2013-14 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington

1. C ATA L O G U E F O R P H I L A N T H R O P Y
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Greater Washington
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G R E AT E R W A S H I N G T O N 2 0 1 3 - 1 4
CATALOGUE FOR P H I L A N T H RO P Y:
A G U I DE TO G IVI NG 2013-14

2. 2013-14 CHARITIES
{index }
Contents
501cTECH 50
Adventure Theatre MTC 13
2
Arlington Outdoor Education Association
what we do and why you should care
9
Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network (A-SPAN) 49
4
ArtStream 19
the catalogue is made possible by ...
Asian American LEAD 27
7
AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps 51
NATURE
Ayuda 55
11
CULTURE
The Barker Foundation 35
Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad 45
performing & literary arts
BUILD Metro DC 31
community arts
21
Capital Area Asset Builders 57
Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition 55
EDUCATION
Capital Fringe 15
literacy & learning
Carpenter’s Shelter 49
enrichment
Center for Inspired Teaching 29
47 Georgetown Ministry Center
27 Global Kids
29 Hillside Work - Scholarship Connection
44 Hope for Henry Foundation
41 The House, Student Leadership Center
57 Housing Initiative Partnership
12 The In Series
47 Jobs Have Priority
17 Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
15 Joy of Motion Dance Center
57 Jubilee Jobs
55 Just Neighbors
37 Kids R First
25 Language ETC
26 Literacy Council of Montgomery County
22 The Literacy Lab
The Choral Arts Society of Washington 13
33
Christ Child Society of Washington DC 35
HUMAN SERVICES
39 Mary House
53 Mentoring Today
City Blossoms 56
children, youth & families
City Kids Wilderness Project 37
health, mental health & aging
Collegiate Directions, Inc 31
hunger, homelessness & housing
legal services & justice programs
community development, life skills & employment
58
62
64
65
catalogue charities 2003 - 2012
cool things you can do at cfp-dc.org
acknowledgments
index
cover photograph by: Brittany Johnson, Courtesy of Joy of Motion Dance Center
nonprofit support
Community Family Life Services 41
Court Appointed Special Advocates/Prince George’s County 39
CREATE Arts Center 17
Critical Exposure 19
DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy 41
DC Creative Writing Workshop 19
DC Diaper Bank 35
DC Hunger Solutions 49
DC SCORES 37
Downtown Cluster’s Geriatric Day Care Center 43
Earth Sangha
8
Emerging Scholars 29
Employment Justice Center 53
The Family Place 39
First Generation College Bound 31
FRESHFARM Markets 9
23 New Community for Children
23 One World Education
13 PEN/Faulkner Foundation
45 Potomac Community Resources
9 Potomac Conservancy
16 Project Create
51 Public Allies Washington, DC
47 Rachael’s Women’s Center
23 Reach Incorporated
25 The Reading Connection
25 Reading Partners
27 Resources for Inner City Children (RICH)
43 Senior Services of Alexandria
15 Split This Rock
51 Stone Soup Films
53 Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
43 Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
45 Yellow Ribbon Fund
17 Young Playwrights’ Theater

3. Photographer Josh Marks, Courtesy of Center for Inspired Teaching
GIVE
W H E R E YO U
LIVE
The Catalogue’s mission is to create strong and vibrant communities
by connecting caring citizens with worthy community causes.

4. WHAT WE DO
And Why You Should Care
vetting and selecting
creating the story
The Catalogue assembles an extraordinary team
of 120 expert program and financial reviewers
from the foundation, corporate and philanthropic
advisory communities to evaluate hundreds of
applications, and we make sure finalists have been
successfully site visited. In other words, we do the
hard work for you. From the environment, to arts,
to education and human services, we select the
best … and turn the rest over to you.
We take a 3000-word application and turn it into
a compelling 170-word story – with imagery that
brings it to life. We convey, in a human voice, the
need that a charity meets, the programs that are
at the core of what they do, and the impact they
have on the community. Most small nonprofits
don’t have communications staff to do this work
for them. Telling their stories, in words and
images, is what we do.

5. training and educating
spreading the word
You know the proverb: give a man a fish and you
feed him for a day, teach him how to fish …. At
the Catalogue, we don’t merely hand out fish. We
create resources and run workshops throughout
the year, on fundraising, marketing, communications, and more. We make sure that our charities
know how to reach out and create relationships.
And we partner with others to bring the best programs to our nonprofits – at no cost.
Our print Catalogue goes out to 25,000 people
and our website touches thousands more. Our
corporate portals reach people at work and our
school portals reach children and their parents in
the classroom and at home. The Catalogue’s
stamp of approval, visible on nonprofit websites,
in storefront windows, and elsewhere around
town, sends the message that Catalogue charities
can be trusted. Spread the word!
KEEP THE CATALOGUE FREE!
We do all of this at no cost to donors and nonprofits. But we can’t do it without your help.
Join with us and make a donation to the Catalogue: online at cfp-dc.org, via the Giving Form
in the middle of this book, or by phone at 202.955.6538.

6. T H E C ATA L O G U E I S M A D E P O S S I B L E B Y . . .
founde r
Harman Family Foundation
partne r
Raffa, PC
inve stor
360 Live Media, Don Neal and Family
CGI
Donald Graham
Harman Cain Family Foundation, Barbara Harman and William Cain
J Willard and Alice S Marriott Foundation
Meyer Foundation
Webber Family Foundation
ally
Allstate
Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation
The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region
Jeff Fergus and Jo Ousterhout
Integrity Management Consulting
JBG Companies
Ketchum
Michael Lainoff and Kathryn Kincaid
National Strategies Group, the Keller Family
George Schindler and Family
Shakespeare Theatre Company at the Harman Center for the Arts
UBS Private Wealth Management, Rod von Lipsey
The Washington Post Company

7. frie nd
Booz Allen Hamilton
Jones Day
Capital Group Private Client Services
Jovid Foundation
Mitchell and Monica Dolin
Matthew Korn and Cynthia Miller
Family Foundation
Irwin and Ginny Edlavitch Foundation
Joan Fabry and Michael Klein
FBB Capital Partners
Gannett Foundation
Elisabeth Lardner
Noni and Rich Lindahl
Maple Tree Fund
Jennifer Hillman
Judith Mazo
Sandra Hoehne
Connie Rydberg and Nirav Kapadia
Stacy Sharpe Jones and Lamont Jones
David S Shrager Foundation
Claude and Nancy Keener Charitable Fund
Robert Siciliano
The Korzeniewski Family
Scott and Carol Ann Smallwood
Landon Butler and Company
Mark Srere and Jayne Jerkins
Richard E and Nancy P Marriott Foundation
George Vradenburg
National Geographic Society
Otto-Whalley Family Foundation
PEPCO
Kathy and Tom Raffa
Victor Shargai and Craig Pascal
Sidgmore Family Foundation
Wells Fargo
supporte r
Samuel Ackerman and Elizabeth Dixon
Oktay Dogramaci and Jesse Meiller
Linda and John Donovan
Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation
Clare Herington and Laurence Platt
Elizabeth Hudson
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
contributor
Michael A’Hearn, William Ackerman, Amy Austin, Sylvia
and John Barry, Julie Chapman, Margaret Clark, Rose Ann
Cleveland, Polly Craighill, Peter and Mercedes Cutler, Jason
Denby, Kelley Ellsworth, Michael Farrell, Lynne Filderman,
Patricia and Ronald Flagg, Terry Garcia, Jean Gilbert, Mary
Cornelia Ginn, Warren Gump, Walter and Cathy Isaacson,
Jerome A Kaplan and Deena L Kaplan Family Foundation,
Cookie Kerxton, James L Kincaid, Michael Lang, Marie
Lerch, Herbert J and Dianne J Lerner Foundation, Mickey
and Bill Lively, Dianne Lorenz, Mason Parson Family
Foundation, Marget Maurer, James McCaffery and Wilma
Gormley, William and Karin Moller, Nick and Tyan Ragone,
Lorraine and David Rhoad, Maureen Ruettgers, Sherry
Saunders and Joseph Rees, Adam Shapiro, Laura Sherman,
Susan and Martin Sherwin, Nancy G Sherwood and Roger
Aldridge, Erika Singer, Richard Sniffin, Sprenger-Lang
Foundation, Nancy and Wayne Swartz, Anne Urban and
Peter Yeo, Paul Weech and Ellen Suthers, Mary Weinmann,
Thomas Wisnowski, Rivka Yerushalmi, Kathleen Zeifang

8. Photographer Melanie Lowe

9. There is something infinitely healing
in the repeated refrains of nature.
rachel carson
author and naturalist
N AT U R E
Beyond our narrow streets and crowded highways lies a wealth of natural resources – from
the Chesapeake Bay (the nation’s largest estuary) to the Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests,
from 7,400 acres of parkland in DC to 75,000 acres of farmland in Montgomery County.
Because the health of such resources is indelibly connected to the health of our communities, the environmental organizations in this year’s Catalogue have found unique ways to
sustain them – to see that fresh water, clean air, and healthy food remain abundant, and that
generations of young people grow up caring about the world we all inhabit. Some nonprofits guard and restore stream side areas, improving river access, and enabling local residents to take ownership of the waterways. Others revitalize meadows, fields, and streams,
and dedicate themselves to ecological restoration. Some provide hands-on environmental
education to thousands of school children, engaging tomorrow’s environmental stewards.
Still others strengthen the local and sustainable food movement and build economic opportunity for local farmers. All are working to create a healthier environment in our region.
From the 405 miles of the Potomac to the few blocks of a local market, natural resources
play a key role in our lives. Together, we can ensure their vitality – and our own.

