, the committee hosted special festive gatherings throughout the community to provide residents with an opportunity to express in person their gratitude for all that employees do throughout the year to provide best-in-class service that enhances Charlestown’s engaging, worry-free lifestyle. At each gathering, team members also enjoyed receiving a special sweet treat, and the chance to thank residents for their generosity. 

This year, the Staff Appreciation Fund made holiday bonuses possible for 845 team members.

“After nearly a decade working at Charlestown, I continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity and giving spirit of our residents and family members who wholeheartedly support the Staff Appreciation Fund because of their genuine appreciation for our team members,” said Patti Santoni, director of philanthropy at Charlestown. “Special thanks are due to every person who made a contribution to this year’s campaign, and to the Staff Appreciation Committee led this year by resident Jacquie Lucy with coordinated efforts from Charlestown’s philanthropy and human resources team. Thank you to all who made these generous gifts possible!”

“Charlestown is a wonderful place to grow your career,” said Paulette Tansill, director of human resources. “Not only are you supported by community leadership and fellow coworkers, but you have the opportunity to form lasting friendships with the residents you serve every day.”

“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the residents who contributed to the fund this year,” says Charlestown executive director Don Grove. “It’s the relationships between residents and staff that make Charlestown the vibrant, welcoming community it is.” 

Thanks to these meaningful relationships, Charlestown’s culture is always this merry and bright. 

To learn more about Charlestown’s workplace culture and open job positions, visit EricksonSeniorLiving.com/careers.