Some mornings, Jon Browne likes to play some of his favorite artists on his classroom speakers. His students have no idea who they’re listening to, he laughs. It’s a lot of old school hip hop, the kind of music he was listening to when he was in high school.
Browne has spent 32 years in Howard County classrooms, now teaching computer science and business at Oakland Mills High School. And every fall, his business skills and his love of music get their moment to shine. Browne is the co-organizer of the Jonathan Johnson Community Coalition BonBon Holiday Bash, the fundraiser that has become one of Columbia Community Care’s biggest nights of the year.
A Legacy Worth Honoring
The Jonathan Johnson Community Coalition (JJCC) was born out of loss. Jon Johnson — “Jon Jon” to the Oakland Mills community that loved him — was a childhood friend to Browne and many others, a fixture in youth sports and a familiar, generous presence across Columbia. When he passed away about four years ago, his friends wanted a way to honor his impact.
“He was very kind, very eclectic, and he had a huge group of supporters and friends from every walk of life,” Browne said.
A group of friends who grew up alongside Johnson created the JJCC to carry his memory forward, with a mission centered on enhancing social welfare across Howard County. Browne, a longtime member of the community and a familiar face at Howard County schools, was asked to run day-to-day operations.
In the years since, JJCC’s reach has stretched across the county: funding for a community garden near Atholton High School, support for a family after their son was killed in an act of violence at the mall, an annual teacher appreciation celebration at Reckless Shepherd Brewery, and scholarship dollars for Howard Community College students.
“It’s really just about doing good in our Columbia/Howard County community for those in need,” Browne said.
Connecting with Columbia Community Care
JJCC’s connection to Columbia Community Care (CCC) came through a mutual friend who knew Erika Chavarria, CCC’s founder. Browne didn’t need much convincing once he understood the mission.
“Erika was a teacher and when the world got shut down, her brain immediately thought, how am I going to feed my kids,” Browne said. “I was like, you know what, I can help out. I’ve got time. So I put myself in that position, too.”
The partnership was, in Browne’s words, “an easy match.”
From Idea to a Signature Night
The BonBon Holiday Bash started three years ago as an idea kicked around by a group of friends looking for a way to generate real fundraising firepower for CCC. Reckless Shepherd Brewery — owned by another member of the Oakland Mills community — offered the space. Nobody quite remembers how the theme landed on old-school rap and hip hop, but it stuck. It’s a genre that pulls a crowd of Columbia natives back to high school and draws visitors from across the Baltimore-Washington area for a good cause at an accessible price.
The first year came with a steep learning curve, but it was a hit with the community. Since then, the event has built a following for ticket sales and is deepening relationships with corporate sponsors as it continues to grow.
“We’re still figuring it out, but I think we’re starting to master the secret sauce,” he said.
This year is the 3rd Annual BonBon Holiday Bash, once again hosted by Reckless Shepherd Brewery on Thursday, December 3, 2026, featuring Erick Sermon of EPMD and Dres of Black Sheep, along with food, cocktails, a raffle, and CCC’s community toy drive, which delivers an overwhelming outpouring of gifts to local families every year. CCC and the JJCC are aiming to sell 500 to 600 tickets and are actively inviting new corporate sponsors to join the circle of longtime supporters.
Be Part of It
Every ticket and sponsorship dollar goes directly toward CCC’s hunger relief work across Howard County. Sponsorship packages include VIP and general admission tickets, recognition for your company before and during the event, and opportunities for a back stage meet and greet with the performers.
Bring a toy: New, unwrapped toys collected at the door for local kids
Interested in sponsoring? Contact Erika Chavarria at echavarria@columbiacommunitycare.org