10. Photographer Chris Bright, Courtesy of Earth Sangha
earth sangha
Some 1,000 native plant species occur naturally within 50 miles of the W I S H L I ST $100: 1 year of wild seed
Washington Monument, but even within our parks, native plants are under for 1 native plant species; $500: 1 year
siege by invasive alien plants, stormwater runoff, and a host of other pressures. of maintenance for an acre of local
Earth Sangha (“sangha” is a Buddhist term for community) maintains a Wild meadow; $1000: 5000 native tree
Plant Nursery, with over 250 native species in propagation (many are in decline seedlings for the Tree Bank program
in the wild, and all are grown from locally collected seeds), providing the most
comprehensive selection of native plant material in the region. Its restoration work – primarily invasive alien plant
control and native plant re-vegetation – reaches 10 field sites a year and includes stream-buffer, forest, and meadow restoration. The School Greening program supplies native plants for gardening projects at 45 local elementary
schools. In Hispaniola, where reinventing agriculture is the best hope for fighting poverty, the Tree Bank program
protects and restores tropical forests on 40 farms. Most of us cannot name the plants we see daily or recognize an
eroding streambank. Earth Sangha works to repair the disconnection between our lives and our landscape.
Chris Bright, President . 10123 Commonwealth Boulevard, Fairfax VA 22032 . Tel 703 764 4830 . earthsangha.org

11. 9
N AT U R E
arlington outdoor e ducation association
Dr Phoebe Hall Knipling was a remarkable woman by anyone’s standards: the
science supervisor for Arlington County Public Schools (and first woman to
$1000: durable recycled rubber floor hold the position in the Commonwealth of Virginia), she knew, well before
for the animal care room the rest of us, that environmental education was absolutely essential to the
development of young people. In 1967 she located and raised funds for what
became the Arlington Outdoor Education Association’s Outdoor Lab, a 225-acre facility that includes a springfed stream, pond, nature hiking trails, plant and animal identification areas, camping sites, a classroom, an animal lab, and an observatory with a 10" reflecting telescope. Each year 9,000 Arlington County Public School
children come face-to-face with native creatures, walk the woods, learn about the terrain and plant life, and
study the extraordinary skies. And perhaps most importantly, they learn that education is active and alive.
AOEA’s brand-new animal lab houses its collection of native snakes and reptiles, as well as classroom space for
environmental and science education. This exceptional resource touches thousands of lives. You can too.
W I S H L I ST
$300: 1 tent for campers;
$500: a large turtle habitat tank;
Mike Nardolilli, President . PO Box 5646, Arlington VA 22205 . Tel 240 313 8450 . outdoorlab.org
fre shfarm markets
At 10 producer-only farmer’s markets around the region, residents have the
delectable opportunity to buy local food directly from the farmers who
$750: sustainable agriculture workshop grow it. Supporting 150 small family farmers and artisanal food producers
for 1 farmer; $1000: supplies for 1 from the Chesapeake Bay region, FRESHFARM Markets educates the
month of FoodPrints classes for 550 kids public about food and the environment, sustains the local food economy,
and works to ensure wide access to breads, meats, dairy, and many locally
grown and handmade products. A Matching Dollars program offers a match for those on SNAP (food
stamps), WIC, or Senior Nutrition Coupons. Additionally, each market partners with a neighborhood emergency provider, donating leftover food for use in its daily menus. The Farmer Fund enables farmers and producers to learn more about sustainable farming, while FoodPrints shares the benefits of cooking with over
600 DC-area schoolchildren every year. The weekly markets bring the wealth of 10,000 acres of farmland
into the heart of the city – along with demonstrations by 120 chefs, nutrition educators, and cookbook
authors. FRESHFARM preserves land and fills plates. There are so many ways to serve!
W I S H L I ST $250: fresh
food for 5 families
for 1 month through Matching Dollars;
Bernadine Prince and Ann Yonkers, Co-Executive Directors . PO Box 15691, Washington DC 20003 . Tel 202 362 8889 . freshfarmmarkets.org
potomac conse rvancy
Since the days when George Washington built his home along its banks, the
Potomac River has been an anchor for our region’s identity – and the source
flotation devices for canoeing programs; of 80% of its drinking water. The wildest river running through an urban area
$1000: supplies for 300 volunteers at 12 anywhere on earth, it is home to more than 200 rare species and natural comtrash cleanup and stewardship events munities. But rapid population growth has put tremendous pressure on water
and land resources. A regional leader in safeguarding the lands and waters of
the river and its tributaries, Potomac Conservancy is providing effective, long-term conservation solutions and
building an active base of local river advocates. Its programs address harmful land-use practices that contribute
to polluted urban runoff, degraded water quality, and the loss of open space and forested areas. Tree plantings,
river cleanups, seed collections, and other hands-on conservation activities improve the local environment and
empower individuals to make a difference in their communities, leaving a legacy of clean water for generations
to come. The Potomac faces unprecedented challenges – but you can be part of a beautiful, lasting solution.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 20 native trees to
plant on the shores; $500: 10 personal
Hedrick Belin, President . 8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 612, Silver Spring MD 20910 . Tel 301 608 1188 ext 202 . potomac.org

12. Photographer Sarah Gingold, thinkoutsidethestore.com, Courtesy of CREATE Arts Center

13. Logic will get you from A to B.
Imagination will take you everywhere.
albert einstein
scientist and nobel laureate
C U LT U R E
Storytelling has drawn people together since the beginning of civilization. To this day, stories have a unique ability to energize, excite, and unite. From a theatrical performance that
holds the audience in suspense to a dance that thrills onlookers with its speed and rhythm
to a film that highlights critical social inequalities, art can connect our whole community.
Arts education also builds tenacity and confidence while encouraging students to collaborate and think creatively. Yet across the country, opportunities are shrinking. 97% of elementary schools do not provide dance, 96% do not offer theater, and two-thirds of public
school teachers believe that the arts are “crowded out of the school day,” reports Americans
for the Arts. That is why the nonprofits featured here are so vital to our communities: they
keep creativity alive. Each day, they teach youth to advocate for change through photography, provide space and resources for local theater companies to thrive, offer dance classes and concerts to those of all ages and abilities, teach creative writing and poetry to atrisk students, promote art therapy and theatrical opportunities for adults with special
needs, produce affordable operas and choral events, and see that music and art make their
way into our schools and out onto our streets. Theirs is a story worth telling.

14. Photographer Paul Aebersold, Courtesy of The In Series
the in se rie s
Showcasing the talent of performing artists in DC, The In Series offers a unique W I S H L I ST $250: school performance fee
blend of accessible and affordable chamber opera, Spanish Zarzuela (light opera), for 1 actor and 1 musician; $500: cash
cabaret, and dance. Creating intimate environments in which to experience the awards for 4 first-prize winners of DC
arts, its “pocket-opera” programs present newly-commissioned productions in Youth Bilingual Poetry Contest; $1000:
English, and in Spanish for an ever-growing Latino population, and emphasize electronic keyboard for music rehearsals
their universal relevance to our lives. Sharing music as a personal experience,
telling stories of universal appeal in small “chamber” settings, and focusing on their human essence – all these open
doors to new cultural connections for audience members. The 2013-14 season features a fresh English adaptation
of Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio set in the Wild West, a ballet-opera by Puccini, and a Cabaret Latino. Free
outreach events include everything from kid-friendly introductions to opera for schoolchildren, to salon-style discussion-performances, to the DC Youth Bilingual Poetry Contest. Now in its 32nd season, and sixth year in residence at Source, the In Series is poised for growth – in audience, reach, and volume. Are you In?
Carla Hübner, Artistic Director and Executive Producer . 1835 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 204 7760 . inseries.org

15. 13
C U LT U R E
performing & literary arts
pe n/faulkne r foundation
Named for William Faulkner (who used his Nobel Prize funds to create an
award for young writers) and for PEN, the international writers organization,
$500: a full author visit including book PEN/Faulkner brings writers and readers together to foster a literate, creative
donations; $1000: 1 semester of author society. Perhaps best known for its fiction awards, it also hosts one of the most
visits to a single English classroom distinguished literary series in the country, presenting 20-30 new, emerging, and
master authors every year. The newly-expanded Writers in Schools program
brings nationally recognized authors into DC classrooms (and the DC jail) and provides free copies of their books
to participating students and teachers. Its book groups for teen parents at Anacostia, Wilson, Cardozo, Dunbar, and
Bell Multicultural high schools provide books, lunch, author visits, and book discussions on a bi-monthly basis.
These visits are immediate, personal encounters between living writers and young people that spark a renewed
interest in literature; students express astonishment that a “famous” writer has taken them seriously and inspired
in them a desire to write. You can support this great program and help keep reading and writing alive.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 set of children’s
books for the Teen Parent Book Club;
Emma Snyder, Executive Director . 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington DC 20003 . Tel 202 898 9061 . penfaulkner.org
the choral arts society of washington
Let’s start with the numbers: 170 volunteer singers, 700 alumni, and 20,000
audience members. Notable numbers, but they are only part of Choral Arts’
50 Tango Student Concert tickets; 49-year song. One of the premiere symphonic choruses in the country, it
$1000: MLK concert for 20 community has sung under the world’s leading conductors and orchestras, recorded 18
partners at the Kennedy Center albums, and toured the world. It also boasts a wide range of local education
programs: two annual concerts for 2,600 students and teachers, curricula
for K-12 educators looking to unite academics and music, a partner high school program that reaches 1,200
teens, and a community ticketing initiative that offers free concert experiences to clients of nonprofits and
members of the military, ensuring that great music is available to all. Each year, over 3,000 young people
take part in the Living the Dream/Singing the Dream concert, honoring Martin Luther King, Jr and celebrating his legacy here in Washington. The 2008 recipient of the Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding
Contribution to Arts Education, Choral Arts has a powerful song to sing. Catalogue donors: sing along!
W I S H L I ST
$100: music-integrated
resources for 1 classroom; $500:
Debra L Kraft, Executive Director . 5225 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 603, Washington DC 20015 . Tel 202 244 3669 . choralarts.org
adve nture theatre mtc
The longest-running professional theatre for children and families in the DC
region, Adventure Theatre has begun a brand new act: in 2012, it merged
performance by a touring company; with Musical Theater Center, uniting award-winning children’s productions
$1000: all the props for a professional with high-quality musical theater education. Today, ATMTC enthralls 75,000
production based on a classic book young people (and parents), cultivating the next generation of artists and lifelong audience members. From Winnie the Pooh to A Little House Christmas,
classic stories come to life on the Adventure MTC stage. After the show, audiences can peer behind the curtain during “meet the artists” events and post-show conversations. ATMTC Academy offers voice and dance
classes, fully-realized productions (performed exclusively by youth actors), and student ensembles that tour the
region. Thanks to a need-based scholarship program, classes are open and accessible to all. An active outreach
program offers free and discounted tickets, free touring productions, in-school arts residency programs, and
autism and sensory-friendly performances for children with disabilities. Theater is a great adventure, one that
welcomes children of all backgrounds and interests. You can bring up the lights.
W I S H L I ST
$100: costumes for
4 student actors; $500: a school
Janet Berry, Managing Director . 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo MD 20812 . Tel 301 634 2265 . adventuretheatre-mtc.org

