Maryland Chapter’s Harbor Cruise Raises $3,500 for Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship

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Ashley Stone, CFE
ACFE Chapter Development Manager

When Baltimore was selected as the host city for the 26th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference, the Maryland Chapter decided to plan an event to showcase the city while giving back to the fraud-fighting community.

After brainstorming, chapter vice president (and president elect) Steve Lesniewski, CFE recommended that a great way to entertain conference attendees, while raising funds for the ACFE Foundation, was a sunset cruise through Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

On Monday, June 15 more than 360 conference attendees boarded the Spirit of Baltimore for a two-hour cruise complete with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, a live DJ and dancing. The cruise traveled along the Patapsco River and offered views of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area, historic Fort McHenry (birthplace of the U.S. national anthem), Federal Hill, the Francis Scott Key Bridge and even the world headquarters of athletic apparel company Under Armour.

The chapter paid for the full cost of the cruise but requested that those who wanted to attend pre-register by purchasing $10 tickets. The chapter is donating the entire proceeds from these ticket sales (more than $3,600) to the ACFE Foundation’s Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship fund as part of the Scholarship Fundraising Challenge.

Chapter president John Grimes, CFE, said that feedback from those that attended was overwhelmingly positive. “From all reports, everybody had a great time. Many people had kind words about Baltimore and the Maryland Chapter,” Grimes said.

On behalf of the ACFE, I would like to thank the Maryland Chapter for hosting this unique event and for their generous contribution to the ACFE Foundation.

Set Sail at the ACFE Global Fraud Conference in Baltimore

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John E. Grimes III, President, Maryland Chapter

The Maryland Chapter is thrilled that the 26th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference is being held in Baltimore this June. We are proud and excited to show off Baltimore’s charm and beauty to three -thousand members of the ACFE from around the world. Over the past three decades, Baltimore has emerged as a Renaissance City. Baltimore is home to Major League Baseball’s Orioles and the National Football League’s Ravens. Johns Hopkins Hospital, widely regarded as one of the world's greatest hospitals, and the Johns Hopkins University, are located in Baltimore.

Baltimore is the second largest seaport in the Mid-Atlantic, lying on the Patapsco River, a branch of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore’s beautiful Inner Harbor, just a block or two from the ACFE Global Fraud Conference venue and the conference hotels, attracts visitors from all over the world. The Inner Harbor is home to the National Aquarium, named one of the best aquariums in the U.S. by the Travel Channel. Another popular attraction located at the Inner Harbor is the Maryland Science Center, with three levels of exhibits, a planetarium and an observatory. Docked at the Inner Harbor are the historic ships USS Constellation, built in 1854, the USS Torsk, one of two Tech Class submarines located in the U.S., and the USCGC Taney, the last ship standing that fought at Pearl Harbor.

And of course, Baltimore’s harbor is the home of Fort McHenry. Fort McHenry is primarily known for the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. American troops stationed at Fort McHenry stopped the British invasion of Baltimore. The battle inspired Francis Scott Key, who was aboard a ship behind the British fleet during the battle, to pen the poem, “Defense of Fort McHenry,” which was later renamed the “Star Spangled Banner.” The poem was set to the tune, “To Anacreon in Heaven" by John Stafford Smith and became our National Anthem.

There is so much to see and experience in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and so little time. So, what a better way to experience all that Baltimore’s harbor has to offer then taking a cruise? The Maryland Chapter has made arrangements for attendees of the ACFE Global Fraud Conference and their guest to tour Baltimore’s Harbor with a “Sunset Cocktail Cruise” aboard Baltimore’s premier cruise ship, the Spirit of Baltimore. The 2-hour cruise will set sail on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 6 p.m., after the conference sessions. The Spirit of Baltimore is docked just a block or two from the convention center and conference hotels. Included with the cruise will be a variety of eats, coffee, tea and a cash bar. DJ entertainment will take place on each deck.

The best news is that tickets for this spectacular evening are only $10 per person. The $10 per person fee will be donated to the ACFE Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Fund. Tickets must be purchased in advance through the Maryland Chapter website at www.cfemd.org. Click on the link for the “Spirit of Baltimore Cruise” to register and pay. There is only room for 400 people, so I encourage attendees to register early to reserve a space. I hope to see you there!