Careers & Volunteers

A driving need to help make connections

By: Delia Sava

Through blazing summer heat and rainy autumn days, Jim Smith drives older area residents to the doctor, grocery store and on errands as a volunteer with Senior Connection of Montgomery County.

A passion for food leads to a new career

By: Carol Sorgen

Dara Bunjon is the first to admit that neither she nor her home would make the centerpiece of a style magazine. (“I’m a fashion don’t!” she laughed.)

Advocate for neglected, abused children

By: Carol Sorgen

Since 2000, CASA of Baltimore County has provided Court Appointed Special Advocates for children who have been removed from their parents’ or guardians’ care due to abuse or neg

Advocating for long-term care residents

By: Jacob Schaperow

Pearl Hunt visits the Sligo Creek Nursing Home and Jrose Assisted Living in Silver Spring at least once a week and often more frequently. There, she acts as an advocate for the residents in their dealings with the administration.

Attorneys, law students offer ‘just’ advice

By: Carol Sorgen

Stanley Rhoad has made good use of his legal skills since graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1966. Over a period of 41 years, his legal career took him from a federal court clerkship, to several leading Baltimore law firms, to solo practice. Rhoad retired from practice three years ago.

Avoid pitfalls when starting a business

By: Elliot Raphaelson

Many Americans dream of starting a small business. For some, it’s a way of doing something they love while being their own boss. For others, it’s an idea they turn to after losing a job or retiring. What every aspiring small business owner needs to know is that starting an enterprise takes a lot of work and investment, and the chances of failure are high.

Big Brothers and Sisters help kids thrive

By: Carol Sorgen

Debra Matthews had a very personal reason for becoming a Big Sister three years ago. When Matthews’ own niece was 13, she was “unbelievably shy,” and also going through a difficult family situation.

Boomers need to blaze new career trails

By: Mark Miller

The oldest baby boomers started turning 65 in January. For the next two decades, America’s 78 million boomers will be qualifying for Social Security at a rate of roughly 10,000 a day for the next 20 years.

Boomers need to blaze new career trails

By: Mark Miller

Debts, bankruptcies rising among seniors

By: Mark Miller

Soaring credit card debt and medical expenses sparked a major increase in the number of older Americans filing for bankruptcy in recent years. A study of bankruptcy filings found that the average age of bankruptcy petitioners is rising, with the sharpest increase among those over age 55. While older people account for a relatively small share of overall bankruptcy filings, the rates of increase are dramatic. For example, from 1991 to 2007, the percentage of bankruptcy petitioners age 65-74 rose 178 percent.