16. Photographer Delmon Lindsay/True Reflections, tr-inhisimage.com, Courtesy of Joy of Motion Dance Center

17. 15
C U LT U R E
performing & literary arts/community arts
joy of motion dance ce nte r
Dance is for Everyone! That is the rallying cry of Joy of Motion Dance Center,
Step Ahead teens; $500: 10 weeks which embraces a wide range of dance (and dancers) from Middle Eastern to
of Seniors in Motion at a DC com- flamenco, hip hop to ballet, West African to tap. Students are first-timers and
munity center; $1000: scholarship for professionals, from 13 months to 90 years. And for the dancers in Project
a youth dance company member Motion Community Outreach, all programs are free of charge: Motion Express
brings free dance classes and professional concerts to over 400 children in eight
partner schools in Northeast DC; Step Ahead provides 50 teens with a summer dance intensive that is also a job
skills and career exploration opportunity; Seniors in Motion enriches the lives of older folks through gentle (yet
upbeat!) dance classes at nine senior and wellness centers; scholarships ensure that all young dancers can advance
their education through JOMDC’s vibrant program. Reaching 60,000 individuals a year through classes, concerts, companies, partnerships, and outreach, JOMDC is dedicated to creating communities that dance – and
ensuring that dance’s many benefits and pleasures are accessible to all. Spread the joy.
W I S H L I ST
$100: jazz shoes for 4
Douglas E Yeuell, Executive Director . 1333 H Street NE, Washington DC 20002 . Tel 202 399 6764 ext 160 . joyofmotion.org
split this rock
Split This Rock is dedicated to revitalizing poetry as a living, breathing art form
for the LTAB poetry competition; with profound relevance in our daily lives and struggles. Integrating poetry into
$500: one workshop by a notable poet; movements for social justice, it also supports poets – of all ages – who write and
$1000: support for poetry clubs at perform this vital work. Readings, workshops, colloquia, and contests; electron2 public high schools for a semester ic publications; and events that integrate poetry into social change movements
are all designed to bring poetry more centrally into the lives of all citizens. The
youth programs include the DC Youth Slam Team, the city-wide World & Me Poetry Contest, the Louder Than
a Bomb (LTAB) high school poetry competition, plus workshops, open mics, after-school clubs, and performances throughout DC. At the biennial Poetry Festival, poets from around the world converge on the U Street and
Columbia Heights neighborhoods for four days of readings, workshops, book fairs, and public action. Year round,
Split This Rock poets read at community events and appear in the media, discussing the role that art can play in
the improvement and forward momentum of our culture and society. One does not live by bread alone.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 registration
Sarah Browning, Executive Director . 1112 16th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20036 . Tel 202 787 5210 . splitthisrock.org
capital fringe
Take a community of emerging artists who need opportunities to share and
develop their work. Pair that with an adventurous local audience, eager to
for 1 summer Festival Artist; $1500: experience all that is innovative and cutting-edge. Then watch Capital Fringe
2 artist stipends for participation unfold. Since 2005, the summer Fringe Festival has infused palpable energy
in the 2014 fallFRINGE Festival into the local arts scene – selling 29,000 tickets to 130 productions at over
20 venues around the city just last year. The festival is unjuried and open to
all; Capital Fringe provides the performance space, staffing, and promotion, enabling each group to focus on
the art. And the majority of ticket revenue (60% on average) goes back to the artists. Launched in 2009,
fallFRINGE offers extended runs at new venues for standout pieces from the summer festival; the year-round
Training Factory provides development opportunities for established and emerging artists, from a solo performance roundtable to a How to Fringe workshop. What’s next? Securing a permanent home for Capital
Fringe and an energizing space where artists and audiences converge. You can help set the scene.
W I S H L I ST
$125: 2 5-gallon buckets
of primer paint; $575: participation fee
Julianne Brienza, Executive Director/Founding Member . 607 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 737 7230 . capitalfringe.org

18. Photographer Kat Forder, katforder.com, Courtesy of Project Create
project create
Project Create is an after-school arts program for children from Wards 7 and W I S H L I ST $150: 1 art class for 20
8 where nearly half of young people live in poverty. These are some of the students; $500: art supplies for one
most vulnerable children in the District – those who have experienced 15-week semester of classes; $2500:
hunger, witnessed violence, and lived on the streets – children who didn’t salary for 1 teaching artist for a year
choose their lives. At Project Create 150 kids get time to themselves, the
dedicated attention of a caring, creative adult, and the freedom to create, move, and explore – all scarce commodities amidst the stark realities of their lives. Classes in mixed media, graphic design, drawing and painting, dance, music, theater, and sculpture are small and personalized, and all are designed to spark creativity
and confidence while improving the prospects for academic and social success. Close partnerships with So
Others Might Eat and Community of Hope make Project Create’s programs accessible to homeless youngsters; and field trips to local cultural attractions and exhibits broaden their horizons. Over 360 after-school,
on-site art classes are slated for the coming year. You can be the donor who makes them happen.
Christie Walser, Executive Director . 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037 . Tel 202 660 2555 . projectcreatedc.org

19. 17
C U LT U R E
community arts
create arts ce nte r
As World War II raged, a seven year-old Jewish refugee learned from her mother
how to draw, sew, and create art – and so freed her mind from the danger and
supplies for 6 months of smARTkids chaos outside. Forty years later, seasoned arts educator and therapist Tamar
programming; $2000: full 8-week Hendel founded CREATE Arts Center to share the benefits of the creative arts
session of smARTkids for 10 students with every member of the community. In downtown Silver Spring, CREATE
offers ceramics, painting, sculpture, cartooning, and visual arts classes to children, adults, and families; it also provides art therapy for those with autism or other special needs. At four local
elementary schools, the flagship smARTkids program delivers free after-school arts programs and much-needed
creative outlets to students, the majority of whom are low-income and academically and socially at risk. Studio
Downstairs provides group art therapy to adults living with mental illness and trauma – enabling them to cope
with physical and emotional pain and to forge new connections. Through art, both children and adults achieve
expression and, ultimately, growth. You can give that experience to those who need it most.
WISH LIST
$200: 1 scholarship for
an 8-week painting class; $500: art
Heena Genti, Executive Director . 816 Thayer Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20910 . Tel 301 588 2787 . createartscenter.org
young playwrights’ theate r
It isn’t news that low-income, urban youth are especially at risk for disengagement
from school. Ethnically diverse and chronically underserved (98% qualify for
classroom of students; $500: under- the free or reduced-price lunch program), they need the cognitive, social, and
writing for a professional, staged personal skills that arts education is uniquely suited to offer but that today’s
reading; $5000: a semester of the stripped-down school budgets just don’t provide. Young Playwrights’ Theater
In-School Playwriting Program steps into the breach. Its in-school playwriting residency integrates artisttaught workshops into the DCPS curriculum. The program reaches students
with multiple learning styles, using the art of playwriting to enhance student literacy, creative expression, and
communication. It culminates in a New Play Festival of professional, fully-staged performances that honor
outstanding student work by performing it in public. The after-school program develops students’ creative
expression and collaboration by exploring theater as an ensemble; and a new, on-site workshop provides expanded
opportunities for more advanced and committed students to take playwriting to the next level. Finding – and
sharing – your voice can be a world-changing experience. You can be part of the transformation.
W I S H L I ST
$100: the first
playwriting workshop for a
Brigitte Pribnow Moore, Executive Director . 2437 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 387 9173 . yptdc.org
joe’s moveme nt emporium/world arts focus
Open 350 days a year for classes, rehearsals, performances, and arts education programs, Joe’s Movement Emporium is a hub of cultural and community activity.
stipends for 25 Theater Tech interns; The largest independent performing arts center in Prince George’s County, Joe’s
$1000: 2 months of “off-site” trips to keeps at-risk kids learning, moving, and creating. A safe after-school haven for
introduce kids to the world outside youth ages 5-13, Club Joe’s offers arts activities that nurture self-confidence and
self-esteem. Performing Arts Summer Camp for children 3-13 (the day runs from
7am to 6pm) focuses on in-depth study of cultures and their art forms. For teens, the Theater Tech Program teaches
the basics of working backstage along with academic and employment skills training, and a year of follow-up support. Joe’s also matches school teachers with local artists who enliven classroom lessons by infusing arts into the
curriculum. And year-round, anyone can swing by Joe’s for classes in yoga, hip hop, ballet, jazz, and tap, or a dance
concert in the intimate 150-seat theatre. There’s great synergy between artists and residents at Joe’s: together they
build community and arts and kids – for everyone’s greater good.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 week of camp
tuition for a low-income student; $500:
Brooke E Kidd, Executive Director . 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier MD 20712 . Tel 301 699 1819 . joesmovement.org

