2009 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
Page 8 NATURE
National Park Trust
| WISH LIST
$250: sends 1 student on a weekend outdoor education program;
$500: purchases a Buddy Bison toolkit;
$1000: contributes to the Park Legacy Fund to purchase critical parklands
|
As America's population grows, and demographics change, there has been a steady decline in attendance at our nation's parks and a growing disconnect between children and the natural environment. But if National Park Trust has its way, everyone will have an American park experience. For more than a quarter century, NPT has assisted in acquiring privately held land within and adjacent to parks, forests, and wildlife refuges, and in developing, through more than 200 initiatives, public and private partnerships designed to safeguard critical parklands. Even more, NPT wants everyone to develop a passion for our valuable natural resources. Its Youth to Parks National Scholarship program provides American park experiences to children in need, and Where's Buddy Bison Been? encourages kids, and their families, to take NPT's (stuffed) mascot to the nation's parks and share their adventures and photos with others. The goal is to cultivate the next generation of conservation stewards -- and maybe even environmental professionals. Please join your resources with theirs. Grace Lee, Executive Director
401 East Jefferson Street, Suite 102
Rockville, MD 20850
301-279-7275
grace@parktrust.org
www.parktrust.org
Page 9 NATURE
Washington Parks & People
| WISH LIST
$100: 1-day mobilization of 100 volunteers working to transform a park;
$500: 1-year community mini-grant to transform a blighted green space;
$1000: stipend for 2 youth apprentices for 1 year
|
Washington, DC has the continent's highest percentage of public, urban green space, yet vast sections of this extraordinary resource are under-used, especially in DC's poorest neighborhoods. Washington Parks & People works to reconnect green spaces and communities -- DC's most forgotten assets. Down by the Riverside will transform the District's longest municipal park in Watts Branch and other green spaces along the Anacostia River; Oxon Run will reclaim the largest municipal park in Far Southeast DC; Friends Of Meridian Hill will breathe new life into the historic parks and playgrounds of Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Shaw. Mobilizing thousands of volunteers, WP&P transforms open-air drug markets into outdoor farmers markets; places of youth violence into vibrant playgrounds where residents can enjoy music, dance, theater, after-school programs, and even job training; and abandoned lots into revitalized community meeting places. From Meridian Hill to Marvin Gaye Park, WP&P has demonstrated that parks can be "green engines" to help communities meet vital human needs. Your generous support broadens and deepens its impact all across the city. Steve Coleman, Director
2437 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-462-7275 ext 13
steve.coleman@washingtonparks.net
www.washingtonparks.net
NATURE
Earth Sangha
| WISH LIST
$100: soil for 400 native tree seedlings at the DC-area nursery;
$500: nurtures 70 native trees and shrubs for local parks;
$1000: all Tree Bank native-forest plantings for 1 year
|
When Earth Sangha was founded over a decade ago, its central practice was meditation. But the founders felt that the Sangha, or "community," should do some useful environmental work, and soon the two practices came together. Today, Earth Sangha's Wild Plant Nursery, with over 170 native species in propagation, all generated from seed collected in local natural areas, supports numerous restoration projects by providing the most comprehensive selection of locally derived, native-plant material ("local ecotype" stock) in the region. Its restoration work -- primarily invasive alien plant control and native-plant re-vegetation -- reaches 10-20 field sites per year and includes stream-buffer and parkland restoration. A new Tree Bank nursery has 11 native Hispaniolan species in production, including one vulnerable, one near-threatened, and one endangered species. Close to home, the School Greening program supplies native plants for gardening projects at five to eight elementary schools in Northern Virginia and DC. Working with nature for the sake of nature -- that kind of effort is not just an environmental necessity, but also a profound opportunity to redefine our humanity. Chris Bright, President
10123 Commonwealth Boulevard
Fairfax, VA 22032
703-764-4830
cbright@earthsangha.org
www.earthsangha.org
NATURE
Potomac Conservancy
| WISH LIST
$100: native garden plants for a DC public school campus;
$500: education for 20 landowners about river-friendly landscaping;
$1000: 250 linear feet of streamside fencing to protect sensitive areas
|
Since its early days, when George Washington built his home along its banks, the Potomac River has been an anchor for our region's identity. The wildest river running through an urban area anywhere in the world, it is also home to more than 200 rare species and natural communities. But the river is in trouble: rapid population growth has put tremendous pressure on land and water resources. A regional leader in protecting the health, beauty, and enjoyment of the river and its tributaries, the Potomac Conservancy is committed to providing effective and lasting conservation solutions. Its programs address clear-cutting of riverside lands; poorly planned development; loss of open space; degraded water quality; and lack of understanding about river health. Tree plantings, river cleanups, and other hands-on restoration activities improve the environment and also touch thousands of lives each year, instilling a sense of place and a "culture of conservation" that will be passed on for generations. The Potomac faces unprecedented challenges -- but you can be part of a beautiful and lasting solution. Hedrick Belin, President
8601 Georgia Avenue, Suite 612
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-608-1188 ext 202
belin@potomac.org
www.potomac.org
Page 13 CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
National Philharmonic
| WISH LIST
$40: concert admission for 1 child through the All Kids initiative;
$100: a 2.5-hour rehearsal for a guest soloist;
$1000: 2 scholarships for summer strings camp
|
With its long-standing history of offering high-quality performances and reasonably priced tickets for the widest possible audience, the National Philharmonic is a significant player on the Greater Washington cultural scene. The orchestra's concert selections appeal not only to music aficionados but also to those less familiar with the classical repertoire: selections are focused on the most popular works -- Bach, Mozart, Beethoven -- and the Philharmonic grows its audiences by making concerts accessible. All Kids, All Free, All the Time means that every child 7 to 17 can attend a concert completely without charge, making family concert outings natural and appealing -- and creating an audience that is dramatically younger than the norm. During the school year, all Montgomery County second-graders experience a live concert at Strathmore Hall that is integrated with the general music curriculum; and now all fifth-graders will do the same. Summer String Institutes for musically advanced middle and high school students, and a Summer Chorale Institute for youth and adult singers, both culminate in free public performances. Concert and Institute sponsors are welcome! Kenneth A Oldham, President
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-493-9283
ken@nationalphilharmonic.org
www.nationalphilharmonic.org
CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
The Choral Arts Society of Washington
| WISH LIST
$100: music-integrated classroom resources for 1 teacher;
$500: 50 tickets to the Latin Music Student Concert;
$1000: tickets for 20 community partners to the MLK concert at the Kennedy Center
|
The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a small but mighty force on the DC arts scene, bringing the power of choral music to thousands of people each year through concerts, recordings, broadcasts, special events, and community and education programs. Its Annual Choral Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a cherished community tradition, provides an opportunity for over 2,500 audience members, many of whom would not otherwise attend a concert at the Kennedy Center, to celebrate Dr. King's legacy. CASW's education programs train teachers to use music as a tool for teaching core academic subjects. Developed by teachers and curriculum specialists to meet DCPS and national music, English, and social studies standards, it has provided in its first 10 years quality arts-integrated education to 800 students a year: the goal is to reach 10,000 in the next decade. Over 1,000 students participate annually in the MLK Tribute Student Concert at the Lincoln Theatre, the capstone experience in a curriculum that teaches youngsters about the civil rights movement. Catalogue donors: sing along. Debra L Kraft, Executive Director
5225 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 603
Washington, DC 20015
202-244-3669 ext 17
debrakraft@choralarts.org
www.choralarts.org
CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
| WISH LIST
$100: sends 10 music students to a Masterworks concert;
$500: supports a free summer concert in the park;
$1000: pairs professional musicians with a middle or high school orchestra classroom
|
Founded as a volunteer orchestra in 1957 -- the Symphony's business was conducted for years around board members' kitchen tables -- FSO has now been a professional orchestra for over half of its half century. Its six-concert Masterworks Series at George Mason University's Center for the Arts mixes world-renowned performers and tomorrow's young stars with superb local artists. During the summer, the FSO presents over 30 free, "family-friendly" concerts in collaboration with the Fairfax County Park Authority. FSO musicians also present the Classical Kids Club program in elementary schools, blending academic subjects with live performance. Through the SCORE program, they work side-by-side with middle and high school students in band and orchestra rehearsal halls, emphasizing the link between music education and academic achievement. The Feuer Memorial String Competition, named for FSO's founder, encourages extraordinary accomplishment among the most talented young musicians. At once "top of the line" and "right around the corner," the FSO has a new music director at its helm and looks forward to dynamic programming in the years ahead. It's time to join the applause. Elizabeth B Murphy, Executive Director
3905 Railroad Avenue, Suite 202N
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-563-1990
emurphy@fairfaxsymphony.org
www.fairfaxsymphony.org
Page 15 CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
Liz Lerman Dance Exchange
| WISH LIST
$100: dance shoes for a 72-year old dancer;
$500: 1 workshop at a behavioral health center for troubled teens;
$1500: full-day, team-led workshops at a local children's hospital
|
One of the first companies to foster an intergenerational approach to dance -- performers range in age from 25 to 74 -- and to use dancers of different sizes and physical capabilities -- slim and large, professional and non-professional, in their wheelchairs and on their feet -- Liz Lerman Dance Exchange has, for over three decades, created groundbreaking, multimedia, multi-disciplinary works and integrated them with community engagement, educational, and residency activities. The company performs anywhere it can move: in schools, shipyards, museums, sculpture gardens, trailer parks, and police stations, as well as on the nation's major stages. Always posing key questions -- "who gets to dance? where is the dance happening? what is it about? why does it matter?" -- the company believes that everyone should have access to the health, self-expression, and well-being that dance affords. Exploring art, science, personal identity, faith, and other subjects that link the ordinary with the profound, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange reminds us that everyone benefits when art is at the table. You can make sure that it is. Jane Hirshberg, Managing Director & CEO
7117 Maple Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-6700 ext 12
janeh@danceexchange.org
www.danceexchange.org
CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
Capital Fringe
| WISH LIST
$100: lighting gels for 1 venue;
$250: paint, brushes, screws, sandpaper, and respirators to build 1 stage;
$1000: rental subsidy for 1 performance venue for 6 artist companies
|
Take a community of young, emerging artists who need opportunities to present their work to a larger audience; pair it with an adventurous arts audience eager to take a gamble on what's fresh and cutting-edge; then watch Capital Fringe emerge. Each year the Fringe connects over a hundred groups of artists with some 20,000 audience members who appreciate the diversity and quality of the work they see, and are excited by the opportunity to support local, up-and-coming artists. The Festival transforms spaces in different neighborhoods around the city, giving artists production-ready, accessible performance venues; many artists go on to produce extended runs in the DC area and tour at other festivals around the country. The Fringe's Training Factory, in partnership with Sitar Arts Center and Sasha Bruce, offers workshops on everything from "self-producing" to multicultural theater, and also teaches students how to produce their own shows. Winner of the 2007 Mayor's Arts Award for Innovation in the Arts, the Fringe celebrates and supports artists and arts audiences, challenging both to rise to the occasion. They do.
