As I begin my service as President of the Board of Directors, I have spent time reflecting on the remarkable history of the Fuel Fund of Maryland and the responsibility we share for carrying that legacy forward.
Our organization was born more than 45 years ago from both tragedy and determination. During the energy crisis of the late 1970s, Baltimore City Councilwoman and civil rights leader Victorine Q. Adams recognized that no person should suffer—or lose their life—because they could not afford to keep the heat or electricity on. She transformed her compassion into action, creating an organization that has since helped generations of Maryland households remain safely connected no matter the season.
That history is more than a story we should celebrate. It is the foundation upon which we must build our future.
When I look at the Fuel Fund of Maryland, I see a strong, vibrant, vital, and integral part of our community. I see an organization that provides much more than financial assistance. We help restore safety, stability, dignity, and hope during some of the most difficult moments in a household’s life.
Our work is not about providing a handout. It is about offering a hand up and a pathway forward. The households we assist contribute toward resolving their balances, pursue available public resources, and take an active role in obtaining a fresh start. The Fuel Fund, supported by donors and community partners, then helps close the remaining gap. That combination of compassion, accountability, and shared responsibility is one of the most powerful aspects of our model.
We should all take tremendous pride in what has been built. Our position in the community is the result of decades of committed leadership, dedicated staff, responsible governance, generous donors, trusted partnerships, and an unwavering belief that access to essential energy is fundamental to the health and stability of our neighbors.
As we look toward the next three years and beyond, I see immense opportunity to strengthen the Fuel Fund’s place in the community.
We have an opportunity to deepen our relationships with businesses, foundations, faith-based organizations, community leaders, donors, and other organizations that share our commitment to strengthening Maryland households. We can expand awareness of who we are, whom we serve, and the lasting difference our work makes. We can diversify and strengthen our financial foundation, embrace responsible innovation, use data and storytelling more effectively, and make it easier for people to seek assistance, support our mission, and become part of the Fuel Fund family. The current creation and development of Fuel Fund AI chatbot, Sparky, is a perfect example of just this.
We also have an opportunity to become an even more visible and trusted voice in conversations surrounding energy stability, crisis prevention, and community resilience. We should not be satisfied with simply responding to hardship. We should work collaboratively to identify needs earlier, build stronger partnerships, and help prevent temporary financial challenges from becoming life-altering crises.
Growth, however, must never cause us to lose sight of who we are. Compassion, dignity, accountability, transparency, and responsible stewardship must remain at the center of every decision we make. Our programs, partnerships, governance, and internal capabilities must be as strong and sustainable as the mission they support.
In the months ahead, the Board and staff will work together to shape a thoughtful roadmap for the organization’s future. I encourage each of you to bring forward your ideas, experiences, concerns, and aspirations. We must be willing to think boldly, challenge assumptions, and explore new opportunities while remaining firmly grounded in the values that have guided the Fuel Fund for more than four decades.
The best way to honor Victorine Adams and all those who built this organization is not simply to preserve what they created. It is to build upon it, strengthen it, and ensure that the Fuel Fund of Maryland remains ready to serve future generations.
As I noted above, please feel free to share ideas, experiences, concerns, and aspirations with me as we move forward in this exciting process. I welcome your feedback.
I am honored and humbled to serve as your Board President. More importantly, I am excited about what we can accomplish together. We have a powerful history, a meaningful mission, an extraordinary team, and a community that needs us.
Our foundation is strong, our purpose is clear, and I firmly believe our greatest opportunities are still ahead of us.
With appreciation and optimism,
Scott K. Thompson
President, Board of Directors
Contact: info@fuelfundmaryland.org