20. Photographer Alwyn Wagner, Courtesy of ArtStream

21. 19
C U LT U R E
community arts
artstream
Few theatres in our region provide challenging arts opportunities for adults
with disabilities and fewer still encourage those adults to be artists as well as
$500: self-advocacy workshop for adults audience members. Inspiring confidence in, and understanding of, those who
with disabilities; $1000: inclusive truly deserve it, ArtStream is one-of-a-kind. In seven “inclusive theatre comtuition costs for one company actor panies,” actors with disabilities (intellectual, developmental, physical) collaborate with theater professionals and trained volunteer mentors to develop and
present original musical theater productions. They can also refine their skills between shows – thanks to classes
in acting, theater games, and artistic process. Private lessons in drama and social skills are also open to all. And
the arts can heal, just as they can educate and entertain, so ArtStream’s Allies in the Arts brings highly-trained
artists into Walter Reed Medical Center, enabling wounded veterans to channel pain and trauma into creative
work. Partnerships with schools, community organizations, and learning centers ensure that adults and children
can access arts in a way that is meaningful, powerful, and healing. Your contribution makes it happen.
W I S H L I ST
$100: supplies for bedside
visual arts for Wounded Warriors;
Patricia Woolsey, Executive Director . 620 Pershing Drive, Silver Spring MD 20910 . Tel 301 565 4567 . art-stream.org
critical expo sure
First, capture your world; then, change it. That is the guiding principle of
Critical Exposure, which empowers underserved DC youth through
for new CE students; $1000: photography, writing, and advocacy. In a series of workshops, 130 students
printing and framing for 10 student learn the fundamentals of digital photography: composition, framing, lightphotographs at a gallery exhibition ing, and perspective. Then they put their training to work, using cameras and
the written word to document the issues that matter most to them: youth
unemployment, the school-to-prison pipeline, teen pregnancy, and the lack of nutritious food in schools.
Public exhibits inform and engage the community as do meetings with legislators, public hearings, and press
conferences. Engaging youth in the policy-making process not only teaches civic engagement and leadership,
but also forges connections between those who make policy and those who profoundly feel its day-to-day
effects. Visits from professional photographers also encourage students to see photography as a career – and a
life-long outlet for self-expression. The union between art and advocacy creates a sense of empowerment that
is otherwise in very short supply for these kids. You can be part of the picture.
W I S H L I ST
$35: framed print of a
student photo; $150: 2 digital cameras
Adam Levner, Executive Director . 1816 12th Street NW, Third Floor, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 745 3745 ext 19 . criticalexposure.org
dc creative writing workshop
In the Congress Heights neighborhood, one in every three adults lacks a high
school diploma and 7% of residents never began 9th grade. For youth at Simon
$500: stipend for a Young Writer-in- Elementary, Hart Middle, and Ballou High schools, the obstacles to graduation
Residence; $1500: production costs loom large. But DC Creative Writing Workshop believes that, through the power
for 1 issue of a school literary magazine of the written word, students can persevere and flourish. Professional writers-inresidence collaborate with each school’s English teachers to provide intensive literacy instruction and weekly creative writing classes. Young writers also meet after school to discuss great writers,
master new vocabulary and literary devices, and build public speaking skills by reciting poetry for their peers. The
next step is publication, and literary magazines at all schools showcase student poems and stories. Students in the
Drama Club have modernized works by nearly all the classic playwrights (from Sophocles to Aristophanes), then
performed and filmed their adaptations; the Workshop stages the premieres – red carpet and all. 500 aspiring writers join each year. You can add your creative power, and creative philanthropy, to the story.
W I S H L I ST
$100: participation in
a local poetry reading for 1 class;
Nancy Schwalb, Founder & Executive Director . 601 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington DC 20032 . Tel 202 297 1957 . dccww.org

23. He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
victor hugo
novelist
E D U C AT I O N
American poet Robert Frost once said, “I am not a teacher, but an awakener." Yet, in a sense,
those roles are always – or should always be – one and the same. The process of education
is a process of awakening. Through education we uncover new possibilities, learn to question the world around us, and set new courses for our lives. Yet too many youngsters never
finish high school while countless others lack the resources to pursue higher education.
Here in the District, only 59% of students complete high school in four years. And of those
who do go on to college, just 38% will graduate in five years (that’s 22 of every 100 who
matriculate). And without a diploma, options are greatly limited: in 2012, well over 40% of
all job openings required a bachelor’s degree. Because each student takes a different path,
the nonprofits in this year’s Catalogue are reaching and serving students at every stage in
their growth: from reading intervention and basic literacy for young children to English and
citizenship classes for adults and recent immigrants, from after-school enrichment for
teenagers to college readiness and college access programs for high school seniors. These
community-based organizations are ensuring that students of all ages have the tools, skills,
and resources to be successful in the classroom, the community, and beyond. From learning
the colors on a stoplight to mastering multivariable equations, education can be truly transformational. Let’s make sure that everyone has the opportunity to wake up.

24. Photographer Nouf Mallouh/Sharon Levy, Courtesy of The Literacy Lab
the lite racy lab
Students reading below grade level at the end of 3rd grade are four times W I S H L I ST $100: 20 sets of
less likely to graduate from high school on time – a sobering statistic for books (3 per set) for young readers;
the 81% of DC’s 4th graders whose reading levels put them on track for $500: 2 parent workshops to support
failure in middle and high school. The Literacy Lab is devoted to increas- reading at home; $1000: sponsorship
ing low-income children’s basic literacy skills. It provides intensive reading of 1 child for a full school year
intervention to 250 students in grades K-5, all of whom qualify for free or
reduced-price lunch, and each of whom has fallen an average of two years behind. Trained, professional
instructors begin with a comprehensive assessment, create a personal plan for each child (focused on phonics, fluency, and comprehension), and meet one-on-one, or in groups of two or three, twice a week. And
the intense focus pays off: students in the Literacy Lab’s 50-hour program jump an average of 1.5 grade levels. Given a 5-star rating for three straight years by DCPS, the Literacy Lab brings to young DC students
the ability to read, and the opportunity to succeed – in school and in life.
Ashley Johnson, Co-Executive Director . PO Box 3462, Washington DC 20010 . Tel 202 494 3050 . theliteracylab.org

25. 23
E D U C AT I O N
literacy & learning
one world e ducation
In DC, nearly nine out of ten students in grades 8-12 write at a “basic” or
“below basic” level, unable to put into words what they want or need to say.
professional development session for 5 So at One World Education, writing is the first and primary focus. The One
teachers; $1000: One World Writing World Writing Program teaches students to craft exemplary original work
Program for an entire high school about issues that matter to them, from cultural heritage to global conflict.
Beginning in 2013, OWEd will implement the program in every 9th and 10th
grade DC public school literacy class. For years, DCPS has held teachers accountable for meeting rigorous standards but not provided them with the resources they need to do so. Now, 140 teachers will have new tools,
guides, and professional development opportunities to teach one of the most critical (and difficult) skills: selfexpression. Students publish their final writing projects on the OWEd website and Student Ambassadors present their writing, and field questions, at local bookstores, allowing successful young writers to showcase what
they have accomplished. What could be more essential than learning to write about your world?
W I S H L I ST
$375: writing books and
lesson plans for 1 class; $500:
Eric Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director . 1800 Kenyon Street NW, Washington DC 20010 . Tel 202 558 8899 . oneworldeducation.org
new community for childre n
Too often, poverty, poor academic performance, low graduation rates, and
unemployment go hand-in-hand. But in the Shaw community of DC, 100
horticulture; $500: 6 weeks of summer students have an alternative, a “home away from home” where they can tackle
camp for 1 child; $2000: after-school reading, math, science, and social studies and take charge of their futures. At
programming for 1 student for 6 months New Community for Children, kids in grades K-4 focus on core skills, receive
homework help, work with a tutor, and read with a reading buddy. Activities for
grades 5-12 are designed to enrich and enhance reading, writing, speaking, math, and science skills; photography,
dance, gardening, entrepreneurship and college and career exploration round out the program. Family engagement
is essential, and workshops aid parents in combating summer learning loss and building reading skills. In addition,
NCFC empowers families to make choices about education, working closely with interested students as they apply
for financial aid and transition to private, parochial, or charter schools that offer more rigorous college preparatory
programs. College is the goal for all NCFC students. With your support, it can be their reality.
W I S H L I ST
$100: gardening supplies for
50 kids learning about nutrition and
Nadine Duplessy Kearns, Executive Director . 1722 6th Street NW, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 232 0457 ext 3 . ncfc-dc.org
reach incorporate d
By 3rd grade, more than half of DC students have already fallen behind in
reading. This shortfall has serious, long-term implications because ability in
children’s book titles; $1000: engaging reading is the strongest predictor of high school completion, college success,
summer reading books for 25 students and stable employment. So Reach Incorporated takes a novel approach. It
recruits as tutors teens who have experienced significant academic failure
themselves. Seasoned teachers guide them in preparing lesson plans with a focus on decoding and comprehension skills, and Reach Inc entrusts them with the responsibility of tutoring elementary school students in need.
The tutors gain 140 hours of teaching (and learning) experience a year – and, significantly, 97% stay in school.
Their young charges receive more than 70 extra hours of reading instruction. The results? Both groups experience significant growth: 2.5 years for the tutors, and 1.5 for their tutees. Tutors are also compensated for their
work, enabling them to develop job skills along with educational aptitude. For the teens who learn by teaching,
and for the children who benefit, it’s a win-win – and one that you can support.
W I S H L I ST
$100: tutor stipend for
one month; $500: classroom sets of 4
Mark Hecker, Executive Director . 218 D Street SE, Washington DC 20003 . Tel 215 205 9902 . reachincorporated.org

26. Photographer Judy Hijikata, Courtesy of The Reading Connection

27. 25
E D U C AT I O N
literacy & learning
the reading connection
The world of books offers children endless opportunities for discovery and
adventure, learning and development. For 25 years, The Reading Connection
participation by a family of 4 for has helped open up that world to at-risk children and parents by bringing lit1 year; $2500: 1 year of training eracy services and programs into emergency shelters, domestic violence safe
for 160 Read Aloud volunteers houses, long-term shelters, and transitional housing. And as families move to
more permanent homes, The Reading Connection puts books on their shelves
and integrates literature into their lives. Read-Aloud trains volunteers to read to, and engage with, children in local
shelters; Book Club makes available to families brand new books and reading activities; Reading Families
Workshops help adults increase their confidence about reading to their children; and ongoing training allows social
workers and staff to further their knowledge about language play and acquisition. The Reading Connection serves
over 1,500 children and 400 families at 20 different partner sites in DC and Northern Virginia – putting 11,000
new books into the hands of over 1,500 children a year. Your help opens new chapters in their lives.
W I S H L I ST
$100: a Parent Workshop
for 2 families; $500: Book Club
Courtney Kissell, Executive Director . 4001 N 9th Street, Suite 226, Arlington VA 22203 . Tel 703 528 8317 ext 12 . thereadingconnection.org
reading partne r s
More than four out of five. That is how many 4th graders in DC public schools
read below grade-level. For students who are falling behind, early intervention is
school year; $500: restocks the Take critical in securing a better future, both in school and in life. Reading Partners
Reading Home Library; $1000: provides that intervention – and also opportunities for growth and advancement.
supports 1 student for an entire year At 12 elementary schools across five wards, Reading Partners transforms a simple
space into a welcoming reading center stocked with books. It then trains 40-100
community volunteers at each site to provide one-on-one instruction to struggling readers from low-income communities. Tutors follow a research-based, structured curriculum; seasoned educators oversee school sites; and students
are assessed three times a year to ensure forward momentum. The Take Reading Home program provides students
with free, age-appropriate material to start home libraries, and a biannual Reading Recital gives students the chance
to share their new skills with their families. They have plenty to share: typically students more than double their rate
of learning during their time with Reading Partners. Your support opens books, and worlds, for so many.
W I S H L I ST
$100: buys learning
supplies for 1 Reading Center for the
Lisa Lazarus, Executive Director . 600 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington DC 20037 . Tel 202 664 2890 . readingpartners.org/washington
language etc
For many foreign-born residents (over 11% in DC), English classes cost money
and demand time that they simply do not have. Yet limited language skills mean
classes; $360: a full year of tuition for fewer employment prospects, less access to health care, and, often, greater isola1 student; $1000: volunteer training tion. That is why some 1,400 people seek out Language ETC each year. A
for 1 term for over 300 volunteers sequence of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at an array of times and
levels ensures that all students feel comfortable and challenged; full and partial
scholarships are available and no one is turned away for financial reasons. Free individual tutoring, conversation and
writing courses, and job interview and community service workshops further build language skills and empower
LETC students to reach their professional goals, as do affordable computer and citizenship classes. An abundance of
volunteer tutors (350 at last count) enables LETC to supplement its offerings and provide much-needed one-onone assistance. For many students, LETC is a community as much as a classroom – the place where they learn, connect, and take the first steps toward achieving the American dream. Help make this dream a reality.
W I S H L I ST
$120: tuition for 1
student for a 3-month term of English
Mercedes Lemp, Executive Director . 2200 California Street NW, Washington DC 20008 . Tel 202 387 2412 . languageetc.org

