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Especially for Kids

Welcome to Especially for Kids! Scroll through our photos and descriptions until you find something that interests you. The list is sorted by category, but you can also sort it by location if you prefer to look in "your own backyard." If you want to learn more, click the name of the organization to get to its page on the Catalogue website; sometimes there's even a video! Return to this page by clicking "back to list."

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NATURE
	Arlington Outdoor Education Association Dr. Phoebe Hall Knipling was a remarkable woman by anyone’s standards: the first female Science Supervisor in the State of Virginia, she knew, well before the rest of the country, that environmental education was absolutely essential to the development of young people. In 1967 she located and raised funds for what is now the Outdoor Lab, a 210-acre ... PO Box 5646, Arlington, VA 22205, (703) 354-5093 ext 23 outdoorlab.org

	Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States The Audubon Naturalist Society has been introducing residents to its local wild places since 1897. Its mission is broad: to protect the region’s diverse natural habitats – forests, wetlands, water resources, and open spaces – through education, advocacy, and conservation. And education begins at a very early age. The Audubon Nature Preschool starts ... 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, 301-652-9188 ext 34 ANShome.org

	National Park Trust 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 ... 401 East Jefferson Street, Suite 102, Rockville, MD 20850, 301-279-7275 parktrust.org

	Potomac Riverkeeper The Potomac River watershed encompasses 15,000 square miles, touching four states and the District of Columbia as it flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The five million residents of the Potomac watershed deserve a clean and healthy river, but today, swimming prohibitions and fish consumption advisories line the riverbanks. The only grassroots, ... 1100 15th Street NW, 11th floor, Washington, DC 20005, 202-222-0707 potomacriverkeeper.org

	Trails for Youth.org (formerly Trips for Kids) Trails for Youth uses mountain biking to introduce inner-city youngsters ages 8 to 18 – many of whom have never left the city - to the natural world and to the life lessons that it can teach. Supplied with donated bikes, helmets, water, and nutritious snacks, they head off to parks and nature preserves in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Volunteer mentors ... 6109 Fox Hill Street, Springfield, VA 22150, 703-209-5721 trailsforyouth.org

	Washington Area Bicyclist Association In 1972, ecology was the byword and a 10-speed bike craze swept the nation. More bikes than cars were sold for the first time in a century and countless cyclists searched for their place on city roads. Washington Area Bicyclist Association was created for them. Today, it has taken the lead in promoting bicycling as a healthy, sustainable means of ... 2599 Ontario Road NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-518-0524 ext 205 waba.org

	Washington Parks & People 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 ... 2437 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-462-7275 ext 13 washingtonparks.net

	Washington Youth Garden, Friends of the National Arboretum Washington Youth Garden connects urban elementary school children to the natural world and teaches them to use the earth as a resource. Garden science is the medium, and horticultural and life skills are the message: cooperation, personal responsibility, self-confidence, and environmental stewardship grow together. Founded by Parks and Recreation in ... 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-544-8733 washingtonyouthgarden.org


CULTURE: Community Arts
	Adventure Theatre 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 ... 7300 MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD 20812, 301-634-2262 adventuretheatre-mtc.org

	The Art League The philosophy of The Art League is simple: nurture the artist and you enrich the entire community. For seasoned artists and curious newcomers alike, The Art League provides accessible exhibition space and classes at all levels, from drawing to sculpture and from printmaking to fiber arts. Class fees are low and scholarships ensure accessibility. In ... 105 North Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-549-5450 theartleague.org

	Building Bridges Across the River @ THEARC Located east of the Anacostia River, THEARC (Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus) lies in the middle of Ward 8, where nearly half of the children live at or below the poverty line. Instrumental in raising the funds for this first-of-its-kind community and performing arts center, Building Bridges Across the River also secured the arts and ... 1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020, 202-889-5901 thearcdc.org

	Capitol Hill Arts Workshop The arts create challenge; the arts create common ground; the arts must be accessible to all: these are the rallying cries of Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, which serves all ages and provides tuition assistance for youth and adult classes. Offerings include photography, writing, visual arts, textiles, ceramics, acting, and dance. CHAW offers after-school ... 545 7th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-547-6839 chaw.org