Julianne Brienza, Executive Director/Founding Member
607 New York Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
202.737-7230
julianne@capitalfringe.org
www.capitalfringe.org
CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
| WISH LIST
$100: private lessons by Principal Chair Musicians for 2 deserving students;
$500: a week of rehearsal and performance for 1 musician;
$1000: 30 free youth tickets to a Sunday matinee
|
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra combines a commitment to artistic excellence with a dedication to entertaining and educating a wide range of audience members -- from the seasoned subscriber to the 8-year-old attending a concert for the first time. Generous discounts for seniors, students, families, and youth organizations (Girl Scouts can earn a participation patch!); a free-ticket program for at-risk youth; select free concerts; a main location near four large retirement communities; and popular daytime events make ASO concerts accessible to committed music lovers and tentative music explorers alike. And the programming is fresh and innovative: recent seasons have included collaborations with visual artists, theater, choral, dance, and opera companies. In addition to its evening and matinee concert series, ASO offers an annual children's holiday concert; school-day concerts for Alexandria City's third- through sixth-graders that conclude a collaborative, year-long music and art curriculum; and a serious mentoring program for high school musicians. ASO and you: beautiful music together. Adrien C Finlay, Executive Director
2121 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 608
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-0885
finlay@alexsym.org
www.alexsym.org
Page 16 CULTURE: Community Arts
Critical Exposure
| WISH LIST
$100: digital camera for 1 student;
$500: 1000 postcards featuring student photos to mail to legislators;
$1000: art gallery exhibition for 25 students' photographs
|
Picture equality: give cameras to kids; train them in documentary photography and writing; encourage them to capture images that illustrate the realities of their lives; and show them how to use photographs and writing to tell their stories and advocate for improvements in their schools and communities. This is the idea, at once straightforward and unique, behind Critical Exposure, which teaches students the basic techniques and elements of photography: composition, framing, lighting, and perspective. Then students put their training to work, using digital cameras and the written word to document the issues that most affect them -- such as DC's dropout crisis. Public exhibitions inform and engage the community as do legislative visits, public hearings, and press conferences. Just as importantly, students discover the power of their own voices, their capacity for leadership, and their ability to understand and seek solutions to the pressing issues in their lives. The union between art and advocacy creates a sense of empowerment that is otherwise in very short supply. You can be part of the picture. Adam Levner & Heather Rieman, Co-Founders & Co-Directors
1816 12th Street NW, Third Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202-745-3745 ext 20
adam@criticalexposure.org
www.criticalexposure.org
Page 17 CULTURE: Community Arts
Adventure Theatre
| WISH LIST
$100: costumes for 1 actor in a main-stage production;
$500: 4-session drama workshop at an inner-city school;
$1000: main-stage production for 200 Title I school students
|
The longest-running professional theatre for children and families in the Washington region, Adventure Theatre offers stage adaptations of classic children's stories -- from Jack and the Beanstalk to the Helen Hayes-nominated Goodnight Moon. But it also provides more: a book club where families read together and then watch the piece unfold before their eyes; an outreach project that pairs plays with community programs (Go, Dog Go joins Dog Adoption Day; Harold and the Purple Crayon sponsors a crayon recycling drive). Discounted tickets and transportation bring 2,700 students from underserved communities to AT's weekly performances. Plays with a purpose -- one on civil war nurse and founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, another on African American children in the civil rights movement -- tour at local schools, while after-school, weekend, and summer workshops give youngsters a chance to develop their theatrical selves. AT's professionals work with students to prepare and perform musical theater productions at elementary schools in Montgomery County -- and funding would allow the program to expand to DC schools. You can help bring up the lights! Kathleen Richards, Development Director
7300 MacArthur Boulevard
Glen Echo, MD 20812
301-634-2262
krichards@adventuretheatre.org
www.adventuretheatre.org
CULTURE: Community Arts
Project Create
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 year's worth of art classes for 1 child;
$500: art supplies for 2 classes per semester;
$3000: 1 teaching artist for 30 weeks of arts instruction per school year
|
Project Create has found its niche as an after-school provider for some of the most damaged and impoverished children in Washington, DC -- those without permanent homes or stability in their lives. Working at five transitional housing sites in partnership with Community of Hope and So Others Might Eat, Project Create's professional artists teach small, personalized classes to children, mostly in Wards 7 and 8, who have experienced hunger, witnessed violence, and lived on the streets -- children who didn't choose their lives. For many, making art is the only time they see value in who they are. Painting a self-portrait, building a pinhole camera from scratch, designing and sewing their own outfits, playing the djembe in a West African Dance class builds a brand new confidence in themselves. Field trips to local cultural attractions expand the children's horizons, and public exhibitions highlight their achievements and create a sense of family pride. Project Create is ready to bring its programs to more children and to expand into year-round programming. You can be the donor who makes it happen. Marget Van Horn Maurer, Executive Director
2401 Virginia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-320-9608
marget@projectcreatedc.org
www.projectcreatedc.org
CULTURE: Community Arts
The Delaplaine Arts Center
| WISH LIST
$100: 2 ArtStart sessions for preschoolers;
$500: 2 ceramics classes for 12 children of Fort Detrick military personnel;
$1000: a semester of arts for 6 developmentally delayed adults
|
The place positively hums. A full schedule of multi-media, multi-skill, multi-cultural exhibitions of paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, installation art and more enriches the lives of residents and visitors to Frederick. As befits a community arts center, The Delaplaine strives to maintain a nice balance between the familiar and the avant-garde, the local and the regional, the professional and the amateur. Some 200 courses a year draw over 1,000 students in drawing, painting, ceramics, woodworking, photography, printmaking, jewelry making, and crafts -- and summer camp serves another 600. Partnerships with local schools and service organizations provide dynamic educational support to the community: arts exposure for the most needy children -- 265 Head Start preschoolers with family incomes at or below the federal poverty line; arts exploration for developmentally delayed adults from the ARC; and full scholarships for needy clients from local social service agencies. Awarded the prestigious Seal of Excellence from the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, the Delaplaine will reward your generous support. Catherine Moreland, Executive Director
40 South Carroll Street
Frederick, MD 21701
301-698-0656
cmoreland@delaplaine.org
www.delaplaine.org
Page 19 CULTURE: Community Arts
Young Playwrights' Theater
| WISH LIST
$100: the first playwriting workshop for a classroom of students ;
$500: underwrites a professional, staged reading;
$5000: a semester of the In-School Playwriting Program
|
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 the Free Lunch Program), they need the cognitive, social, and personal skills that arts education is uniquely suited to offer but that today's stripped-down school budgets just don't provide. Young Playwrights' Theater steps into the breach. Its in-school playwriting residency integrates into the DCPS curriculum artist-taught workshops that reach students with multiple learning styles, using the art of playwriting to enhance student literacy, creative expression, and communication. The program culminates in a New Play Festival of professional, staged readings 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. David Snider, Producing Artistic Director and CEO
2437 15th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-387-9173
dsnider@yptdc.org
www.yptdc.org
CULTURE: Community Arts
Joy of Motion Dance Center
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 free interactive performance and class for seniors;
$500: full semester of free classes for 15 school children;
$1000: full scholarship for a youth company dancer
|
Dance is for Everyone! That is the rallying cry of Joy of Motion Dance Center, which embraces a wide range of dance and dancers from Middle Eastern to flamenco, hip hop to ballet, West African to tap. Students are first-timers and professionals, 13-month to 90-year-olds, tuition-paying students and those in Project Motion Community Outreach for whom all programs are without charge. Motion Express brings free dance classes to 500 children in 10 partner schools in Near Northeast DC. Step Ahead provides 50 DC teens with a 10-week summer dance intensive that is also a job skills and career exploration opportunity. Four hundred children in eight local schools benefit from in-school classes and shows promoting dance as an alternative to drugs, alcohol, and violence. Seniors in Motion enriches the lives of hundreds of older folks through gentle dance and movement experiences at their living and community centers. Making dance accessible regardless of financial means -- through outreach, scholarships, discounts, and affordable classes and performances -- is what it's all about. Spread the joy. Douglas E. Yeuell, Artistic Director
2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite C130
Washington, DC 20007
202-333-6801 ext 15
dyeuell@joyofmotion.org
www.joyofmotion.org
CULTURE: Community Arts
Joe's Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
| WISH LIST
$100: 10 movement classes for 1 senior;
$500: 1 semester of healthy snacks for arts education students;
$1100: 1 full tuition scholarship in Club Joe's after school program
|
Open 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, for classes, rehearsals, performances, and arts education programs, Joe's Movement Emporium is a hub of cultural and community activity. Home to more than 25 regional artists and groups who create, perform, and teach in its 20,000 square-foot facility, Joe's also invests heavily in after-school programs (2:30-6pm Monday through Friday), elementary and middle schools residencies, and intensive summer arts camps (8-week, all-day programs for ages 3-16) for the low- and moderate-income families it serves. Youth performance ensembles get in-depth instruction, rehearsals, and performance opportunities while also functioning as safe havens in the dangerous after-school hours. 3-D Productions and its Theater Tech Program provide training and employment for 40 local teens. Daily classes for adults in everything from modern to hip hop to African drumming mean that everyone in the family can participate. Joe's creates an extraordinary synergy between artists and residents that makes it unique: together they build community and arts and kids -- for everyone's greater good. Brooke E Kidd, Executive Director
3309 Bunker Hill Road
Mount Rainier, MD 20712
301-699-1819
brooke@joesmovement.org
www.joesmovement.org
Page 23 EDUCATION: Enrichment
Collegiate Directions, Inc
| WISH LIST
$100: 10 orientation binders for new scholars;
$500: 1 scholar's college visits and test fees;
$5000: 1 scholar's complete support (and undying gratitude) for a year
|