28. Photographer Mario Quiroz, Courtesy of Literacy Council of Montgomery County
lite racy council of montgome ry county
Reading, speaking, and writing are activities so integral to daily life that we W I S H L I ST $100: 5 spelling or prooften take them for granted. But for the 135,000 residents of Montgomery nunciation books; $500: 25 student
County who are “limited English proficient,” simple tasks like filling out a job subscriptions to News for You, a lowapplication, or scribbling a permission slip for a child’s field trip, pose near- literacy newspaper; $1000: books for
impossible challenges. For the past 50 years, the Literacy Council of 40 adults in English for Daily Living
Montgomery County has helped make those tasks easier for more than 15,000
adult learners. Through one-on-one Basic Literacy and ESL tutoring and classes, LCMC provides cost-effective
instruction to both foreign-born and native-born students who have limited flexibility in their schedules, may
not be comfortable in large classes, or may simply need to learn at their own pace. It also offers online and computer-based instruction, conversation classes, family and workplace-focused literacy courses, and English for
Daily Living – all of which give students the skills and vocabulary to navigate school, work, and community.
Over 30 classes at six sites will reach nearly 1,600 adults next year. Your gift puts their dreams into words.
Martha E Stephens, Executive Director . 21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 320, Rockville MD 20850 . Tel 301 610 0030 . literacycouncilmcmd.org

29. 27
E D U C AT I O N
enrichment
re source s for inne r city childre n (rich)
From learning-disabled students who have reached high school without mastering basic literacy skills, to high-achieving students who are not challenged in
$500: tutoring for an at-risk student daily classes, to those in between (one-third of all students) who are failing at
for 1 semester; $5000: 7-day college least one class, RICH provides support and enrichment across the spectrum to
tour for 10 honor roll students students at the Academies for Anacostia and Cesar Chavez PCS. Using a cadre of
skilled professionals, RICH reaches over 250 children a year (80% of whom
receive free or reduced-price lunch) with programs tailored to their needs. Students who have fallen behind receive
small group tutoring; those who have progressed beyond tutoring are closely monitored. At Saturday Academies,
students relearn fundamentals and classroom material, resulting in an average 1.5 grade point improvement, and a
task force focuses on those at risk for truancy. The WordSTARS program targets learning-disabled youth who have
stalled at a first or second grade level. To high-achieving students, RICH offers the competitive MATHletes
program, peer-tutor training, and the tools to make college a reality. You can make it happen.
W I S H L I ST
$100: sponsorship of the
MATHletes team at a competition;
Paul Penniman, Executive Director . 1431 Howard Road SE, Washington DC 20020 . Tel 202 966 4814 . resourcesforinnercitychildren.org
global kids
Full and active participation in a democracy requires skills, knowledge, and a
global education. But too often, students here in our democracy’s capital do not
for 2 students for Global Kids DC receive the education they need to be engaged citizens. Global Kids was foundSummer Institute; $1000: 3 weeks of ed to change that. Focused on under-resourced schools and neighborhoods, it
intensive summer learning for 1 student provides DC kids with the tools to become successful students (and ultimately
leaders) in a global society. In after-school programs at four high school sites, kids
learn about global and local issues; guest speakers include diplomats, White House staff, policymakers, and international business leaders. Students also design and lead their own service-learning and civic engagement activities,
exploring how to catalyze change in their own communities. College prep rounds out the picture. The Global Kids
DC Summer Institute centers on policy and cultural exchange, and a service-learning trip (to Costa Rica this year)
provides a capstone experience to the six-week summer intensive. Today’s workplace demands critical thinking,
problem-solving, and broad-based knowledge of our world. Let’s give our young people these essential skills.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 week of healthy
after-school snacks; $500: trip to NYC
Evie Hantzopoulos, Executive Director . 1825 K Street NW, Suite 210, Washington DC 20006 . Tel 202 263 4523 . globalkids.org
asian ame rican lead
Asian American LEAD serves a population that our community often overlooks:
low-income, under-served Asian American youth. With minimal education and
$500: summer programs for 1 youth; limited English proficiency, their immigrant parents are often relegated to long
$1000: year-long enrichment activities hours at low-paying jobs – so guiding their children to the best resources, helpand mentorship for 1 student ing with homework, or communicating with schools, are daunting tasks.
AALEAD makes sure these youngsters don’t fall through the cracks. Elementary
school students receive academic support and have enrichment activities after school; middle and high school students receive academic, social, and college preparatory support, and significant opportunities for leadership and civic
engagement. Mentors encourage (and model) responsible behavior, strong life skills, academic success, and positive
self-identity – all goals for the youth. And with their guidance, young people take ownership of their lives: last summer, the Youth Council planned and hosted the region’s first-ever Asian Pacific American Youth Summit. And last
year, 99% of students moved on to the next grade level or to graduation. Culturally and linguistically appropriate
services for these youngsters are all too rare. You can take the lead.
W I S H L I ST
$100: transportation costs
for 25 youth for a weekend event;
Surjeet Ahluwalia, Executive Director . 2100 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 884 0322 . aalead.org

30. Photographer Mara Duquette, Courtesy of Center for Inspired Teaching

31. 29
E D U C AT I O N
enrichment
ce nte r for inspire d teaching
What is the most influential school-based variable in student achievement? No
question: the teacher. Since 1995, Center for Inspired Teaching has fostered betFellow; $500: 2 months of mentoring ter classroom experiences for kids through innovative teacher training. Its 24for 1 Fellow; $1000: 1 month of month teacher certification program recruits committed individuals and trains
intensive coursework for 12 Fellows them, through coursework and classroom time, to teach students not what to
think but how to think. Teachers also combine instructional support with emotional support – key factors in student success. With a focus on teaching as a career, not a stepping stone, the program ensures that all teachers are comfortable and effective in the classroom before they take charge. Working with
all DCPS middle school teachers to improve student achievement and create rich academic experiences in social
studies, Inspired Teaching is also working to create the first-ever DCPS social studies curriculum by 2014. This year
its Demonstration School served 210 children in pre-K to 4, and hosted education professionals from across the US
and around the world. Do you want to see lasting, systemic change in our schools? This is where it begins.
$100: 1 week of graduate-
W I S H L I ST
level coursework for an Inspired Teaching
Aleta Margolis, Executive Director . 1436 U Street NW, Suite 400, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 462 1956 . inspiredteaching.org
eme rg ing scholar s
For the bright and driven students in Emerging Scholars, school on Saturdays
or in the summer is not a chore but an opportunity. Annually, ES recruits and
hands-on educational field trip for enrolls 18 rising 5th grade students who have the potential, desire, and family
1 cohort of 18 students; $1000: online support to attend the region’s most rigorous independent middle & high
math curriculum for 1 ES cohort schools but lack the preparation and financial resources to do so. Nearly 60%
are from homes where English is a second language and 44% are first generation US citizens. An intensive 14-month academic and leadership enrichment program, ES provides scholars
with the academic, leadership, and personal skills required to succeed at an independent school, along with workshops that guide families through the tricky application and financial aid process. And the results are impressive:
the average scholarship for an ES graduate is $150,000 for grade 6 to grade 12 tuition; students consistently rank
in the top 10% of their classes and participate actively in campus life. ES sticks with its graduates, advocating for
and supporting them all the way to college. You can launch a great academic journey.
W I S H L I ST
$100: backpacks and school
supplies for 2 ES students; $500:
Ruth Hazel Little, Executive Director . 4401 Ford Avenue, Suite 400, Alexandria VA 22302 . Tel 571 312 0013 . emergingscholarsprogram.org
hillside work-scholar ship connection
One of the 50 largest school systems in the country, Prince George’s County
Schools is straining to accommodate a jump in population, even while gradu$500: books for 1 college student for a ation rates have fallen to 60% in the past decade – 10% below the national
year; $1500: laptop computer and average. Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection is committed to improving
books for 1 college freshman those rates and has the track record to prove it can. A nationally-recognized
youth development program, it serves over 200 at-risk youth at five middle and
high schools, developing the “whole student” with an approach that interweaves academics, social services, and
employment. Young Advocates serve as mentors in school, at home, and on-the-job. Academic tutoring offers
support in all subjects (from English to Calculus), on state assessments and standardized tests, and provides help
navigating the tricky college application process. Students complete an intensive, 25-hour youth employment
training program and, following an interview process, receive job placements at employment partner sites,
enabling them to build their resumes while polishing their job skills. And the numbers speak for themselves: in
2012, 98% of HW-SC seniors graduated from high school. What a difference.
W I S H L I ST
$100: educational supplies
for 4 students in after-school programs;
Karene Brodie, Executive Director . 6305 Ivy Lane, Suite 420, Greenbelt MD 20770 . Tel 301 446 3691 . hillside.com