	Children's Chorus of Washington As after school programs face budget cuts that force them to reduce services or close down entirely, the real casualties are the youngsters. But Children’s Chorus of Washington helps fill the void. Many choristers come with no formal musical training and little or no opportunity to learn and perform music in a rigorous and intensive environment. Some ... 4626 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20016, 202-237-1005 childrenschorus.com

	City Arts Perhaps you've seen the portrait of Duke Ellington on U Street, or the breathtaking Metro Center mural on the way to work. City Arts' twenty murals and mosaics - which beautify neighborhoods and introduce thousands of people to the diversity and history of our nation's capital - are created by local, inner-city youth under the direction of ... 614 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-331-1966 cityartsdc.org

	Class Acts Arts The arts play a critical role in children's lives: through theater and dance, drawing and singing, they are not only able to express themselves, but to explore a world beyond the classroom walls. While the arts have faced devastating cutbacks in many schools, Class Acts Arts ensures that creativity has a place. Since 1995, it has brought culturally ... 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 303, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 588-4474 classactsarts.org

	DC Youth Orchestra Program The DC Youth Orchestra Program was founded in 1960 at the request of DCPS, which identified the need for a city-wide orchestra for young people: many had very little music education and some had none at all. Now nearing its fiftieth anniversary, and with fresh leadership at the helm, DCYOP is poised to enter a new era -- and the need is as pressing as ... 1700 East Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-698-0123 dcyop.org

	Joe's Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus 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 ... 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712, 301-699-1819 joesmovement.org

	Joy of Motion Dance Center 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 ... 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-6764 joyofmotion.org

	MusicLink Foundation With members of the National Symphony Orchestra on the Board, these folks know talent when they hear it. But talent doesn’t always mean opportunity for students who cannot afford private music lessons. MusicLink offers scholarships to budding musicians recommended by their music teachers – and private lessons mean the opportunity to excel. In its ... 1043 N. McKinley Rd., Arlington, VA 22205, 703-534-9490 musiclinkfoundation.org

	Northeast Performing Arts Group In 1979, dedicated youth activist Rita Jackson established NEPAG to provide performing and visual arts opportunities to youngsters living East of the River. Soon it became clear that escalating neighborhood violence and drug use meant that kids needed more: discipline, commitment, academic support. So NEPAG became a safe haven where kids could prepare ... 3431 Benning Road NE, Washington, DC 20019, 202-388-1274 nepag.org

	Project Create 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, ... 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, 202-660-2555 projectcreatedc.org

	The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts Isolated immigrant students, expelled youth working toward a GED, young men in juvenile detention, seniors in assisted living: everyone has a story to tell, a voice that needs to be heard, a life that’s waiting to be transformed. At The Theatre Lab School they get to tell those stories; teamwork and training help them sort through their lives and ... 733 8th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-824-0449 x22 theatrelab.org

	Washington Revels With its unique combination of traditional performing arts and community participation, Washington Revels blends professionals and non-professionals, children and adults, to create something entirely new. Exploring community traditions in events both staged and informal, large and small, Revels invites us to understand our shared experience – at a time ... 531 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-587-3835 revelsdc.org

	Young Playwrights' Theater 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. ... 2437 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-387-9173 yptdc.org


CULTURE: Community Arts/Arts for Kids
	American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras Recognized as one of the nation’s leading youth orchestra organizations, the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras provides orchestral training and performance experience to more than 400 of the most talented young musicians ages 7 to 21 from Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Maryland. Students are selected in a competitive audition ... 4026 Hummer Road, Annandale, VA 22003, 703-642-8051 aypo.org

	CityDance Ensemble A leader in high-quality arts programming for our city's most at-risk students, CityDance has introduced music, movement, and inspiration to tens of thousands of DC-area children. Students ages 3 to 88 explore ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop in over 70 studio classes. CityDance Early Arts sparks an early love of dance through arts-integrated school ... 1111 16th Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20036, 202-347-3909 citydance.net

	The Dance Institute of Washington When Fabian Barnes retired from the Dance Theatre of Harlem he possessed two important things: a $7,000 pension and the desire to give back to others what dance had given to him. Barnes’s dream was to offer year-round, high-quality, pre-professional training to Washington, DC teens – regardless of their ability to pay. Today, DIW has a brand new ... 3400 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202.371.9656 danceinstitute.org