From standardized tests to financial aid forms to countless campus visits, the transition to college can be daunting for any high schooler. And for low-income, first-generation-to-college students, the challenges are even greater. Collegiate Directions, Inc helps students meet those challenges head-on. Partnering with six Montgomery County schools, CDI selects a class of high-achieving, low-income 11th graders and provides academic, emotional, and social support from the start of the application process right to college graduation. Offering comprehensive college counseling, individualized tutoring and test preparation, and one-on-one work to match students with the right colleges and then negotiate aid packages, CDI positions its scholars both to attend, and graduate from, selective four-year schools -- a unique six-year commitment that creates a powerful bond between scholars and CDI. The Class of 2008 posted a 100% college acceptance rate and received an average of $32,000 in financial aid and merit awards. Your contribution will support the newest class of 20 scholars -- and build a new generation of leaders. Theresa O Atta, Executive Director
4833 Rubgy Avenue, Suite 301
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-907-4878
tatta@collegiatedirections.org
www.collegiatedirections.org
EDUCATION: Enrichment
Hands on DC
| WISH LIST
$100: glass and graffiti removal at 1 playground;
$500: 10 murals to brighten a student's day;
$1000: divider walls that turn 2 over-sized classrooms into 4
|
An entirely volunteer-run organization, Hands on DC is in the business of producing transformations. Through projects and community engagement activities, the organization has recruited over 26,000 volunteers to improve the physical condition of more than 100 District public schools. Since its founding in 1994, Hands on DC has sponsored an annual spring Work-a-thon during which volunteers collaborate on over 300 projects at over 30 schools -- laying carpet, painting classrooms, sprucing up playgrounds, building library bookshelves, creating container gardens, and more. It also works year-round, organizing Special Events Projects to meet the unique needs of individual schools, sponsoring Clean-out Day to clear junk and facilitate the good use of existing space, and creating Parent Resource Centers to encourage family involvement in the education of their children. Extending its dedication to higher education, Hands on DC now raises funds for no fewer than six $6,000 college scholarships per year, selecting public school recipients through a partnership with College Bound. Hands on DC strengthens the bond between students and their classrooms, between communities and schools. Won't you lend a hand? Frank Lattuca, Co-director
PO Box 57094
Washington, DC 20036
703-798-4460
frankl@handsondc.org
www.handsondc.org
EDUCATION: Enrichment
Mentors, Inc
| WISH LIST
$100: a college prep workshop for 4 students;
$500: a life-skills enrichment activity for 10 mentor/protégé partners;
$1000: a scholarship for a graduating senior
|
Home to one of the nation's most highly educated populations, Washington, DC’s high school graduation rates are staggeringly low. In 1987, a DCPS educator and parent of a high school student saw an elegantly simple way to address the problem: place at-risk students in one-on-one relationships with trained adults, help them develop their potential, encourage them to stay in school, and see that they graduate with a plan for the next step in life. Mentors, Inc complements its strategy with monthly enrichment programs on college preparation, community service, and career exploration. And the results have been striking: while only 58% of the city's seniors graduate from high school, 93% of the most recent Mentors, Inc "protégés" did, and 84% are enrolled in college. Now serving 310 students (including the children of incarcerated adults) Mentors, Inc is the only city-wide, one-on-one, high school mentoring program in DC. It has served over 4,000 students, provided $615,000 in college scholarships -- and forged lasting and deep relationships between youth and adults. New mentors, and new resources, are most welcome. Deirdre Bagley, Executive Director
1012 14th Street NW, Suite 304
Washington, DC 20005
202-783-2310
dbagley@mentorsinc.org
www.mentorsinc.org
Page 25 EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
The Reading Connection
| WISH LIST
$100: a Parent Workshop for 2 families;
$500: Book Club participation by a family of 4 for 1 year;
$2500: 1 year of training for 160 Read Aloud volunteers
|
The world of books offers children endless opportunities for discovery and adventure, learning and development. For 20 years, The Reading Connection has helped open up that world to at-risk children and parents by bringing literacy services and programs into emergency shelters, domestic violence safe 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 new, free books and reading activities; Parent 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 1,900 children and 400 families at 13 different shelters in DC and Northern Virginia -- putting 9,014 new books in the hands of over 2,400 children in one year alone. With your help, even more young readers will begin new chapters in their lives. Courtney Kissell, Executive Director
2009 N 14th Street, Suite 307
Arlington, VA 22201
703-528-8317 ext 12
ckissell@thereadingconnection.org
www.thereadingconnection.org
EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
Heart of America Foundation
| WISH LIST
$100: 20 hardcover books for a school library;
$500: 1 new book for every child in a partner school (300 books in all);
$1000: technology support for a school library
|
When Heart of America Foundation began its Ambassador's program -- young role models visited schools and inspired students to serve their communities -- one thing quickly became apparent: the dire need for high-quality, age-appropriate books in schools. HOA now supports two principal programs, both focused on high-need elementary schools in which more than 65% of children receive free and reduced-price meals. Engaging volunteers, students, families and the school community in the rebuilding process itself, Books From the Heart replenishes school, classroom, and home libraries -- over 1.5 million books to date, with a value in excess of $7 million. READesign brings students and volunteers together to give school libraries a much-needed makeover with artwork, furniture, technology, and 1,000-2,000 books; an additional five to seven books go home with each student so that the idea of a home library takes root. By the end of 2009, HOA will have implemented 50 new library and reading corner projects. You can help bring a new library -- and with it a new heart -- to a school near you. Angela L. Halamandaris, President
401 F Street NW, Suite 325
Washington, DC 20001
202.347.6278
angie@heartofamerica.org
www.heartofamerica.org
EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
Turning the Page
| WISH LIST
$100: full set of books for a family attending Community Nights for 1 year;
$500: film and developing for 2 Literacy Through Photography classrooms;
$1000: 4 Community Night dinners
|
According to the National Institute of Literacy, Washington, DC has the lowest adult literacy rate in the nation. And parents who cannot read with their kids find it much more challenging to support their learning. So Turning the Page makes education a family affair. Community Nights bring everyone together for workshops, mentoring, dinner, and book giveaways. Visits from popular authors make reading come alive, while discussions cover everything from parental involvement at school, to academic standards, peer pressure, and preparing for college. The year-long Literacy Through Photography program provides students with cameras, encouraging them to photograph, and write about, their world. In visits to collaborating museums they learn about photography as an art-form, tie what they learn to their own images, and display their written and visual work at an opening for family and friends. TTP has distributed 65,000 books, sponsored trips to 15 museums, and hosted 500 Community Nights. What could be more gratifying than helping parents and children develop a love of learning? Jason S King, President
1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 915
Washington, DC 20005
202-347-9841
jking@turningthepage.org
www.turningthepage.org
Page 27 EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
| WISH LIST
$100: 5 spelling or pronunciation books;
$500: 25 student subscriptions to News for You, a low-literacy newspaper;
$1000: books for 40 adults in English for Daily Living
|
Reading and writing are activities so integral to daily life that we may not even notice we engage in them. But for the 100,000 residents of Montgomery County who are "limited English proficient," simple tasks like filling out a job application or scribbling a permission slip for a field trip pose almost impossible challenges. For the past 46 years, the Literacy Council of Montgomery County has helped make those tasks easier for more than 11,000 adult learners. Offering tutoring programs in English as a Second Language and Basic Literacy, LCMC provides cost-effective, flexible instruction to both foreign-born and native-born students -- many of whom are not comfortable in the larger classroom settings of local colleges. It also offers computer-based language labs and English for Daily Living courses, which give students the skills and vocabulary to navigate school, work, and community service. To meet the growing demand, LCMC plans to expand to 22 classes at five sites and reach nearly 1,400 adults a year. Your philanthropy puts their dreams into words. Pamela Saussy, Executive Director
21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 320
Rockville, MD 20850
301-610-0030
psaussy@literacycouncilmcmd.org
www.literacycouncilmcmd.org
EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
DC LEARNs
| WISH LIST
$100: books for a childcare center for 1 month;
$500: facilities and trainer for 1 adult education workshop;
$6000: 1 Literacy*AmeriCorps member to teach at a local program for 11 months
|
Some 19% of DC adults perform "below basic" in prose literacy, and though there are many programs available to help them, it's often hard to know where to turn. DC LEARNs points them in the right direction. Washington's only literacy coalition, it communicates with power the importance of literacy as an investment in the community. To insure that adults and children have the services they need, it maintains a database of all local literacy organizations and helps match individuals with the right one. Working directly with virtually every program in the city, DC LEARNs also operates a bilingual literacy hotline, educates policymakers on citywide literacy issues, and provides free teacher training to local nonprofits. The Adult Education Professional Development Center conducts over 20 workshops a year, attracting 300 teachers and tutors. Literacy*AmeriCorps engages individuals to serve as teachers in literacy programs, and Early Readers Now recruits early-education volunteers who serve over 150 children a year. Your generosity means DC LEARNs will continue to serve, unite, and energize the DC literacy field -- and help those in need. Jeff Carter, Executive Director
1612 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 331-0141 ext 22
jcarter@dclearns.org
www.dclearns.org
EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
Language ETC
| WISH LIST
$100: scholarship for 1 student for 1 English course;
$500: books for 20 students;
$1000: 3 volunteer teacher training workshops
|
It's double trouble: English classes cost money that many immigrant laborers can't afford, and they also require time that many just don't have. Luckily, Language ETC is there to help foreign-born adults -- that's one in six DC residents -- learn to speak English and navigate their world. With over 200 volunteers per trimester, LETC provides affordable, high-quality programs to over 1,600 students annually: English as a Second Language, Spanish literacy, and computer instruction. It educates more immigrants annually than any other non-governmental organization in the area -- and no willing student is turned away. Other services free for students include a Multimedia Language Lab, conversation classes, book clubs, and individual job counseling (free childcare is provided). Operating on a shoestring, LETC shows that it is possible to accomplish a lot with a little: last year, 70% of class-finishers advanced to the next literacy level, compared to a national average of 40%. Learning a language can be the first step toward achieving the American dream. You can help make this dream a reality. Carolyn A. Morrissey, Executive Director
2200 California Street NW
Washington, DC 20008
202-387-2412
cmorrissey@languageetc.org
www.languageetc.org
Page 31 HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
The Family Place
| WISH LIST
$100: breakfast for 25 English language students for 2 months;
