Columbia, MD - April 9, 2009 - Matthew Beck, a junior at River Hill High School, has joined the board of The Columbia Foundation, Howard County’s community foundation, as its youth representative. A Gold medal winner in numerous Science Olympiad competitions, Matthew is also a member of the French and Spanish National Honors Societies. He participates on his high school’s “It’s Academic” Trivia Team and is a Board member of the Howard County American Cancer Society which honored him as the “Highest-Raising Individual” in the organization’s history for his 2007 fundraising through his own “Cookies for Cancer” campaign.

As the youth representative on The Columbia Foundation board, Matthew will provide a teenage perspective concerning the Foundation’s grant programs and community initiatives.

Founded in 1969, the Foundation has awarded over $10 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 240 funds established by Howard County businesses, families and individuals.