Columbia, MD - February 25, 2008 - The Columbia Foundation will receive $10,000 from Earl Armiger, founder and owner with his wife Mary of Orchard Development Corporation of Ellicott City, MD and first place winner of the National Housing Endowment’s (NHE) third annual Builder Achievement Awards for Outstanding Community Service.

Orchard Development Corporation received the NHE’s $10,000 Gold Award for donating a $2 million share of a mixed-income apartment development to The Columbia Foundation, Howard County’s community foundation that awards grant funds to non-profit organizations in the county. The donation from the Armigers through Orchard Development is the largest single contribution the foundation has received since it was founded in 1969. Orchard will donate their $10,000 gold award to The Columbia Foundation.

Orchard Development was one of seven companies to be recognized by the NHE at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. Entrants were reviewed by a panel of builders and industry professionals and evaluated based on member participation, community impact, creativity and history of charitable giving. Honorees were selected from a pool of entrants that included builders, re-modelers and developers.

Along with recognizing the creative philanthropy of Orchard and the Armigers, the award also acknowledged their encouragement and support of the volunteer activities of their employees at Orchard Development and Armiger Management. The 42 employees contribute over 140 hours a month coaching youth sports teams in lacrosse, soccer and football. They volunteer over 660 hours each year at organizations such as Hospice of Howard County, The Columbia Foundation, the Columbia Center for the Theatrical Arts, their children’s schools and the Home Builders Association of Maryland. According to Independent Sector, a nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., in 2005 one hour of volunteer time in Maryland was valued at $19.06 – putting the employee contribution at over $15,000. This does not include time spent by employees when, as a company-wide activity, they participate in gift wrapping at the mall to benefit the hospital and Senior Arts Fairs and runs to benefit groups working on senior issues.

Earl and Mary Armiger have been especially active in the Howard County community, serving on numerous non-profit boards, developing Orchard Summer Camp for children at one of Columbia’s public housing development, advocating for affordable housing in the county and establishing the Jim Rouse Entrepreneurial Fund (JREF). Begun as a micro-loan fund, JREF has provided over $3.25 million in loans to over 50 small businesses and is an integral part of the Economic Development Authority.

Mr. and Mrs. Armiger hope that the community partnership between Orchard and The Columbia Foundation will serve as a model for other developers not in only in Howard County but throughout the nation.

Founded in 1969, the Foundation has awarded over $9 million in grants to Howard County nonprofit organizations delivering human service, arts and cultural, educational and civic programs. Money for the grant programs comes primarily from income generated by the Foundation’s endowment supported by over 250 funds established by Howard County businesses, families and individuals. For more information on The Columbia Foundation, visit www.columbiafoundation.org or call 410-730-7840.