$500: domestic violence counseling for 20 women for 1 week;
$1000: prenatal education classes for 15 women
|
Of the more than 400 families served each year at The Family Place, over 90% are low-income, newly-arrived from Mexico and Central America, and operating in survival mode to provide for their families' basic needs. Lacking social networks, inexperienced with urban agencies, and extremely limited in language skills, those with young children are triply isolated: economically, environmentally, 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. TFP also operates a comprehensive Family Literacy Program to provide an opportunity for parents and children to participate together in language instruction, parenting education, and activities that encourage a literacy-rich family 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. Haley Wiggins, Executive Director
3309 16th Street NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-265-0149 ext 109
hwiggins@thefamilyplacedc.org
www.thefamilyplacedc.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
The Barker Foundation
| WISH LIST
$100: books and supplies for young adoptee workshops;
$500: 2 doctors' visits and sonograms for a birth mother;
$1000: specialized training for 5 families in foster care adoption
|
Serving all members of the adoption circle -- birth parents, adoptive parents, adopted persons, and anyone touched by adoption -- the Barker Foundation makes sure that everyone's needs are fully respected. Clients are diverse in age, race, religion, and socio-economic background. Birth parents with crisis pregnancies get emotional support, education about their options, and connections with community resources. (There are no fees and no one is turned away.) Families receive guidance and information on raising a child by adoption. Most importantly, children find permanent, loving homes, and get the special assistance they often need 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, while 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 shapes, and the Barker Foundation honors that fact in everything it does. Your generosity helps sustain this noble mission. Mary Reyner, Development Director
7979 Old Georgetown Road, First Floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-664-9664
mreyner@barkerfoundation.org
www.barkerfoundation.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Mary House
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 month of after-school program supplies;
$500: 1 month's van maintenance and gas to transport food to participating families;
$1000: utilities for 4 families for 1 month
|
Some are immigrants from Mexico or Latin America, Togo or Mali; others are refugees from Bosnia or Kosovo; some are victims of Katrina; and others are wounded veterans (and their families) receiving long-term treatment at Walter Reed. Many have been traumatized by war, natural disaster, violence, or loss. At Mary House, the transitional housing program comes first, supplemented by food deliveries from the community pantry, clothing, games, and school supplies -- and counseling. After school, youngsters work on language, homework, 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 foreign 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 works to insure that everyone has access to the resources they need. Recovering from trauma and putting a life back together can be a daunting experience. Your partnership makes a world of difference here. William Murphy, Executive Director
4303 13th Street NE
Washington, DC 20017
202-635-0534
casademary@aol.com
www.maryhouse.org/
Page 32 HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
DC SCORES
| WISH LIST
$100: soccer equipment and writing supplies for 1 student;
$1000: DC SCORES program for 1 elementary school student for a year;
$2000: all programming for middle school student for 1 year
|
DC SCORES combines soccer, writing, and service learning in an integrated, one-of-a-kind, after-school program that reaches 700 kids each year at 23 elementary and middle schools. Teamwork, leadership, and commitment are the common denominators, and the goal is to inspire in young people the desire to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and become agents of change in their communities. The program uses a complementary combination of physical activity (soccer, including participation in the only citywide soccer league) and classroom work (creative writing and journalism) to address a range of serious issues from obesity to literacy. The Power of Poetry teaches students how to write, analyze, and perform, while Writing for the Community combines writing with speaking out on community issues like homelessness and safety. Year-round soccer is paired with the Power of Choice, a hands-on nutrition and health curriculum. Operating five days a week in the critical after-school hours (participation in all activities is mandatory), DC SCORES steps in where others have stepped out. You can join the winning team. Amy Nakamoto, Executive Director
1224 M Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20005
202-393-6999 ext 307
anakamoto@americascores.org
www.DCSCORES.org
Page 33 HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena
| WISH LIST
$100; essential hockey and speed skating accessories;
$250: 12-week Learn to Skate sessions for 2 children;
$1,000: 4 sessions for an entire class during the school year
|
Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena was formed in 1996 when the National Park Service nearly closed the only indoor public rink in DC and one of the only recreation sites in Ward 7. With poverty, violence, a lack of after-school options, and health problems like obesity to contend with, everyone knew the arena was not expendable—so FFDIA was created to transform the rink into a safe place for children to grow. Now, some 10,000 youngsters a year participate in the Kids On Ice program: beginners learn to skate, and the more adventurous take speed skating or compete on the popular ice hockey team. Intermediate and Advanced figure skating students are coached by a certified instructor and receive off-ice instruction in aerobics and dance. FFDIA also partners with nearby DC public schools for the Schools Skate for Fitness program, offering skating lessons as part of physical education, and free or reduced-fee ice time to area schools, summer camps, and youth groups. Please become a “friend”--and learn what a difference a little ice can make! Kathy Cox, Executive Director
3779 Ely Place SE
Washington, DC 20019
202-584-5007 ext 12
kcox@fdia.org
www.fdia.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA)
| WISH LIST
$100: prescription drugs for a single mother with no health insurance;
$200: 1-week supply of food and hygiene essentials for 1 family;
$1000: 1 family's back rent to avoid eviction
|
Helping the neediest and most vulnerable among us, ACCA offers, without regard to religious affiliation, critical assistance in emergencies: financial aid for rent and security deposits, gasoline and car repairs, utility bills, prescription drugs, medical and dental care; nutritious food and hygiene products; "gently used" furniture; transportation to medical appointments; meals on wheels for elderly shut-ins -- the most basic, fundamental aid imaginable. At the same time, ACCA's Child Development Center provides affordable day care, early education, and special services annually for almost 300 infants and children from low-income households, the kind of help that gives families a healthy start in life. ACCA has grown to include 26 congregations in sections of Fairfax County where many low-income and immigrant families reside; emergency programs are managed and supported by church and neighborhood volunteers who work from their homes, offices, and cars, providing thousands of hours of service each month. A 50% increase in referrals, and clients whose needs have only grown, means that your generosity matters now more than ever. Mary Anne Lecos, ACCA Grant Development Chair
7200 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
703-256-0100
mlecos@cox.net
www.accacares.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Family Crisis Center of Prince George's County
| WISH LIST
$100: 5 twin-size sheet sets;
$500: 10 comforters, light-weight blankets, waste baskets, and liners for new shelter expansion;
$10,000: industrial-size freezer for the shelter
|
For over 25 years, the Family Crisis Center has been the primary provider of domestic violence services in Prince George's County, which leads the state of Maryland in the number of warrants issued for protective orders -- about 1,200 per month. Of course this grim statistic represents only a small part of the story: some three-quarters of domestic violence victims never report their cases at all. So the Center's hotline offers immediate crisis counseling, information, and referrals. Its emergency shelter provides a therapeutic environment for women and children, along with counseling, safety planning, medical and financial assistance, and help with transitional housing. Legal advice and representation assist victims with the justice system, while workshops and presentations on the dynamics of domestic violence educate the community about the seriousness and scope of the problem. Expansion of the shelter from 21 to 55 beds was completed in October 2008, but lack of funding has meant that beds are left empty and hundreds of needy people turned away. You can make a difference . . . one bed at a time. Malinda Miles, Executive Director
3601 Taylor Street
Brentwood, MD 20722
301-779-2100
mmiles@familycrisiscenter-pgco.org
www.familycrisiscenter-pgco.org
Page 35 HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Urban Alliance
| WISH LIST
$100: sponsors 1 team building activity for student interns;
$250: provides 2 weeks' salary for a student;
$1000: funds pre-work training for 150 students
|
Nurturing self-sufficiency is what Urban Alliance is all about. The only year-round high school internship program in DC, it serves over 500 young people in the city’s most under-served neighborhoods. The core project is the High School Internship Program, which allows students the time, space, and resources to learn about professional jobs and begin setting goals for the future. Participants commit for a year, maintain their grades, stay on-track to graduate, and develop a post-high school plan. Life skills sessions focus on time management, communication, and conflict resolution. UA also matches interns with area nonprofits to deal with important issues like teen pregnancy, domestic abuse, nutrition, and financial literacy. Employment assistance mediates conflicts at work, so that all students succeed at their jobs. Paid summer internships for college students align with their course of study; UA also helps its graduates with resumes, interviews, job searches, and financial aid applications. Posting an astonishing 100% high school graduation rate, and a college matriculation rate over 90%, this is an alliance that deserves your support. Veronica Nolan, Executive Director
1327 14th Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 459-4300
vnolan@theurbanalliance.org
www.theurbanalliance.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
Mentoring Today
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 "survival kit" (food, toiletries, underwear, SmarTrip and calling cards);
$500: activities for 1 mentoring pair for a year;
$1000: advocacy and family engagement for 6 months of re-entry
|
When young people leave New Beginnings Youth Development Center -- which recently replaced the infamous Oak Hill facility, a place the Post called “a preparatory school for adult prison” -- most return to the neighborhoods where their problems began. Terrible poverty, high unemployment, and even higher dropout rates (45% for African American youth in DC; higher in Wards 7 and 8) mean trouble for returning youth. Mentoring Today reaches out to the older residents of New Beginnings, ages 16 to 21, most of whom have spent the better part of childhood and adolescence behind bars. Each youth is matched with a volunteer mentor who supports him during his stay in the juvenile facility and throughout his re-entry into the community. Staff attorneys work to resolve shortcomings in treatment or injustices in the detention system, and advocate for the resources that mentees will need when they are released: quality education programs, stable jobs, housing, and improved home lives. The recidivism rate for this population can reach 77%; at Mentoring Today it is 33%. What’s the alternative? Penelope Spain, Chief Executive Officer