32. Photographer Matt Gessesee, Courtesy of BUILD Metro DC

33. 31
E D U C AT I O N
enrichment
build metro dc
“We’re done with school and want to start a business,” four Palo Alto teens
declared in 1999, words that first inspired BUILD’s founder, who agreed to help
$500: seed capital to launch a youth these young entrepreneurs – on the condition that they finish high school. Now
business; $1000: SAT/ACT prep in five locations across the country, including the District of Columbia where
course and test fee for 1 BUILD senior 205 students participate annually, BUILD runs a comprehensive, four-year
business and academic program that immerses students in entrepreneurship
training, teaches critical thinking and problem solving, and propels students through high school and toward
college. Recruiting disadvantaged and, importantly, disengaged youngsters, BUILD begins in 9th grade with a credit-bearing course at six DC schools and shifts to an out-of-school program for the remaining years. Students craft
business plans, make pitches for venture capital, build a small business, and ultimately “cash out;” in the fourth year,
they focus intensively on post-secondary readiness. The profit is clear: 90% of BUILD students go on to college
compared to 8% of their low-income peers. Your investment builds much more than businesses; it builds futures.
W I S H L I ST
$100: classroom materials
for 5 first-time BUILD students;
Christopher J Brown, Regional Executive Director . 1763 Columbia Road NW, 1st floor, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 506 6623 . build.org/dc
fir st ge ne ration college bound
Consider the complexities of applying to college – negotiating the SATs,
grappling with finances, preparing for interviews – all of which need to be
$500: college enrollment deposit for addressed while keeping up with school. Now imagine how those complexities
2 low-income students; $1000: all multiply for students who are first in their family to consider higher education.
program costs for 1 student for a year For First Generation College Bound kids, support systems that ease the way
and promise success just aren’t there (only 2% have a parent with a college
degree). So FGCB provides the crucial support and guidance that low- and middle-income students need to get
into college and succeed. Homework Clubs operated from subsidized housing sites provide learning interventions
and academic support to students at all grade levels. The Pre-College and College Access programs reach 240
students at Maryland middle and high schools. And the College Retention program supports 300 students in
their goal of graduating on time. That goal is well within their grasp: an extraordinary 85% of FGCB alums hold
bachelor’s degrees and, of these, more than 20% earn advanced degrees. You can help the numbers grow!
W I S H L I ST
$100: academic success
rewards for 10 homework club students;
Joseph A Fisher, CEO & Founder . 8101 Sandy Spring Road, Suite 230, Laurel MD 20707 . Tel 301 490 0911 . fgcb.org
colleg iate directions, inc
From standardized tests to financial aid forms to countless campus visits, the
transition to college can be daunting for anyone. For low-income, first-genscholar’s college visits and test fees; eration-to-college scholars, the challenges are even greater. Collegiate
$5000: 1 scholar’s complete support Directions, Inc helps students meet those challenges head-on. Partnering
(and undying gratitude) for a year with six Montgomery County schools and one DC public charter school,
CDI selects high-achieving, low-income 11th graders and provides academic,
emotional, and social support from the start of the application process right to college graduation. With
comprehensive college counseling, individualized tutoring and test prep, and one-on-one work to match
students with the right colleges and negotiate aid packages, CDI positions its scholars both to attend, and
graduate from, selective four-year schools – a unique six-year commitment. Since 2008, CDI’s classes have
posted a 100% college acceptance rate and received an average of $30,000 in financial aid and merit awards
per student. Your contribution supports 165 high school and college scholars, and creates a model college
advising system that can be replicated for even greater impact. Think of the possibilities.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 10 program
binders for new scholars; $500: 1
Dr Rachel Y Mazyck, President . 4833 Rugby Avenue, Suite 301, Bethesda MD 20814 . Tel 301 907 4877 . collegiatedirections.org

34. Photographer Marie McGrory, mariemcgrory.com, Courtesy of Downtown Cluster’s Geriatric Day Care Center

35. Let there be work, bread, water, and salt for all.
nelson mandela
former president of south africa
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
Consider the essentials: food and warmth and a roof over your head. And then consider losing them. For too many of our neighbors, that is not a consideration, but a stark reality. Here
in the District, one in every eight families struggles with hunger, three in every ten children live in poverty, and the number of homeless families has risen steadily since the recession. Many more people are living right on the edge: an unexpected job loss or health emergency quickly stretches resources to the breaking point. Across our region, the need is great.
But our nonprofit community is striving to meet it, one person at a time: providing employment and financial training, food and emergency shelter, legal representation for immigrants
and workers, outreach for low-income and home-bound seniors, support for survivors of
trauma and domestic violence, and pathways out of poverty. They are aiming to inspire
under-served youth, reduce teen pregnancy, increase urban green spaces, boost access to
food programs, encourage civic engagement, and improve the quality of life for the
youngest and oldest among us. Local nonprofits know our community and they know how
to make a profound difference within it. With your support, they can see that more of our
neighbors have food and warmth and hope for the future.

36. Courtesy of The Barker Foundation

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H U M A N S E RV I C E S
children, youth & families
the barke r foundation
Serving all members of the adoption circle – birth parents, adoptive parents,
adopted children, and anyone touched by adoption – the Barker Foundation
formula, and doctors’ visits for 5 prema- makes sure that everyone’s needs are fully respected. Clients are diverse in
ture babies; $1000: financial aid for a age, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socio-economic background.
family adopting a special needs child Birth parents with crisis pregnancies access emotional support, housing and
food, education about their options, and connections with community
resources. (There are no fees and no one is turned away.) Adoptive families receive guidance and information on raising an adopted child. Most importantly, children find permanent, loving homes, and special assistance as they grow up and seek to understand their own adoptions. International programs operate around
the world and provide humanitarian aid as well as adoption services. Here at home, a model public-private
partnership, Project Wait No Longer, finds loving, permanent families for children in the foster care system,
many of whom are older or have special needs. The human family comes in many forms, and the Barker
Foundation honors that fact in everything it does. Your generosity helps sustain this noble mission.
W I S H L I ST
$100: supplies for children’s
workshops on adoption; $500: layettes,
Dr Marilyn Regier, Executive Director . 7979 Old Georgetown Road, First Floor, Bethesda MD 20814 . Tel 301 664 9664 . barkerfoundation.org
christ child society of washington dc
In 1884, the Christ Child Society’s founder, Mary Virginia Merrick, gathered a group of friends to sew a layette for a young mother who had no
Kit for a volunteer to aid 10 struggling clothing for her child. And so began 125 years of filling the basic needs of
readers; $500: 6 weeks of Sophisticated the region’s at-risk children, regardless of race or creed. Today, the Society
Ladies camp for a young girl distributes over 3,500 “starter kits” of clothing, educational materials, and a
hand-knitted item to mothers in need. The School Counseling Program
brings an essential support system to seven schools that cannot afford counselors; Adopt a School provides
library books and sports equipment to over 1,500 children each year; 25 volunteer tutors ensure that young
students reach grade level in reading; uniform scholarships help 120 children annually; and there are camp
scholarships for children with disabilities. Direct services for families at the Mary Virginia Merrick Youth
Center mean workshops, parenting classes, life coaching, and the Sophisticated Ladies camp for at-risk girls
to build self-esteem and leadership skills. In Merrick’s own words: “see a need and fill it” – simple and vital.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 2 layettes for moth-
ers in need; $250: complete Tutoring
Kathleen Curtin, Executive Director . 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 304, Washington DC 20016 . Tel 202 966 9250 . christchilddc.org
dc diape r bank
In many households, the expenses associated with raising a child are daunting,
and this is especially true for the low income households into which 44% of DC
ing technical assistance for a new distri- children are born. One costly but necessary item is diapers, which are not
bution partner; $1000: 7000 diapers covered by WIC or food stamps – and babies need from 10 to 12 diapers a day.
to help 140 families for 1 month For countless DC families, DC Diaper Bank is the answer to a critical need.
Partnering with 16 social service organizations (including several CFP nonprofits), the Bank distributes 35,000 diapers each month to more than 1,000 families, thus alleviating one financial stress
on new parents, preventing unnecessary infections, and providing for our community’s littlest members. Just as
important, diapers are a “gateway resource” that can bring families into social service agencies that they would not
otherwise seek out. DC Diaper Bank has a wait list of more than 25 social service organizations with whom it
hopes to work. Your contribution helps our very youngest citizens – and their families.
W I S H L I ST
$100: diapers for 1 baby
for 1 month; $500: training and ongo-
Corinne Cannon, Executive Director . 315 12th Street NE, Suite 100, Washington DC 20002 . Tel 202 656 8503 . dcdiaperbank.org

38. Photographer Jason Johnson, Jason Ryan Creative, Courtesy of DC Scores

39. 37
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
children, youth & families
dc score s
DC SCORES believes that every child deserves a “team” – and it builds those
teams for 1,450 low-income DC youth, making sure that each one has the
DC SCORES program for 1 K-5 rich, full childhood that he or she deserves. The innovative model combines
student for a year; $2000: all program- poetry and spoken word (developing an individual voice and sharing personal
ming for 1 middle schooler for a year stories is key to knowing who you are), soccer (kids need more exercise than
they get, and the skills and teamwork are fun), and service-learning (because
our communities are the big teams to which we all belong). In fact, DC SCORES proudly hosts the city’s biggest
poetry slam and only public elementary and middle school soccer leagues. Its holistic program helps participants
improve their fitness levels, develop their capacity for self-expression, and establish deep community connections
through service projects – all while developing closer bonds with teachers and peers. SCORE Corps coaches
work with elementary and middle school students during the critical after-school hours for over 24 weeks each
year, stepping in where others have stepped out. Won’t you join this winning team?
W I S H L I ST
$100: soccer equipment and
writing supplies for 1 student; $1000:
Amy Nakamoto, Executive Director . 1224 M Street NW, Suite 200, Washington DC 20005 . Tel 202 393 6999 ext 304 . dcscores.org
city kids wilde rne ss project
Each year, for 130 inner-city youth ages 11-24, City Kids Wilderness Project
offers life-changing adventures designed to build their self-confidence, improve
camping trip for 10-12 students; $3500: their academic performance, and develop their leadership skills. In the summer,
summer camp, outdoor gear and travel for 1 youth head to Broken Arrow Ranch in Jackson, Wyoming for overnight campstudent at Broken Arrow Ranch ing trips, horseback riding, mountain climbing, and white-water kayaking –
and to develop the most important life skills: self respect, self confidence, and
the ability to work in a team. Sixth graders start out as Rangers, and can progress to the Elite and Leadership
Teams, tackling increased responsibility and challenges. During the year, day and weekend excursions acquaint
students with the natural wonders of our region, from the Potomac River to the Allegheny Mountains. For middle schoolers, an after-school program offers tutoring, environmental education, arts, and powerful connections
with caring adults. The High School & Alumni Program offers job and leadership development training, mentoring, outdoor education opportunities, job placement assistance, and help with post-secondary plans. Keeping
urban youth involved and engaged is vital; your engagement brings so much to these kids.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 day of skiing and
lessons for 2 students; $500: overnight
Eloise Russo, Executive Director . 2437 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20009 . Tel 202 525 4930 . citykidsdc.org
kids r fir st
In August and September, students from kindergarten to high school receive
lengthy lists of school supplies. But for families who struggle monthly to make
returning to school; $500: 10 college rental payments or buy groceries, these extra purchases are too much of a
application fees; $1500: 10 mini stretch. So Kids R First makes up the difference. Participating Fairfax and
scholarships for extra-curricular Loudoun County schools submit orders for needed supplies; items are puractivities or graduation fees chased from corporate partners; volunteers sort supplies for distribution; and
90 schools pick up custom orders for 19,500 students in time for the first bell.
For high school students who need extra help to cover a college application fee, sign up for the SATs, or pay
for an extracurricular activity, Kids R First offers “mini scholarships” – the amounts are small, under $150, but
they make a huge difference for students whose families lack discretionary income. Education can be the road
out of poverty, and Kids R First is determined to ensure that all students can participate fully in their educational experiences. 98.6% of donations support programs for kids. Think of the impact your gift will have.
W I S H L I ST
$100: Notebooks, pens,
pencils, and more for 10 students
Susan Ungerer, President and Founder . PO Box 3242, Reston VA 20195 . Tel 703 850 3639 . kidsrfirst.org

