WELCOME TO MSD FOUNDATION

The Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation was established in 1987 with the mission to raise money to provide scholarships and resources that enhance the education of students at Maryland School for the Deaf.

Thank you for visiting our site. Please feel free to contact us at info@msd-foundation.org

MSD students thrive in a barrier-free environment through innovative educational opportunities with strong community support and involvement, facilitated by MSDF’s growing endowment

LATEST NEWS

MSD Foundation announces Eric M. Sugrowe Memorial Scholarships

FREDERICK, Md. (April 2, 2021) — A perpetual endowment to fund scholarships in memory of Eric M. Sugrowe has been created that will support future academic pursuits of Maryland School for Deaf graduates.

The Eric M. Sugrowe Memorial Scholarships will be awarded annually by the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation to two MSD seniors who are continuing their education in college or at a technical school. One of the two recipients will have attended the MSD Columbia campus, which is near where Sugrowe was raised.

Sugrowe, who passed away unexpectedly on April 16, 2020, at the age of 26, experienced Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL) with no known etiology while in high school. He then dedicated his life to the service of others in the deaf community. He graduated from Towson University with a degree in deaf studies. During his time at Towson, he interned at The Hearing and Speech Agency of Metropolitan Baltimore (HASA). That experience led Sugrowe to a career in assisting and caring for deaf adults in Baltimore.

“Eric struggled to find his place in the world between the hearing and deaf community,” said Clare Sugrowe, Eric’s mother. “Yet, he persevered. My hope is that this scholarship will inspire each recipient to keep Eric’s experience in mind and also to enhance their journey with the help of his donation.”

“We, at the Maryland School for the Deaf Foundation, are honored to be the stewards of the Eric M. Sugrowe Memorial Scholarships,” said MSD Foundation president Patrick Fava. “The generous creation of this memorial scholarship that will remain in perpetuity ensures Eric’s memory will live on through the success of the graduating seniors for years to come. This is an incredible way to honor Eric’s life.”

Despite losing his hearing, Eric Sugrowe remained active in sports, playing baseball and football while in high school at Mount Hebron, running cross country at Howard Community College, and cycling for Kelly Benefit Strategies cycling club of Baltimore.

“While professionally employed at Community Support Services for the Deaf in Baltimore, Eric continued to enjoy the outdoors, hiking and biking regularly. At the time of passing, he was enrolled at CCBC in Catonsville, studying for an ASL interpreter’s credential,” said Brian Sugrowe, Eric’s father.

The Eric M. Sugrowe Memorial Scholarship award winners will be announced annually at MSD’s graduation ceremony.

If interested in donating to the Eric M. Sugrowe Memorial Scholarship fund, please make check payable to:

MSD Foundation/Sugrowe Memorial

P.O. Box 636

Frederick, MD 21705