2309 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20020
202-678-9002
penelope@mentoringtoday.org
www.mentoringtoday.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
| WISH LIST
$100: provides food at Youth Leadership Task Force meetings;
$500: sponsors a 3-part parent-child communication workshop;
$1000: 5 leadership training sessions for teens
|
Founded in 1999 with the mission of cutting teen pregnancy in half by 2005, DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy exceeded its original goal. Today, the mission is to improve lives of adolescents and halve the rate again by 2015 -- because teen pregnancy is costly in so many ways. Young mothers drop out of school; the risk of abuse and neglect to children rises; and families begun by teens require tremendous emotional, social, and financial support. So what's the strategy? Get the whole community involved, building partnerships across neighborhoods and ideologies. Generate good data and "best practices," share them broadly, and make sure that personal and policy decisions are grounded in them. Place the issue of teen pregnancy front and center in the media, and bring teens into the process, training them (and their parents) to be their own best advocates. The work has paid off, but there is so much to be done: in 2006 alone there were nearly 1,000 births to 15-19 year olds. Everyone has a role to play in preventing teen pregnancy. Brenda Rhodes Miller, Executive Director
1112 Eleventh Street NW, Suite 100
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 789-4666 ext 11
BMiller@DCCampaign.org
www.DCCampaign.org
Page 37 HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women
ASHA for Women (Asian Women's Self Help Association)
| WISH LIST
$100: transportation costs for a family for 1 month;
$500: groceries for a family for 1 month;
$1000: rent and partial utilities for a family for 1 month
|
In many South Asian languages, "asha" means "hope" and women of South Asian descent who are survivors of domestic abuse can turn to ASHA for Women for just that. Some clients speak little English, many distrust the legal system, and most believe what their abusers tell them: that they will be deported, jailed, or lose child custody if they try to leave. So this is where they turn for a new vision of the future. Through a toll-free helpline, they receive assistance in their own language from someone who understands their culture. Volunteer advocates support them in their immediate need to escape abuse and their long-term need to achieve self-reliance. They also help with custody hearings and access to reduced-cost or pro-bono legal and medical services. In addition, ASHA for Women maintains an emergency fund that provides everything from housing, to food, to diapers. Last year, 189 women and children received help, a nearly 65% increase over the year before. ASHA for Women continues to grow -- and bring hope to survivors. You can too. Nalini Rajguru, President-Secretary
PO Box 2084
Rockville, MD 20847
202 683 2019
coordinator@ashaforwomen.org
www.ashaforwomen.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women
Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE)
| WISH LIST
$100: 3 hours of case management for 1 client;
$500: temporary protection orders for 3 clients at the Domestic Violence Intake Center;
$1000: 1 workshop series for 10 recovering survivors
|
Three years ago, the DC Police received one domestic violence call every 19 minutes -- and the calls have increased by 22% since then. Working closely with adult and teen survivors of relationship abuse, WEAVE helps break the cycle of violence by providing an innovative range of legal, economic, and educational services. A multidisciplinary team provides emergency and long-term assistance for all survivors: legal assistance with civil protection orders, custody, divorce, and child support; aid with housing, employment, healthcare, childcare, financial literacy; and psychological counseling to begin the healing process. Education and Outreach programs build community awareness about partner violence and aim to stop abuse before it begins. WEAVE now further extends its outreach to underserved victims: members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community; immigrants and those with limited English proficiency; and individuals living in Southeast DC. Overall, WEAVE provided support to 11,844 victims and potential victims this year, 83% of whom are mothers of minors. Your help empowers survivors and ensures a safer future for all children. Carol Loftur-Thun, Interim Executive Director
1422 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-452-9550
carol@weaveincorp.org
www.weaveincorp.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women
Through The Kitchen Door International
| WISH LIST
$500: ingredients for 1 cooking workshop;
$1000: 100 hours of paid advanced training through Earning While Learning;
$5000: 1 Healthy Family Kitchen workshop for 15 women
|
Through the Kitchen Door uses food as the fuel for economic development and family stability -- providing culinary, life skills, career, and wellness education to the area's neediest populations. Beginning with Healthy Family Kitchen, culinary trainees learn the basics of fresh ingredients, good nutrition, and sanitary practices, while they also learn to cook healthy and flavorful meals. After school, Teens Get Cooking teaches nutrition, food safety, recycling, and of course tasty cooking; self-confidence, grounding, and organizational and social skills are also on the menu. Graduates can proceed to Earning While Learning, where they receive instruction in preparing fine catered foods; earn wages in the commercial kitchen; learn discipline, responsibility, and creativity; and prepare for jobs in the food industry. Classes and activities are also offered at health fairs, community meetings, and farmers' markets, and programming is supported with revenue from the fine catering service. Through the Kitchen Door brings families together over new recipes and healthy eating choices, nourishing body and mind, heart and will. You can help keep their door open and their table spread. Liesel Flashenberg, President
3305 Pauline Drive
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
202 255 9121
liesel@kitchendoor.org
www.kitchendoor.org
Page 38 HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
Yellow Ribbon Fund
| WISH LIST
$100: 4 cab rides for injured veterans to take a break from rehab;
$500: 1 rental car for a caregiver for 3 months;
$1000: 10 nights in a hotel for visiting family members
|
The philosophy of the Yellow Ribbon Fund is simple: wounded servicemen and women deserve first-class care as they recover. And their families deserve the same. Dedicated to soldiers who are in treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Yellow Ribbon Fund supplies the personal services that government programs just don't cover. Over 600 volunteers get involved: providing clothes and meals, decorating for the holidays, building a wheelchair-accessible playground at Walter Reed. And because recovery can be a lengthy process, the Fund arranges for return airline tickets, rental cars, and hotel rooms (all at no charge for those in need) so that patients always have a loved one nearby. The Family Caregiver Program provides much needed day trips and nights out -- respite for the weary. The Fund also pitches in to mentor, and find new opportunities for, veterans who are ready to reenter the civilian world. Serving over 1,000 soldiers and families annually, the Yellow Ribbon Fund proves how mighty even small acts can be. Mark E. Robbins, Executive Director
7200 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 310
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-223-1180
mark@yellowribbonfund.org
www.yellowribbonfund.org
Page 39 HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 oxygen tank to assist fire and accident victims;
$500: IV fluids for 1 medical emergency;
$1100: 1 CPAP device to open airways in breathing emergencies
|
The only station in the county truly maintained, funded, and run by volunteers (it does not receive regular budgeted funds from any government agency), Bethesda Chevy Chase Rescue Squad provides its neighbors with the highest quality fire, rescue, and ambulance service -- at no cost. Begun in 1937 as a 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, for teenagers in vehicle collisions, for heart attack victims, and for 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 3,000 times in the past year alone. BCCRS prides itself on "answering the call." You can too. Robert Kretzmer, Vice President
5020 Battery Lane
Bethesda, MD 20814
301 652 0077
kretzmerrn@gmail.com
www.bccrs.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
The Downtown Cluster's Geriatric Day Care Center
| WISH LIST
$100: 2 occupational therapy sessions for 10 seniors;
$500: 81 hours of geriatric care;
$1000: arts and crafts supplies for 90 participants for 1 year
|
Founded 33 years ago when senior citizens were being abandoned in hospitals -- or even on the streets -- Downtown Cluster's Geriatric Day Care Center provides therapeutic and supportive services to functionally impaired, elderly Washingtonians, 65% of whom have incomes at or below the poverty line. While institutional care can cost over $80,000 annually, the Center provides services for less than $8,200 and also insures that all clients can remain in their own homes. It provides vital services like meals and transportation, and keeps seniors' days meaningfully occupied -- in recreational and art therapy, counseling, and active socializing. Those recovering from strokes participate in movement classes and occupational therapy, and arthritis sufferers practice joint protection and work simplification techniques. Alzheimer's clients (38% of the Center's seniors) strengthen their speaking and nurturing skills by interacting with toddlers in a unique therapy program. The Center also provides crime prevention education, extended day care, supplemental food distribution, and intergenerational programs. One in six DC residents are 60 or older, so the need is great. Compassionate care can truly bridge the gap between generations. Thomye M. Cave, Executive Director
926 11th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-347-7527
clustersdc@aol.com
www.dcgeriatricdaycenter.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
Us Helping Us, People Into Living
| WISH LIST
$100: 1000 condoms for public distribution;
$500: HIV testing kits for 20 patients;
$1000: 2-month lease for 1 mobile HIV testing van to access hard-to-reach populations
|
In the early years of the epidemic, Us Helping Us was a small support group for black men living with AIDS: members met in living rooms and shared holistic approaches to the disease. Today, it is one of the largest black AIDS organizations in the nation, but the intimate focus remains the same. Dedicated to reducing HIV infection in the black community, UHU specializes in prevention programs and support services for gay/bisexual men -- along with counseling and testing for others. POL trains "popular opinion leaders" (a group of friends, a sports team) to be HIV educators who commit to having prevention conversations with their social networks; D-Up! (basketball slang for "defend yourself") uses the same approach with a younger audience; SISTA provides weekend-retreat discussion groups for women; and Many Men, Many Voices gathers men to share HIV risk-reduction techniques. Information about clinical trials, along with mental health and case management services, also are available. For over 20 years, UHU has stood up to racism, homophobia, and the stigma of AIDS. We can all stand together. Ron Simmons, President/CEO
3636 Georgia Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20010
202 446-1100, ext 1092
ronsimmonsphd@yahoo.com
www.uhupil.org
Page 41 HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
Pregnancy Aid Centers -- A Clinic for Women and Children
| WISH LIST
$100: 100 pounds of beans and rice;
$500: 10 sonograms for needy clients
$5000: a much-needed new exam table
|