40. Courtesy of National CASA Association, campaign@nationalcasa.org

41. 39
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
children, youth & families
court appointe d special advocate s (casa)/prince george’s county
For the 650 children living in foster care in Prince George’s County, it often
takes four years (twice the national average) to find a stable home. In those
bedroom furniture for a child aging out years, their Court Appointed Special Advocate may well be the only source
of foster care; $1000: advocacy and of comfort and safety they have. Since 1992, CASA/Prince George’s has
support for a neglected child for 1 year given a voice to abused and neglected children in the foster care system by
training and supervising volunteer advocates and promoting the timely
placement of children in stable homes. After intensive screening and training, a volunteer is matched with a
child in need and meets regularly with him or her to build trust and understanding. While attorneys are
experts on the law, CASA volunteers are experts on the child – and are empowered by the court to provide
the long-term, best-interest advocacy that children in complex, frightening situations desperately need. Over
the past three years, CASA/Prince George’s has supported and advocated for nearly 300 youth. For many, their
advocate was the first adult on whom they could unconditionally rely. Your advocacy means everything.
W I S H L I ST
$100: screening and train-
ing materials for 1 volunteer; $500:
Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director . 6525 Belcrest Road, Suite G55, Hyattsville MD 20782 . Tel 301 209 0491 . pgcasa.org
the family place
Of the nearly 800 families served each year at The Family Place, over 90% are
low-income, newly-arrived from Mexico and Central America, and operating
months; $500: case management for in survival mode to provide for their families’ basic needs. Lacking social net20 women for 1 week; $1250: a works, inexperienced with urban agencies, and extremely limited in language
month of early childhood education for skills, those with young children are triply isolated: economically, environ1 child (while mom learns English) mentally, and linguistically. TFP begins by focusing on the littlest ones, 0-5
years old, providing expectant families, and those with young children, prenatal and parent education, early childhood education, and immunizations monitoring. A new site for the
acclaimed Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (the only one focused on Latinos) and the
AVANCE parenting education programs, TFP encourages families to learn as a unit and create a literacy-rich
home environment. Emergency material assistance, a Spanish language domestic violence support group (one
of only two such programs in the District), drop-in access, case management and referrals – all these are woven
together to create a comprehensive and effective support system for families.Your support is warmly welcomed.
W I S H L I ST
$100: breakfast for 25
English language learners for 2
Haley Wiggins, Executive Director . 3309 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20010 . Tel 202 265 0149 . thefamilyplacedc.org
mary house
Some lost their homes after hurricane Katrina and others after returning from
Iraq; some have immigrated from Mexico or Latin America and others have
for 1 month for a newly-arrived family; journeyed from Rwanda and Cameroon to seek political asylum; some are
$2000: 3 AmeriCorps volunteers to receiving long-term treatment at Walter Reed. Nearly all of Mary House’s clients
handle family advocacy work for a month have been traumatized by natural disaster, war, violence, or loss. So the transitional housing program comes first, supplemented by food deliveries, clothing,
games, school supplies – and counseling. After school, youngsters work on language and study skills (summer means
day camp). Parents study English too, and a women’s support group explores issues of common concern, like raising a child in a new country. Families attend workshops on money management, home ownership, employment,
and other topics. In-house advocates help them access the medical and child services for which they are eligible,
and a web of partnerships ensures that everyone has access to the resources they need. Recovering from trauma and
then rebuilding a life can be a daunting experience. Your partnership makes a world of difference here.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 month of after-
school program supplies; $600: housing
William Murphy, Executive Director . 4303 13th Street NE, Washington DC 20017 . Tel 202 635 0534 . maryhouse.org

42. Photographer Todd McCormick, Courtesy of The House, Student Leadership Center

43. 41
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
children, youth & families
the house, stude nt leade r ship ce nte r
3:00 to 6:00pm: these are the dangerous after-school hours when kids get
into trouble, the peak time for juvenile crime and experimentation with
$500: academic and recreational alcohol, drugs, and sex. And students who are not engaged after school are
activities for 1 at-risk student three times likelier to skip classes during the day as well. The House offers
for a month; $1000: 10 crucial out-of-school youth development programs for “risk-susceptible” students in
mental health counseling sessions grades 4-12 in Prince William County, keeping young people engaged for 60
hours a week – before school, after school, on weekends, and in the summer.
Buses enable easy, safe transport to the campus, where free meals are provided and programs encourage civic
responsibility, community engagement, and healthy living. These are complemented by intervention and treatment services for youth who suffer from substance abuse, depression, anxiety and other emotional problems.
High school completion and college access are the goals. To students who have been expelled or suspended,
The House’s Nontraditional School offers flexible academic programs and one-on-one support to help them
get back on track. The House is home to 1,000 young people – who really need your help.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 50 nutritional
before- and after-school meals;
Todd McCormick, Executive Director . 14001 Crown Court, Woodbridge VA 22193 . Tel 571 237 5860 . thehouse-inc.com
community family life se rvice s
One in every five DC adults lives significantly below the poverty line, and for
black residents and those with only a high school degree the unemployment rate
$500: job training/mentoring for 2 is nearly 20%. For these individuals, times are still tough. Some families come to
clients; $1000: summer enrichment Community Family Life Services having struggled with poverty their entire lives
programs for 2 children – and generational poverty is damaging in so many ways. For 43 years, CFLS has
been providing short-term assistance to families in crisis (food, clothing, a hot
breakfast), and long-term support as they seek permanent homes and the opportunity to turn their lives around.
A transitional housing program serves 17 families, offering the stability and space they need to develop a plan for
the future; affordable housing means stability for 35 homeless persons in recovery from addiction or living with
HIV/AIDS or disabilities. Employment development services and family-to-family mentoring enable adults to
reshape their lives, while after-school and summer enrichment, and a mentoring program for foster kids, support
academic achievement – even in troubled times. This is our community; these are our families.
W I S H L I ST
$100: emergency food
and clothing for 4 homeless residents;
Claudia Thorne, Executive Director . 305 E Street NW, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 347 0511 ext 411 . cflsdc.org
dc campaign to preve nt te e n pregnancy
Founded in 1999 with the mission of cutting teen pregnancy in half by 2005,
DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy exceeded its original goal (data
prevention strategies for a new program; show a 57.7% reduction). Today, the mission is to halve the rate again by 2015
$1000: 2 parent workshops on talking – because teen pregnancy is costly in so many ways. Young mothers drop out
to kids about love, sex, and values of school; abuse and neglect of children rises; sons of teen mothers are far likelier to enter the criminal justice system and daughters to become mothers
before their time. Simply put, families begun by teens require tremendous emotional, social, and financial support. So what’s the strategy? Collect and share data to inform policy. Organize parents and teens. Advocate on
their behalf and train teens to speak for themselves (the Youth Leadership Task Force is critical here). Enlist the
media to spread the word. The campaign is working, but there is still much to be done: the most recent data
show 59 pregnancies per 1,000 girls ages 15-19 in DC. We all have a stake in preventing teen pregnancy.
W I S H L I ST
$100: supplies for youth
leadership meetings; $500: teen pregnancy
Brenda Miller, Executive Director . 1112 Eleventh Street NW, Suite 100, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 789 4666 ext 11 . dccampaign.org

44. Photographer Amy Copeland, Courtesy of Wendt Center for Loss and Healing

45. 43
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
health, mental health & aging
we ndt ce nte r for lo ss and healing
The District’s children and families are disproportionately exposed to grief, loss,
children’s grief group; $500: summer and trauma. They lose mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters
grief camp for 1 child; $1000: through the highest rate of breast cancer, prostate cancer, and HIV-AIDS deaths
2 months of a grief or trauma group in the nation. High rates of incarceration and violent crime make matters worse.
for 5-8 adults or children At the Wendt Center, a fundamental tenet is that no one should have to grieve
alone. So skilled therapists provide counseling to adults and kids, regardless of
ability to pay. Over 60% of clients are young, and Wendt Center offers holistic mental health services and a free
therapeutic grief camp tailored to their needs. Clinicians are on-site seven days a week at the DC Chief Medical
Examiner’s Office to provide immediate counseling and support to those who have come to identify a family member who has died (2,500 a year). It also provides crisis response services in the aftermath of catastrophes and hosts
candlelight vigils for grieving families. Amidst anguish and loss, there can still be hope. Let’s make certain of that.
W I S H L I ST
$100: art supplies for a
Michelle Palmer, Executive Director . 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20008 . Tel 202 204 5019 . wendtcenter.org
downtown cluste r’s ge riatric day care ce nte r
Founded in 1976, when seniors were being abandoned in hospitals, or even
on the streets, the Downtown Cluster’s Geriatric Day Care Center provides
$500: medical supplies for 60 seniors crucial therapeutic and supportive services to at-risk, functionally-impaired,
for 1 year. $1000: 104 hours of and low-income elders – enabling them to remain in the communities and
adult day health services for a year homes that they love. Preventing isolation and fostering independence are
key, so the Center (whose average patient is 82) provides health education
and monitoring, home visits, occupational and physical therapy, counseling, food distribution, social and cultural outings, respite subsidies and support groups for caregivers of all ages, and even telephone reassurance
for those in need of a friendly voice. Intergenerational programs nurture connections between seniors and
youth and encourage lifelong health and wellness; the A-Team program brings together toddlers and
Alzheimer’s patients, tapping into seniors’ nurturing skills and enhancing verbalization. The only adult day
center in Ward 2, the Center provides over 33,000 hours of care each year. But beyond the numbers lie the
intangibles: in the words of one senior, the Center is the “reason to get up in the morning.”
W I S H L I ST
$100: 3 art
therapy sessions for 15 seniors;
Thomye M Cave, Executive Director . 926 11th Street NW, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 347 7527 . dcgeriatricdaycenter.org
se nior se rvice s of alexandria
Last year, the City of Alexandria was home to nearly 20,000 people over the age
of 60, and by 2030 their numbers are expected to increase by almost 50%. Senior
senior; $1000: Meals on Wheels Services of Alexandria serves as a one-stop shop for information about services,
for 10 seniors for 10 days; $1500: activities, and resources for elderly residents in need. Knowing the importance
1 annual Speaker Series event and value of aging in place, SSA assists seniors in hiring an affordable assistant,
and in-home care professionals in finding placements. For the homebound and
socially isolated, a Friendly Visitor program offers year-round weekly visits, and the 500-strong Meals on Wheels
volunteer cadre delivers 45,000 meals – seven days a week, including holidays. SSA also manages a call center that
ensures safe, reliable, door-to-door taxi service for disabled adults. An eight-event Speaker Series for seniors, their
family members, and caregivers, offers in-depth education by professionals on a wide range of topics including legal
and financial matters, long-term care, and health care accessibility. Fostering independence and self-sufficiency, and
enabling seniors to age with dignity are lofty goals … that you can make realities.
W I S H L I ST
$100: a Friendly
Visitor paired with 1 home-bound
Mary Lee Anderson, Acting Executive Director . 700 Princess Street, Alexandria VA 22314 . Tel 703 836 4414 ext 11 . seniorservicesalex.org