	Life Pieces To Masterpieces At first glance, there is meager material for artistic inspiration in Washington’s public housing projects. Young males living east of the Anacostia River often grow up without fathers, in families plagued by poverty and substance abuse. But at Life Pieces to Masterpieces, “apprentices” use paint, storytelling, rap, and poetry to make something of ... 5002 Hayes Street, NE, Washington, DC 20019, 202-399-7703 lifepieces.org

	Sitar Arts Center When Sitar Arts Center opened in the basement of an apartment building, the idea was simple: create a safe, nurturing, after-school environment in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, where 80% of students come from low-income households. And let the arts flourish. Well, flourish they did. In just a decade, Sitar has evolved into a multidisciplinary arts ... 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 101, Washington, DC 20009, 202-797-2145, ext 100 sitarartscenter.org


CULTURE: Performing, Literary, and Visual Arts
	African Continuum Theatre Co. For the past 22 years, African Continuum has been more than just a theater company. It has given voice, respect, and honor to under-served populations through live performance and vibrant community engagement. The only African-American theater company in DC, ACTCo has produced over 35 professional productions, including seven world premieres – earning ... 3523 12th Street NE, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20017, 202-529-5763 africancontinuumtheatre.com

	Atlas Performing Arts Center A once-abandoned movie theatre complex in Northeast DC reopened in 2006 as the Atlas Performing Arts Center: a visionary, community-based organization committed to the development of the H Street corridor and the growth of DC's professional artists. With four performance spaces and a welcoming lobby and cafe, this 59,000-square-foot center provides a ... 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-7993, ext 128 atlasarts.org

	Bowen McCauley Dance Founded in 1996 by dancer, teacher, and choreographer Lucy Bowen McCauley, whose dual training in music and dance is the hallmark of her choreography, BMDC is known for its live music, talented corps of dancers, and the intense musicality of its artistic director and founder. Through performances, workshops, and community outreach, BMDC energizes ... 818 N Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-524-4641 bmdc.org

	Dance Place In its permanent home in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast DC, Dance Place is a hub of activity where a 40-week presenting season, a bustling dance school, and a neighborhood cultural center thrive on each others' energy. The complex hosts performances of modern, traditional African, step, tap, and hip hop, often drawing on the 30 local and 3 ... 3225 8th Street NE, Washington, DC 20017, 202-269-1600 x11 danceplace.org

	Encore Stage & Studio Theater is for everyone – of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. And no one understands this better than Encore Stage & Studio. A community children’s theatre with a strong educational mission, Encore has produced 165 full-scale, high-quality plays for over 225,000 audience members – and every role, from leading player to ensemble, has been held by ... PO Box 969, Arlington, VA 22216, 703-548-1154 Ext. 8 encorestage.org

	GALA (Grupo de Artistas Latinoamericanos) Walk past the old Tivoli Theatre and you will see something wonderful: the state-of-the-art home of the National Center for Latino Performing Arts and the only performance space in Columbia Heights. GALA mounts classical, modern, contemporary, and new works, including musical and dance theater pieces, by established and emerging artists from Spain, ... PO Box 43209, Washington, DC 20010, 202.234.7174 galatheatre.org

	Quest: arts for everyone At Quest, inclusive casts and production staff create visual theater so powerful that the spoken word becomes … superfluous. Using mime, gesture, masks, dance, and digital media, what sets this physical theatre company apart is its desire to reach through the barriers of hearing to embrace multicultural and mixed-ability actors and stage crew in order ... 7414 Newburg Drive, Lanham, MD 20706, 301-552-1703 quest4arts.org

	Step Afrika! USA When a young graduate of Howard University traveled to Africa in 1991, he came across the gumboot dance. Created by South African mineworkers, it bore a strong resemblance to the stepping he had learned in his college fraternity. He later met members of the Soweto Dance Theatre, and the Step Afrika International Cultural Festival was born – the first ... 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, 202-399-7993, ext 102 stepafrika.org