In Prince George's County, one out of seven residents has no health insurance and one out of four pregnant women receives no prenatal care at all. But in a yellow house on Greenbelt Road, women get the care and advice they need -- regardless of ability to pay. A community-based health and social services clinic, Pregnancy Aid Centers provides comprehensive care (including emergency food and clothing) to low-income women, adolescents, and newborns. Doctors and social workers offer walk-in pregnancy testing and options counseling to over 800 women and girls a year, and a newborn clinic -- opened when it was discovered how few women could afford well-baby care for their infants -- tends to the very youngest of patients. Each month, nearly 35 healthy babies are born to women in the maternity care program, while adolescent outreach works to reduce the rate of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. The yellow house on Greenbelt Road welcomed nearly 2,300 patients last year and the caseload continues to grow. Your help means so much to so many. Mary McGovern Jelacic, Executive Director
4809 Greenbelt Road
College Park, MD 20740
301-345-9325
mary_jelacic@yahoo.com
pregnancyaidcenter.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
GUH Kids Mobile Medical Clinic
| WISH LIST
$100: sick visit for 1 child;
$500: fuel for the mobile clinic for 1 month;
$1000: laboratory services for 8 uninsured children
|
DC is home to 114,000 children -- some of them the most medically underserved in the nation. One in three live in poverty, and families often lack both health insurance and access to providers. So each week, the 40-foot KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic's Ronald McDonald Care Mobile comes to them. The first of its kind in Washington, it travels to "health professional shortage areas” including seven public housing communities, two high schools, and the DC General Emergency Family Shelter -- offering comprehensive, ongoing medical care with no out-of-pocket cost to families. With both primary care physicians and Georgetown sub-specialists at the ready, KMMC provides annual physicals, immunizations, mental health care, ophthalmology exams and eyeglass-fittings, gynecology services, sick visits, and chronic illness management. Wellness and education go hand-in-hand: KMMC frequently sponsors health fairs at partner schools and oversees the HOYA Clinic at DC General, where medical students learn to address health care inequities. Since its inception, the clinic has made 40,000 visits to over 3,000 patients. Every home needs a caring doctor: KMMC makes sure that one is there. Matthew D Levy, MD
3800 Reservoir Road, NW, 2PHC
Washington, DC 20007
202-444-8135
MDL2@gunet.georgetown.edu
www.georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=1033
HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
Hospice Caring
| WISH LIST
$100: supplies arts and crafts for a Good Grief Club;
$500: sends 1 bereaved child to Camp Caring;
$1000: replenishes Patient Support Fund for general needs (groceries, transportation, etc)
|
At Hospice Caring, the point of view is simple: no patient need die alone and no family need grieve without support. The only volunteer-driven, non-medical hospice in Montgomery County, Hospice Caring offers (at no charge) compassionate, practical, high-quality care to those facing a life-threatening illness or mourning the death of a loved one. The Patient and Family Program offers a wide range of support -- grocery shopping, transportation to the doctor, funeral planning -- or simply visits to patients who need a friend. Specially trained volunteers guide the Good Grief Club, a bereavement group for children at county public schools; and Camp Caring provides the only weekend bereavement camp for local kids. Hospice Caring also offers adult bereavement groups for parents, spouses, siblings, relatives, and friends. Since 1989 over 2,000 patients, their families, and over 4,500 individuals grieving the loss of a loved one have received the support they need. Hospice Caring promises patients and families that someone will always be there. You can help them keep the promise. Gary D Thorud, President
518 South Frederick Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-869-0113
garyt@hospicecaring.org
www.hospicecaring.org/
Page 43 HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
| WISH LIST
$100: holiday food baskets for 4 low-income families;
$500: rental and utility assistance for 1 client;
$1000: backpacks for all free and reduced-lunch students at a local elementary school
|
We all share three basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. Western Fairfax Christian Ministries sees that those needs are always met -- for every member of the community it serves. Offering crisis intervention services throughout western Fairfax County, WFCM ensures that low-income families have the help they need to maintain self-sufficiency. Through an Emergency Financial Services program, they can receive assistance with rental and utility bills once per year; at the Food Pantry, they can make monthly appointments to select groceries in a store-like environment. WFCM also runs its own thrift store where eligible family members may select seven changes of clothes per month -- all at no cost. WFCM provides backpacks to students in the fall, food baskets to families during the holiday season, transportation to medical appointments, and furniture for the home. Budgeting classes set the course for a more self-sufficient life. Last year, 2,700 families came to WFCM for food, clothing, and shelter. In the coming year, you can ensure that every family has the essentials -- to live and to grow. Melissa Jansen, Executive Director
PO Box 220802
Chantilly, VA 20153
703-988-9656 ext. 5
execdirector@wfcmva.org
www.wfcmva.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
The Dwelling Place
| WISH LIST
$100: 3 new backpacks filled with school supplies;
$500: 2 new twin beds;
$1000: 1 month's rent in a safe and affordable 2-bedroom unit
|
For many homeless adults, rapid re-housing is ideal. But for a 20-year-old mother with a young child or a single parent recovering from substance abuse, a new place to live is not enough. Providing fully-furnished transitional housing and a wide range of support services, The Dwelling Place helps struggling families in Montgomery County both achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. Families live for two years in one of 16 Gaithersburg-area apartments, and a case manager works one-on-one with each household to develop a sound plan -- for reducing debt and increasing income in the short term, and for achieving financial and housing stability in the long term. In partnership with local businesses and nonprofits, The Dwelling Place also offers job search support, credit counseling, resource referrals, holiday assistance, tutoring for children, advocacy with schools, and life skills classes. Last year, the Dwelling Place served 26 families, 80% of whom moved into permanent housing after completing the program. When families move on, they take all their apartment furnishings with them -- along with newly-found confidence in their finances and themselves. Miriam Gandell, Executive Director
610 East Diamond Avenue, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
(240) 631-1988
mgandell@dwellingplaceinc.org
www.dwellingplaceinc.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington
| WISH LIST
$100: 2 face-to-face visits with a trained case worker;
$500: 5 months of internet access for 3 offices;
$1000: all services for 1 participant for an entire year
|
More than 20 years ago, 12 Episcopal Churches in the DC metro area committed themselves to a simple idea: they could do more together than they could separately to help those in need. Today, Samaritan Ministry is a community partnership of more than 45 area churches — all working one-on-one with homeless and low-income individuals as they build new, independent lives. Through the Next Step program, caseworkers help participants take small, manageable steps toward their goals. At three non-residential service centers, individuals meet regularly with their caseworkers in a supportive job search environment complete with telephones, fax machines, and high-speed internet. Volunteers provide aid in obtaining health care, food assistance, interview attire, and the small but critical necessities: an email address, phone number, or Metro card. Spiritual retreats and support groups are available for those living with HIV/AIDS, as well as a burial assistance program for grieving families. Samaritan Ministry aids anyone in need -- regardless of religious affiliation. Last year, volunteers helped over 1,100 people take their Next Step. You can be part of their journey. David Downes, Executive Director
1516 Hamilton Street NW
Washington, DC 20011
202-722-2280 ext 318
ddownes@samaritanministry.org
www.samaritanministry.org
Page 45 HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition
| WISH LIST
$100: gift cards for 2 families moving into SSIHC housing;
$500: prescriptions for 5 clients in need;
$1000: all summer camp fees for 3 children in the program
|
The 24 congregations of the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition represent a wide range of beliefs and philosophies, but all share a belief in the importance of service -- and the universal right to housing. Working predominantly with single mothers (including nonviolent ex-offenders) and their children, and also with single men and persons with disabilities, SSIHC provides a permanent stock of affordable housing to the homeless and low-income residents of Montgomery County. Supported by a case manager, clients develop personal strategies to acquire gainful employment, secure income and child care, and maintain housing. SSIHC also sees that clients have the tools necessary to succeed: medical and mental health counseling, legal assistance in child custody cases, as well as transportation and childcare stipends and financial assistance for bills and prescriptions. And the SSIHC mentorship program ensures that clients always have a knowledgeable adviser and friend. Over the past 18 years, SSIHC has helped hundreds of people leave poverty behind. With your contribution, hundreds more can -- and will -- do the same. Betsy Sharon, Interim Executive Director
914 Silver Spring Avenue, Suite 203
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301 562 0520
bsharon@ssihc.org
www.ssihc.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
FACETS
| WISH LIST
$100: 80 metro bus tokens for clients to attend appointments;
$1000: 1 month's rent to prevent a family's eviction;
$5000: 2 months of supportive housing for 1 family
|
With a median income of $105,000 per year, Fairfax County is one of the richest in the nation. Yet many families earn less than $1,250 a month -- well below the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment. Providing emergency services and supportive programs to prevent homelessness and assist those who are already homeless, FACETS works to ensure that every Fairfax family has a place to call home. Over 35,000 hot meals are served, winter shelter is provided to some 400 individuals a year, and the program is expanding to house even more. For 32 homeless adults and children, the Home Connections program provides rental apartments and social services; for families in public housing, FACETS offers eviction prevention services, educational programs, and case management. Anyone can seek counseling, job search assistance, access to phones and computers, food, clothing, and even tents. Special programs make sure that children have tutors, school supplies, and recreational activities. In the economic downturn, FACETS saw demand for its service rise a staggering 25%. Your generosity is more vital now than ever. Amanda Andere, Executive Director
10565 Fairfax Boulevard, Suite 10
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-352-5090
aandere@FacetsCares.org
www.FacetsCares.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Community Council for the Homeless at Friendship Place
| WISH LIST
$100: 3 medical consultations in the free clinic;
$500: new mattress for small-shelter or housing resident;
$1000: 1 week of street outreach to homeless men and women
|
For 18 years, Community Council for the Homeless has given new meaning to the words community service. Through creative partnerships with 22 congregations and the efforts of local homeowners, civic groups, and businesses, Friendship Place helps homeless men and women to achieve self-sufficiency and become members of the community. It is the only organization in upper northwest DC to offer the complete continuum of homeless services: street outreach (blankets and sandwiches are the first step), hospitality and basic needs, medical care, case management, transitional shelter, and permanent housing. 20-30 people visit the drop-in center each day, where they receive mail, meet with social workers, or simply enjoy good coffee and conversation. Each year, the free clinic provides over 1000 medical or psychiatric consultations, and the permanent supportive housing program serves 103 formerly homeless adults in group homes and efficiency apartments. Friendship Place helps them get clean and sober, tend to medical issues, repair broken relationships, and find meaningful employment. One man put it best: “I’m no longer a homeless statistic; I’m part of our community.” Jean-Michel Giraud, Executive Director