46. Photographer Allen Goldberg, Courtesy of Hope for Henry Foundation
hope for he nry foundation
In 2002, 7-year-old Henry Strongin Goldberg lost his battle against Fanconi W I S H L I ST $100: a birthday party for
anemia, a genetic disease that leads to bone marrow failure. In his memory, a hospitalized child; $500: an iPad for
his parents created Hope for Henry, which brings laughter, energy, and hope a child awaiting a bone marrow transinto the lives of children who are fighting serious illnesses. Many children plant; $1000: a Hope for Henry Reads
with blood diseases and cancer are immune-compromised and cannot enjoy event with a children’s book author
the programs that hospitals offer other pediatric parents. That is where Hope
for Henry comes in. Fun Packs help children feel at home at the hospital, and offer distraction from painful
procedures with iPads, cameras, games, arts and crafts, and toys. Book signings with children’s authors, spa days,
visits from celebrities, carnivals, and personalized birthday parties (complete with cupcakes and balloons)
ensure that kids don’t miss out on feeling like kids. These diseases often necessitate long stays, and Hope for
Henry gives young patients positive associations with their hospital and doctors. In the words of one child: “It
feels good to know that people you don’t even know still care.”
Laurie Strongin, Executive Director . 2300 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 100A, Washington DC 20007 . Tel 202 277 2710 . hopeforhenry.org

47. 45
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
health, mental health & aging
potomac community re source s
For teenagers with developmental and intellectual disabilities, services begin
with the school system – and end when students “age out” of the system at
$500: communication software for 21. Potomac Community Resources steps in at this key moment, providing
nonverbal members; $1000: therapeutic therapeutic, community-based programs in arts, fitness, and communications
cushions for out-of-wheelchair activities that enable the full inclusion of those with developmental differences into
community life. Inclusive basketball welcomes 50 sports enthusiasts of all
abilities; a 20-person chorus fosters a love of music and ability to follow cues and rhythm; Communication
Counts covers basic and advanced social skills; Phabulous Photographers teaches technical skills and encourages self-expression. A respite care program provides therapeutic activities and nursing support for the most
profoundly disabled and medically fragile, while social clubs unite adults from around the region – and are
key to preventing loneliness. PCR also educates and aids families as their children transition to adulthood,
and offers much-needed relief to caregivers. Knowing the difference this program has made, PCR works with
other communities to replicate the model – and increase the impact. You can do the same.
W I S H L I ST
$100: music therapy
instruments with specialized grips;
Stephen Riley, Executive Director . 9200 Kentsdale Drive, Potomac MD 20854 . Tel 301 365 0561 . pcr-inc.org
ye llow ribbon fund
While Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Ft Belvoir
Community Hospital provide world-class medical care for gravely wounded
rehab; $500: 1 rental car for a caregiver service members, the Yellow Ribbon Fund provides the programs that make
for 3 months; $1000: 10 nights in daily life more manageable for the wounded and their family caregivers. For
a hotel for visiting family members amputees, days in the hospital can stretch into many months, and loved ones
often cannot afford to stay by their side. Each year, YRF provides families of
the wounded with hotel rooms and apartments (5,800 nights to date), cab rides to and from the hospital
(3,000), therapeutic massages to ease stress (480), and a wide range of social events, from pool days to movie
nights (over 100). Last year, YRF completed a playground and barbecue area at Walter Reed, designed to give
military families a welcoming space just steps from the hospital. One-on-one mentoring for service members
and their families on future employment and college admission are designed to help them reintegrate into civilian life. Serving over 1,000 soldiers and families annually, YRF proves how mighty even small acts can be.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 4 cab rides for
injured veterans to take a break from
Mark E Robbins, Executive Director . 4905 Del Ray Avenue, Suite 500, Bethesda MD 20814 . Tel 240 223 1180 . yellowribbonfund.org
bethe sda chevy chase re scue squad
The only station in the county maintained, funded, and run by volunteers (it
does not receive regular budgeted funds from any government agency),
$500: IV fluids for 1 medical Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad provides its neighbors with the highest
emergency; $1100: 1 CPAP device to quality fire, rescue, and ambulance services – at no cost. Begun in 1937 as a
open airways in breathing emergencies local first aid service and remaining a true community organization to this
day, BCCRS employs two paramedics and uses a corps of trained, devoted
volunteers that includes local scientists, lawyers, students, government bureaucrats, small business owners, teachers, corporate executives, and others. Using cutting-edge technology and operating 24 hours a day, volunteers
provide rescue and compassionate care for children caught in house fires, teenagers in vehicle collisions, heart
attack victims, and elderly citizens who experience a host of medical emergencies. Not every day is newsworthy, but every day is an opportunity to help someone in distress – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, some 10,000
times in the past year alone. BCCRS prides itself on “answering the call.” You can too.
W I S H L I ST
$100: 1 oxygen tank
to assist fire and accident victims;
Robert Kretzmer, First Vice President . 5020 Battery Lane, Bethesda MD 20814 . Tel 301 652 0077 . bccrs.org

48. Photographer Stephanie Chan, Courtesy of Georgetown Ministry Center

49. 47
H U M A N S E RV I C E S
hunger, homelessness & housing
georgetown ministry ce nte r
Begun in 1987 with just one social worker, and a mandate to provide service
and shelter, Georgetown Ministry Center has since grown into a year-round
$500: smoking cessation supplies for 1 drop-in center, providing psychiatric and medical outreach, social and mental
person for a year; $1000: supplies for 6 health services, case management, shelter and housing support, handicappedmonths of showers and laundry loads accessible bathrooms, and laundry facilities. The only homeless service
provider in the immediate neighborhood, GMC serves one of the very neediest
populations: chronically homeless individuals who suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities, as well as head trauma and physical injuries. Many are resistant to services and treatment,
so GMC creates a welcoming environment that fosters friendly relationships and, ultimately, trust. Last year,
GMC reached 1,000 homeless individuals, including 60-70 “regulars,” providing 5,391 showers and 9,879
sandwiches. An on-staff psychiatrist served 100, while a general practitioner provided care to 350. Moving
from the streets to housing is profoundly challenging for this population, but a few achieve it each year and
GMC supports them at each step. On a cold night in Georgetown, you can provide the warmth.
W I S H L I ST
$100: tarps for shelter from
the elements for 5 homeless individuals;
Gunther Stern, Executive Director . 1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20007 . Tel 202 643 1350 . georgetownministrycenter.org
jobs have priority
For most of the people that Jobs Have Priority serves, homelessness is a multigenerational problem. Most grew up in poverty and have experienced hous$500: basic furnishings for a family ing instability all their lives. So JHP provides them with the skills they need
moving into permanent housing; $1000: to imagine and create a better life. Managing three shelters in the DC area (all
3 matching grants for security deposits. at maximum capacity), JHP provides food and safety, as well as counseling,
support groups, day care, and financial assistance, to 382 individuals. Two
homeless employment and assistance centers reach 422 residents from nine emergency shelters. A case manager
works one-on-one with each individual or family to pinpoint the challenges in finding a job and a home – and
craft next steps. Collaborative agreements with other service providers, the business community, and management companies jumpstart the employment and housing search for shelter clients, and JHP supports them as
brand-new employees and tenants. Each year, JHP places 300 people in jobs and 280 in permanent housing.
These are difficult, critical steps out of poverty and into a new life. You can be the catalyst.
W I S H LI ST
$100: work clothes and
shoes for a newly employed person;
Contessa Riggs, Executive Director . 1526 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington DC 20003 . Tel 202 544 9096 . jobshavepriority.org
rachae l’s wome n’s ce nte r
Emergency shelters provide for the nighttime needs of homeless people –
some 15,235 of them according to a 2012 Point in Time Survey – but do
40 homeless women for 2 weeks; very little to address the massive problems that confront them when they
$5000: 2 months worth of permanent wake up in the morning. The Day Shelter Program at Rachael’s Women’s
supportive housing for a woman in need Center supplements evening shelters, providing refuge and healing for homeless women age 17 and older. Breakfast, lunch, and a late afternoon snack are
provided. Counseling, 12-step meetings, case management, assistance in applying for benefits, and referrals for
other needs are all there. A place to receive mail (important when applying for jobs), bathe, do laundry, and
access used clothing, makes Rachael’s a home for those who have none. A Street Outreach program brings
men and women in for showers and laundry facilities (often the first step in getting them more engaged) and
Permanent Supportive Housing is provided to 17 women with mental health issues. Rachael’s goal is to make
all of its clients “formerly homeless” women. Your support helps make it happen.
W I S H L I ST
$300: lunch for 75 homeless
women; $500: case management for
Dawn Swan, Executive Director . 1222 11th Street NW, Washington DC 20001 . Tel 202 682 8608 . rachaels.org

50. Courtesy of Carpenter’s Shelter