	Synetic Theater Fusing the classical elements of drama, movement, dance, mime, text, and music into a distinct form of non-realistic drama, Synetic Theater has taken Washington audiences by storm. At once avant-garde and accessible, its extraordinary productions have also left critics breathless: "A fast-moving, visually stunning work, unlike anything else being done ... 4041 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206, (703) 824-8061 synetictheater.org

	Washington Improv Theater Washington Improv Theater presents a year-long season of performances, sharing improvisational theater with thousands of audience members. The joy of taking part in a collaborative process, of creating moments that will never be performed again, is central to the experience of actors and audience members alike. And WIT players do more than perform with ... 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-204-7770 washingtonimprovtheater.com


EDUCATION: Enrichment
	Chess Challenge in DC With its complex rules and intricate strategies, chess is the ultimate game of the mind. But at Chess Challenge in DC, it is much more than that. It is a way to evaluate decisions, solve problems, and strengthen one's character. For under-served elementary and middle school students, Chess Challenge promotes academic and personal growth through a ... 5185 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 620, Washington, DC 20016, 202-560-1603 chesschallengeindc.org

	DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative The city of Washington is rich in arts and culture, but budget constraints often prevent the city’s schools from taking advantage of its resources. The DC Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative works to help DC public and chartered public schools gain access to our vibrant arts world by removing the barriers to it. Offering workshops for teachers, ... 1835 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, 202-204-7751 dccollaborative.org

	Higher Achievement Targeting academically motivated students at a critical juncture – 5th through 8th grade – and working with them in the “gap” hours – 3:30 to 8pm during the school year and 8am to 4pm in the summer – Higher Achievement offers rigorous academic classes and stresses the discipline and dedication children need to succeed. A four-year, sustained academic ... 317 8th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, (202)375-7731 higherachievement.org

	Kid Power According to the Civic Health Index, a steep decline in community involvement – one key indicator of a community’s wellness – is a worrisome sign. And perhaps it is no surprise that youth from under-served communities, who have dwindling connections to civic life, are among the least engaged. Poor reading and critical thinking skills, and lack of ... 755 8th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202.383.4543 kidpowerdc.org

	Live It Learn It Youngsters study the sun with astronomers (and telescopes) at the National Air and Space Museum, recite a Frederick Douglass speech from the steps of his former home in Anacostia, and work with an artist at the Kreeger Museum to create Monet-inspired landscapes. Live It Learn It inspires academic achievement and ignites student potential through ... 735 8th Street, SE, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20003, 202-546-6223 liveitlearnit.org

	Mentors, Inc 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, ... 1012 14th Street NW, Suite 304, Washington, DC 20005, 202-783-2310 mentorsinc.org

	Passion for Learning, Inc. Find your passion! That is the rallying cry of Passion for Learning, which works with students in the Montgomery County Public Schools. Its Young Writers’ Workshop zeroes in on core subjects – reading, writing, and language arts – where stubborn achievement gaps persist between children from high- and low-income families. Professional writers ... 1210 Woodside Parkway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-562-6014 passionforlearning.org

	Youth Leadership Foundation Youth Leadership Foundation focuses its attention on "the majority in the middle" - average students earning grades of C- or better, impoverished inner-city kids who are often overlooked and forgotten. All are tested before they begin so that areas of strength and weakness are identified and addressed. The middle and high school programs teach English, ... 5034 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite. 250, Washington, DC 20016, 202-363-4022 helpingkids.org


EDUCATION: Literacy and Learning
	AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation Low-income children stand to gain the most from high quality pre-school education, but they are also the least likely to receive it. And this is true even though states predict the number of jail cells they will need by assessing the lack of reading proficiency in fourth graders. So you can see why AppleTree Institute is dedicated to closing the ... 415 Michigan Avenue NE, Providence Hall, Washington, DC 20017, (202) 488-3990 appletreeinstitute.org

	Everybody Wins! DC Here in Washington, DC, only 14% of 4th graders and 12% of 8th graders read at the proficient level or above, and among 4th graders eligible for free or reduced lunch, an astonishing 71% read below the basic level. These are children at risk for failing – academically and socially. Everybody Wins! DC operates literacy and mentoring programs in 32 ... 1213 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, 202-216-9467 ext. 201 everybodywinsdc.org