4713 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-364-1419 ext 12
bbradburn@cchfp.org
www.cchfp.org
Page 47 HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Doorways for Women and Families
| WISH LIST
$100: 2 hours of therapy for a young survivor of violence;
$500: 2 weeks of perishable food for the Safehouse;
$1000: 1 week of shelter for a homeless family
|
Homeless children are twice as likely as their housed peers to be sick, twice as likely to repeat a grade, and three times as likely to have emotional and behavioral problems -- just a few reasons why Doorways for Women and Families has worked for 30 years to break the intergenerational cycles of homelessness and domestic violence. For families in imminent danger, it operates a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, an 11-bed safehouse, and court advocacy services. At the Family Home, children and adults find shelter, children’s services, vocational training referrals, financial literacy counseling, and parenting groups. Families have access to community resource drives (for food, coats, and school supplies) and the aid of Doorways' 75 community partners. Through the HomeStart program, 20 families receive financial and practical assistance as they move into their own homes. Doorways commits to every household and continues to support families after they move on -- and 83% do move on to positive, long-term housing. All children deserve a secure home; with your help, Doorways will see that they have one. Linda Dunphy, Executive Director
PO Box 100185
Arlington, VA 22210
703-522-8858
Ldunphy@doorwaysVA.org
www.doorwaysVA.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Shelter House
| WISH LIST
$100: 4 hours of one-on-one counseling with an employment specialist;
$500: groceries for a family of 5 for 1 month;
$700: security deposit for a family's first apartment
|
For nearly three decades, Shelter House has not rested -- providing a structured and supportive environment for homeless families in Fairfax County 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Through transitional housing programs, emergency shelters, and case management for newly-housed families, Shelter House builds true self-sufficiency in its clients. With seven apartments for large families and two for families in danger, the Patrick Henry Family Shelter provides financial and job skills training, parenting groups, and mental health counseling, as well as recreation and tutoring for children. The Katherine K Hanley Family Shelter accommodates 20 families for shorter periods and supports them in their journey to permanent housing, helping them to access mainstream services in the community as well as those run by the shelter. Additional programs provide 16 transitional apartments and a wide range of supportive services to families who just need that extra boost to make the jump to permanent housing. This year, Shelter House opened its doors to 350 adults and 572 children. Your support can lead them to homes of their own. Kristen Lenz, Development Coordinator
PO Box 4081
Falls Church, VA 22043
703-536-5383
kristen.lenz@shelterhouse.org
www.shelterhouse.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Carpenter's Shelter
| WISH LIST
$100: 2 warm winter coats for women living on the streets;
$500: 1 month's supply of milk for mothers and infants in the Residential Shelter;
$5000: scholarship for a mother to return to school
|
On a cold winter night in Alexandria, a local pastor opened his church doors to three homeless men. With just two volunteers and 10 cots, he laid the foundation of Carpenter’s Shelter. Since then, the organization has moved into an 80-bed, mortgage-free emergency shelter and engaged over 1,000 volunteers. At the Residential Shelter, families find both a temporary home and the help they need to secure a permanent one. Life-skills classes, job-readiness training, and assistance with housing placement are all provided -- as well as school, health, and medical services from the Shelter's community partners. David’s Place day shelter offers showers, phones, laundry facilities, a mailing address, and legal and employment aid to chronically homeless adults; a Winter Shelter provides a warm sleeping place in the colder months. And moving away doesn't mean being forgotten: the Aftercare program offers continued case management and educational opportunities for those living independently. For 900 homeless and formerly homeless people, Carpenter’s Shelter is more than a building with beds. It is a source of hope for the future. Frances Becker, Executive Director
930 North Henry Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-548-7500
franbecker@carpentersshelter.org
www.carpentersshelter.org
Page 49 HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
A-SPAN (Arlington Street People's Assistance Network)
| WISH LIST
$100: 75 local bus rides to job interviews and appointments;
$1000: eyeglasses for 100 homeless persons;
$30,000: a new street outreach van
|
Economic crises are not kind to the vulnerable. As the number of street homeless rises in Arlington, A-SPAN sees more women and more working homeless; in 2010 it expects to see more veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. So A-SPAN's workers reach out to provide basic needs -- frequenting the wooded areas, overpasses, parks, and abandoned buildings where homeless people live, encouraging them to pick up a bagged meal at one of two outdoor locations and to drop in at Opportunity Place, the hub of A-SPAN's operations. Here they can take a shower, wash clothes, secure a health-care referral, and obtain an address (so they can pick up mail and phone messages -- crucial if you are looking for a job). Resume writing, interview coaching, and application assistance are essential services. Eviction prevention helps those at risk of becoming homeless, while permanent supportive housing focuses on the chronically homeless and mentally ill. Winner of six Arlington County Community Hero Awards, A-SPAN meets each client where he or she lives. Your support matters . . . now more than ever. Kathleen Sibert, Executive Director
PO Box 100731
Arlington, VA 22210
703-820-4357, ext. 12
KSibert@a-span.org
www.a-span.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
| WISH LIST
$100: "site kits" to assist volunteer attorneys at 3 intake sites;
$500: 1 training session for 40 volunteer attorneys;
$1,000: 10 Know-Your-Rights trainings to educate homeless clients
|
Every night in DC, nearly 6,000 people have nowhere to sleep – and half of them are chronically homeless. Tapping into the generosity and skill of the local legal pool, Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless seeks to prevent and end homelessness through legal aid, education, and advocacy. Meeting with clients at seven sites (including shelters and soup kitchens), staff lawyers and over 200 volunteers offer direct representation at no cost for legal and civil proceedings. WLCH also ensures that housing agencies and legislation respect the rights of homeless and low-income families, that shelters are handicapped-accessible and well-maintained; and that homeless services provide a safety net for severe weather or medical crises. WLCH offers employment rights workshops to shelter residents, making certain that they have the support necessary to find a job and continually advocates for affordable housing and rental properties. WLCH served nearly 1,300 clients last year and their case load continues to grow. With your help, they will see that each individual has a strong voice -- in court and in the community. Patricia Mullahy Fugere, Executive Director
1200 U Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-328-5504
patty@legalclinic.org
www.legalclinic.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
Our Daily Bread
| WISH LIST
$100: school supplies for 2 children;
$200: 1 month of supplemental groceries for a medium-sized family;
$5000: a holiday meal and gifts for 50 families
|
If Fairfax County has a need, Our Daily Bread evolves to fill it -- every day of the year. ODB first began as a homeless shelter, but when the county was able to build its own, ODB opened a soup kitchen. The kitchen evolved into a network of volunteers collecting and delivering groceries, and today ODB is the only nonprofit in Fairfax County broadly serving formerly self-sufficient families who have fallen on hard times. Coordinating 30 congregations and local businesses to collect and bag food, it delivers groceries to 30 families a week. In response to demand, ODB also began a financial assistance program: trained volunteers field calls from social workers and provide nearly $90,000 in aid to almost 200 families. ODB sponsors budgeting classes at public libraries and recently held its first Financial Education Providers Forum. The Back to School program equipped some 250 children with school supplies in September, and the Holiday Program saw that over 3000 families had gifts and meals . . . because no family should be forgotten. Lisa Whetzel, Executive Director
10777 Main Street, Suite 320
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-273-8829
exdir@ODBfairfax.org
www.our-daily-bread.org
Page 51 HUMAN SERVICES: Legal Services and Justice Programs
Visitors' Services Center
| WISH LIST
$100: metro/bus tokens for 5 people attending a 2-week job training;
$500: 750 VSC "pocket guide of services" for ex-offenders;
$1000: 50 duplicate birth certificates necessary for obtaining ID
|
Helping people charged with breaking the law can be unpopular work, and Visitors Services Center makes no excuse for criminal behavior. But it also knows that most prisoners will return to the community and that successful reintegration begins on day one of incarceration -- if inmates can maintain ties to the outside world. Committed volunteers help with immediate needs: getting messages to families and attorneys, retrieving property, sending birthday cards -- or just finding someone to feed the dog. Later, information and referrals on job training, drug treatment, housing -- to inmates while incarcerated and ex-offenders upon release -- becomes critical. Books and recording equipment let inmates read to their young children. After release, ex-offenders can drop by and use the office phone and internet, pick up bus tokens, find shelter, have a grilled cheese sandwich, or get funds to secure an ID. Maintaining family ties and forging bonds with the community means inmates are better prepared for release into the world we all share –- to live, to work, and to raise their children. Ann C Keep, Executive Director
1422 Massachusetts Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003
202 544-2131
vscdcjails@aol.com
www.vscdcjails.net
HUMAN SERVICES: Legal Services and Justice Programs
Tahirih Justice Center
| WISH LIST
$120: training for an outside attorney who will represent pro bono cases;
$320: client representation for one day;
$5000: staff hours, calls, meetings, and court hearings to save a life
|
Tahirih Justice Center addresses an urgent need -- to protect battered immigrant women and girls fleeing torture, rape, trafficking, honor crimes, forced marriages, widow rituals, and domestic violence abroad and at home. Immigrant women are uniquely disadvantaged: by cultural obstacles, lack of financial resources, limited English proficiency, and ignorance of the US legal system. Tahirih's extraordinary pro bono network of over 650 attorneys at 110 firms provides the expert legal representation needed to ensure asylum for those fleeing gender-based violence abroad; safety for those fleeing abusers at home; and protection for victims of trafficking and other violent crimes. Family law services help clients with divorce, custody and visitation issues that are inextricably linked to their abuse, while an in-house social worker helps with shelter, counseling, food, clothing, and urgent medical needs. Tahirih also seeks to amplify the voices of the women it serves through legislation, public education, and precedent-setting litigation. Violence against women and girls is the most widespread of all human rights violations -- globally and locally. Let’s come together to fight it: there’s strength in numbers. Layli Miller-Muro, Executive Director
6402 Arlington Blvd, Suite 300
Falls Church, VA 22042
571-282-6161
layli@tahirih.org