	The George B Thomas, Sr Learning Academy At the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, education takes a “back to basics” approach. Most of the 3,000 Montgomery County 1st through 12th graders who are eligible to attend belong to minority, low-income, or English as a second language families – and they trail their more affluent peers in achievement. The Academy works to reverse this trend. The ... 7210 Hidden Creek Road, Bethesda, MD 20817, 301-320-6545 saturdayschool.org

	Greenbrier Learning Center Tucked inside of prosperous Arlington County, Columbia Heights West and Pike Village Center are home to low-income, immigrant, and refugee families with limited resources and significant challenges. Almost 66% of Greenbrier Learning Center's children qualify for special services as English language learners or because of learning or behavioral ... 5401 7th Road South, Arlington, VA 22204, 703-379-6488 greenbrierlearning.org

	Heart of America Foundation 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 ... 401 F Street NW, Suite 325, Washington, DC 20001, 202.347.6278 heartofamerica.org

	Inner City-Inner Child Now here are two extraordinary statistics: 61% of low-income families have no books at home for their children, and 80% of their child care centers have none either. It's no surprise that children who don't grow up around books are likely to read poorly and read late. So Inner City-Inner Child focuses on creating a literacy-rich environment for the ... 3133 Dumbarton Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202-965-2000, ext 101 innercity-innerchild.org

	Jan's Tutoring House (formerly Friends of Tyler School) About sixty students a year - most from the Potomac Gardens and Hopkins public housing neighborhoods, some living without any parent, most living with only one, a quarter living without a working phone at home - come to Jan's Tutoring House, really two Southeast DC townhouses that serve as a permanent, alternative home for kids who otherwise rarely ... 1529 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003, (202) 547-1345 janstutoringhouse.org

	The Reading Connection 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 ... 4001 N. 9th Street Suite 226, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-528-8317 ext 12 thereadingconnection.org

	Turning the Page 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 ... 1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 915, Washington, DC 20005, 202-347-9841 turningthepage.org


EDUCATION: Schools
	Bridges Public Charter School Each year, DCPS spends millions of dollars to place special needs students in private programs where average tuition is over $50,000 and transportation adds another $18,000. Bridges Public Charter School provides comprehensive educational and developmental services for typically developing, and special needs, preschoolers – free to families, and at ... 1250 Taylor Street NW, Washington, DC 20011, 202 545-0515 ext. 101 bridgespcs.org

	Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School A unique charter school for children ages 3 to 12, Latin American Montessori Bilingual creates a nurturing, empowering environment both for non-native-English speakers (who might elsewhere be penalized for their lack of fluency) and English-dominant ones (who might otherwise not benefit from learning a new language). Regardless of their backgrounds ... 1375 Missouri Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011, 202.726.6200 lambpcs.org

	Septima Clark Public Charter School Septima Clark was founded to combat the academic crisis that faces boys in Southeast DC, two-thirds of whom do not read or compute on grade level, and 88% of whom are poor. Three times as likely as girls to be suspended, and two times as likely to be in special education, the academic achievement gap is thus a double gap for boys. So SCPCS establishes ... 2501 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020, 202-563-6556 scpcs.org

	Washington Jesuit Academy At Washington Jesuit Academy, students show up at 7:30 AM, five days a week, eleven months a year. Classes end at 3, but students stay until 7:30 for sports and clubs, dinner, study hall, and tutoring. It's a tough schedule, but research shows that if students leave middle school without the skills or desire to succeed in high school, it is too late to ... 900 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, 202-832-7679 wjacademy.org

	The Washington Middle School for Girls For students at The Washington Middle School for Girls, a faith-based school that accepts students of all faiths, success means finding the courage to put on their uniforms and come to school every day. Washington’s Anacostia neighborhood is, after all, a difficult place to grow up. Often living in troubled families and usually under-served by schools ... 1901 Mississippi Avenue, Southeast, Washington, DC 20020, 202-678-1113 washingtonmiddleschoolforgirls.org


HUMAN SERVICES: Children, Youth, and Families
	The Barker Foundation 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 ... 7979 Old Georgetown Road, First Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-664-9664 barkerfoundation.org