www.tahirih.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Legal Services and Justice Programs
DC Law Students In Court Program
| WISH LIST
$200: the average cost of assisting 1 person or family;
$550: case-related investigation materials for 1 semester;
$650: 1 month of litigation costs for clients unable to pay them
|
The need for affordable housing is probably the single biggest challenge facing poor people in the District, and the increase in foreclosures -- which displace renters -- has only intensified the problem. DC Law Students in Court comes at the issue in an innovative way. Acknowledging that 90% of landlords have attorneys and only 3% of tenants do, LSIC uses legal defenses to intervene in crises and prevent evictions. Homelessness prevention constitutes 80% of its work each year, with small claims and criminal cases rounding out the docket. And the idea just makes sense: law students from American, Georgetown, George Washington, Howard, and Catholic pair up with some of DC’s neediest citizens, whose incomes fall well below the poverty line. Many are women heads of households with young children or heads of extended families on public assistance or disability. The goal is to stabilize their living situations, teach them the value of asserting their rights, and create a group of young attorneys who will continue to help poor people throughout their careers. Now that's philanthropy at work. Katherine Morrison, Interim Executive Director
616 H Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20001
202-638-4798
kmorrison@dclawstudents.org
www.dclawstudents.org
Page 52 HUMAN SERVICES: Life Skills, Training, and Employment
Alexandria Seaport Foundation
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 apprentice uniform with work boots;
$250: a fully equipped tool box;
$13,500: support for an apprentice for a full program year
|
While their hands work to master carpentry skills, students at the Alexandria Seaport Foundation also craft better lives for themselves. Initially founded to preserve maritime culture, ASF created its apprentice program to meet pressing community needs. Young people come through the court system, schools, and churches, often saddled with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. Yet when they graduate from the program (65% do), virtually all have earned a GED, developed self-confidence, and learned skills that translate into a living wage. ASF provides them with paid, hands-on experience. They also learn math, science, English, and history -- in the context of boat building. Admission is open to all, but the 50 or so apprentices who are served annually are held to strict standards. All must pass drug tests, be respectful of others, and keep daily journals of their work. Behavior determines wages, and graduates illustrate the program's success: since 2005, they have earned $1.5 million, and thousands of dollars have been saved in potential incarceration costs. Your commitment to the program continues the rebuilding of boats -- and lives. Joe Youcha, Executive Director
PO Box 25036
Alexandria, VA 22313
703.549.7078
youcha@alexandriaseaport.org
www.alexandriaseaport.org
Page 53 HUMAN SERVICES: Life Skills, Training, and Employment
STRIVE DC
| WISH LIST
$100: metro tokens for 2 job-readiness training students;
$1000: an entire 3-week program of job-readiness training for 1 participant;
$1500: 2nd year of follow-up services for 1 participant
|
STRIVE DC reaches out to DC’s growing number of hard-to-employ adults -- harder than ever in a deep recession -- in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8: those with limited education, little or no work history, troubled family backgrounds, problems with crime, substance abuse, or homelessness. And it gives them the skills and confidence they need to find a job, perhaps for the first time. STRIVE DC enrolls clients in an intense, 3-week program that teaches the rudiments of applying for and keeping a job -- dressing and speaking appropriately, operating as a team, taking orders, being responsible, accepting criticism. Both confrontational and demanding, the program challenges everyone to address and overcome self-doubt, hopelessness, and cynicism, and to approach the job search with a winning attitude. STRIVE matches graduates with entry-level positions and supports them for two solid years after placement; emergency assistance, health, and housing needs are also addressed. Over 70% of each class is successfully placed, and 70% of these are employed two years later. Doesn’t the next STRIVE Class deserve your support? Chris Hart-Wright, Executive Director
715 I Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-484-1264 ext 106
chris.hartwright@strivedc.org
www.strivedc.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Life Skills, Training, and Employment
Computer CORE
| WISH LIST
$100: Microsoft Windows software licenses for 20 students;
$500: course books and materials for 10 students;
$1000: refurbishment of donated computers for 5 students
|
Most jobs today require some level of computer proficiency, but if you don't grow up with your hands on a keyboard, how are you supposed to learn? At Computer CORE, low-income adults get the technical and life skills they didn't learn as kids. Some are unemployed; most hold one or more low-wage jobs, typically without benefits or opportunities for advancement; two-thirds are women; many are first-generation immigrants. A six-month computer training course helps them conquer fears and learn computer basics: keyboarding; working with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; using email and the internet. After two months, students receive a free computer so that they can hone their skills, and share them with family members, at home. Instructors also advise and mentor students -- identifying existing skills, nurturing interests, working on resumes, cover letters, and job search strategies. An astonishing 93% of CORE students graduate and start new careers, receive promotions, and go on to advanced education programs. Catalogue donors: help your neighbors join the computer age and find a job that means both security and dignity. Lynn O'Connell, Executive Director
3846 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22302
703-931-7346 ext 106
lynn@computercore.org
www.computercore.org
HUMAN SERVICES: Life Skills, Training, and Employment
Jubilee Jobs
| WISH LIST
$100: 1-hour career counseling training session;
$500: scholarship support for continuing education or vocational training;
$1000: full program of services for 1 job seeker
|
In 1981 the residents of Jubilee Housing, a low-income housing program in Adams Morgan, decided to form their own employment agency to help themselves and other vulnerable, poor, and disadvantaged people. They understood that living with hope and dignity meant finding a way to be employed. In the first year, 98 individuals were placed; 28 years later, nearly 19,000 have found the work they desperately needed. Offering job preparation and placement services with long-term retention support (two years or more), Jubilee helps those unfamiliar with the process -- among them ex-offenders, homeless persons, and immigrants -- to go out, get a job, and move up to a better one. Job counseling, mentoring, skill development, help with résumés, and interview assistance are all available. At monthly Job Friends dinners, participants share achievements, challenges, and goals while building a community of support. As the economic downturn brings increasing numbers of jobseekers to the door, Jubilee Jobs remains committed to being part of the solution. Your philanthropic engagement means an independent future for hundreds of families a year. Terry Flood, Executive Director
2712 Ontario Road NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-8970
tflood@jubileejobs.org
www.jubileejobs.org
Page 57 INTERNATIONAL
Amazon Conservation Association
| WISH LIST
$100: protects 12.5 acres of Amazonian rainforest for 1 year;
$500: 1 all-day field trip for 30 Peruvian students to the Cloud Forest Research Station;
$1000: 2 months' salary for a Los Amigos park ranger
|
By the headwaters of the Amazon basin, where the forest meets the Andes range in southeastern Peru and northern Bolivia, lie thousands of miles of intact wilderness -- home to jaguars, tapirs, giant river otters and countless species that face extinction elsewhere. For 10 years, the Amazon Conservation Association has protected their habitats and preserved them through sustainable use of natural resources, scientific research, and education. In Peru, the Los Amigos Conservation Concession protects 360,000 acres of forest, and the community-run Haramba Queros Wachiperi Ecological Reserve shields medicinal plants and water supplies; in Bolivia ACA protects the savannas around Madidi National Park. The Brazil Nut Program supports over 500 nut harvesters, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and conserving forest resources. Saving great forests requires a committed generation of new South American researchers: ACA has created the most active research stations in the basin and cloud forest, destinations for local students and researchers from around the world. Amazon rainforests are home to 30% of the plant and animal species on our Earth. With your support, ACA will help them thrive. Megan MacDowell, DC Office Director
1822 R Street NW, 4th Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202-234-2356
mmacdowell@amazonconservation.org
www.amazonconservation.org
INTERNATIONAL
RugMark Foundation USA
| WISH LIST
$100: 1 interactive web "widget" to spread the campaign message to thousands;
$500: consumer education brochures for 2000 rug showrooms;
$1000: 1 new venue for the Faces of Freedom photo exhibition
|
When RugMark began, the South Asian handmade carpet industry exploited 1 million child laborers; today that number is estimated at 250,000. RugMark USA recruits manufacturers and exporters in the region, along with importers in the US, to make and sell child-labor-free carpets, and lends them its distinctive GoodWeave brand -- thus communicating, in word and deed, its strong anti-child-labor stance. More than 5.5 million certified child-labor-free rugs have now been sold. Inspectors visit licensees’ weaving facilities on a random basis and have rescued more than 3,600 child workers, who were offered rehabilitation, education, and vocational training. To date, more than 9,000 emancipated and at-risk children in India and Nepal have attended school under GoodWeave sponsorship, with 3,400 enrolled at the end of 2009. Other sponsored social programs addressing the root causes of child labor include childcare for adult weavers and awareness campaigns in carpet-producing communities. In addition, the GoodWeave certification will soon incorporate broad social and environmental standards, and geographic expansion into additional rug producing countries is on the agenda. At its worst, child labor is both invisible and profitable. Let us make sure that it is neither. Nina Smith, Executive Director
2001 S Street NW, Suite 430
Washington, DC 20009
202-234-9050
nina@rugmark.org
www.goodweave.org
INTERNATIONAL
Women's Learning Partnership for Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP)
| WISH LIST
$100: a 4-day advocacy workshop for 1 woman;
$500: leadership training manuals and materials for 20 girls;
$2500: 1 leadership workshop for 18 women in a partner country
|
Although women make up more than half the world's population, only 17% of national parliament members are women and just 13 countries are headed by women. Long-time Iranian activist Mahnaz Afkhami founded the Women's Learning Partnership to change the odds. WLP strengthens women's technology, communication, and advocacy skills: the idea is to train them in decision-making and power-sharing arrangements that support democratic and ethical practices, and enhance human rights. Today, more women are standing for elections, educating their daughters, and speaking up in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East where WLP operates. Its programs reach diverse groups of women and men -- over 10,000 annually -- through curricula, workshops, conferences, and online courses, while social networking software (from blogs to chat rooms to Twitter) disseminates resources and publicizes gatherings. Nearly one billion of the world's inhabitants live in abject poverty, and some 70% of these are women. Isn't it time to do something about it? Rakhee Goyal, Executive Director
4343 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 201
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-2774
rgoyal@learningpartnership.org
www.learningpartnership.org