	Beacon House Operating in the middle of a large, subsidized housing project in Ward 5 where students typically perform in the lowest quartile on standardized tests, Beacon House creates a culture of self-discipline and academic success for its children. Circumstances are tough and parents lack the language skills and school savvy that might help them help their ... 601 Edgewood Street NE, Suite 15, Washington, DC 20017, 202-832-5108 beaconhousedc.org

	Brainfood Brainfood counts on the universal appeal of food to attract students - most of whom grapple with poverty, violence, and a school system that fails to meet their needs - to an after-school program that gets them off the streets and into the kitchen, giving them real-life skills in a genuinely appealing context. Cooking is fun, but it also requires ... 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-667-5515 brain-food.org

	Bright Beginnings On any given day, more than 200,000 children have no place to live – and 42% of them are under the age of five. Growing up on the move, they often begin school with developmental disadvantages that create life-long learning problems. Bright Beginnings aims to give them a more secure, positive start. For 20 years, it has offered a rigorous ... 128 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202.842.9090 brightbeginningsinc.org

	The Center for Alexandria's Children Just one decade ago, services for Alexandria's abused and neglected children were fragmented: young victims had to repeat the stories of their abuse over and over, and many of their cases still did not make it to court. Today, when children step through the doors of The Center for Alexandria's Children, they can feel truly protected – perhaps for the ... 1900 N Beauregard Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22311, 703-746-6017 centerforalexandriaschildren.org

	The Child and Family Network Centers In 1984, a group of mothers living in public housing watched 17 of their children fail kindergarten and decided to do something about it. From that modest beginning, The Child and Family Network Centers was born, and has since expanded both the reach and depth of its programs, serving nearly 200 at-risk children and their families. Most are immigrants ... 3701A Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22305, 703-836-0214 cfnc-online.org

	The Christ Child Society of Washington DC The 120-year old Christ Child Society serves the most basic needs of at-risk children regardless of race or creed. It begins with the youngest among us, providing a layette "starter kit" of clothing, equipment, and educational material. Volunteers knit blankets and assemble the layettes - some 4,000 kits annually - and distribute them to 30 social ... 5101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 304, Washington, DC 20016, 202-966-9250 christchilddc.org

	City Kids Wilderness Project Each year, for 65 inner-city kids ages 11-18, City Kids Wilderness Project offers life-changing adventures: overnight camping trips, hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and kayaking. After looking at maps, calculating mileage,and recording travel time, the young participants realize that city-life and country-life can coexist: the challenges of ... P.O. Box 70437, Washington, DC 20024, 202-488-0627 citykidscamp.org

	Community Bridges Community Bridges is the only youth program in the Long Branch/Montgomery County area working with girls from diverse families (ages 8-15) in their most pivotal years. And the work is critical: girls are vulnerable to a host of problems from gang involvement to academic failure. So the idea is to build strong, resilient girls who are equipped to ... 620 Pershing Drive, 2nd Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-585-7155 communitybridges-md.org

	DC SCORES 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 ... 1224 M Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, 202-393-6999 ext 305 DCSCORES.org

	Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Abused and neglected children in the court system deserve an advocate: not a mentor or pal, but a highly trained adult who understands what is in a child’s best interests, and sees that the system meets his or her needs.That is just what Fairfax CASA has done for 5,200 children over the past twenty-two years. When a child is abused and neglected, the ... 4103 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 200, Fairfax, VA 22030, (703) 273-3526, ext 11 fairfaxcasa.org

	Falls Church-McLean Children's Center At Falls Church-McLean Children's Center, children whose parents work as housekeepers in hotels play with children whose parents run hotels. And those with learning delays are caught early, when the chance of making an impact is greatest. Eighty percent of the Center's children are at risk of failing in school because of a developmental delay, their ... 7230 Idylwood Road, Falls Church, VA 22043, 703-534-4907 fcmlcc.org

	The Family Place 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 ... 3309 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-265-0149 ext 109 thefamilyplacedc.org

	Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena 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 ... 3779 Ely Place SE, Washington, DC 20019, 202-584-5007 ext 21 fdia.org

	Homeless Children's Playtime Project Every week, more than 100 volunteers give children a much-needed opportunity: the chance to play. At five emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, the Homeless Children's Playtime Project nurtures development and reduces trauma by creating playrooms where kids can just be kids – jump into games; explore reading, and math activities; ... 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC 20010, 202-329-4481 playtimeproject.net

	Hope House DC For children whose fathers are incarcerated — and there are 6,000 DC residents in over 100 prisons from here to California — displacement often has grave consequences. Contact may be lost, family structure weakened, and the reintegration of released fathers made difficult indeed. Enter Hope House, whose dream is to reconnect fathers and kids. Through ... PO Box 60682, Washington, DC 20039, 202-506-2253 hopehousedc.org

	Horton's Kids For almost two decades, Horton's Kids has served as a second family to over 1,500 children from the Ward 8 housing projects, where the per capita income is $6,563, schools are the lowest performers in the District, and violence has earned the neighborhood a place on the police department's infamous "Hot Spot" list. There are many obstacles to overcome ... 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 207, Washington, DC 20002, 202-544-5033 hortonskids.org

	Little Lights Urban Ministries In the Potomac Gardens public housing complex in Ward 6, families of four have an annual income of $7,830 – or less. More than 90% of children live in one- or no-parent households, and a number have incarcerated parents. Drug use is rampant, as is under-achievement, and the schools are in desperate need of improvement. Little Lights Urban Ministries ... 760 7th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, 202-548-4021 littlelights.org

	Main Street Child Development Center Main Street Child Development Center takes care of the whole family. One of the few surviving nonprofit childcare centers in the area, it provides high quality, affordable care, and early childhood education to families from limited-income, working households – many of whom are among Fairfax County's working poor. One hundred two-to five-year olds a ... 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-273-1192 mainstreetcdc.org

	Neediest Kids What do our region's low-income, at-risk schoolchildren need most? Whether it is school supplies, warm coats, healthy food, or toothbrushes, Neediest Kids will find a way. The goal is to help children with their most basic needs so that they can stay in school and succeed. After all, no coat, no school; no calculator, no success in algebra. Each of ... 8283 Greensboro Drive, Suite 9008, McLean, VA 22102, 703-377-0648 neediestkids.org

	Northwest Settlement House Very few inner city organizations in the country, and even fewer in Greater Washington, can claim the longevity of Northwest Settlement House. Established as an offshoot of the Tuesday Evening Club of Social Workers, it was founded 75 years ago by a group of black women to support deserted women and children. A vital force in the Shaw community ever ... 448 Ridge Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202/638-4736 nwsh.org

	Perry School Community Services Center Chronic poverty is one of the most complex and most difficult problems to eradicate. Its symptoms, and often its causes, include welfare dependency, infant mortality, juvenile delinquency, child abuse, teen pregnancy, and poor education – factors that are all too often intertwined. Most organizations can address only one or two root causes: Perry ... 128 M Street NW, Suite 100, Washington, DC 20001, 202-312-7150 perryschool.org

	Prince George's Child Resource Center The needs are great in Prince George's County and the Resource Center seeks resourcefully to meet them, offering a wide variety of services that foster stable child care programs, help working families, and nurture home environments where children can thrive. Its Family Support Center is the hub, where culturally competent, family-friendly programs are ... 9475 Lottsford Road, Suite 202, Largo, MD 20774, 301-772-8420 Ext 230 childresource.org

	Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC Ronald McDonald House Charities provides a home away from home for the families of critically ill children in treatment at area hospitals. Without these homes (in DC and VA) families would camp out in hospital corridors, live in costly hotel rooms, or leave a child when he most needs them. Houses include kitchens, living rooms, laundries, play areas, ... 3727 14th Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017, 703-698-7080 rmhc.greaterdc.org

	Safe Shores - The DC Children's Advocacy Center Child abuse is a heinous crime – painful to acknowledge and difficult to investigate and prosecute: the median age of a child victim is nine years old. No one can erase the pain, but Safe Shores knows there is hope and healing with timely and appropriate intervention. Its child-friendly approach ensures that traumatized children's voices are heard in ... 429 O Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202 645 3200 safeshores.org

	SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) of Northern Virginia Every year, three million children in the US are reported as victims of abuse or neglect – 7,000 from Northern Virginia last year alone. SCAN is there to stand up for them – to stop the cycle of abuse through education and advocacy. Adults who were abused in their childhood often repeat this behavior unless they learn new skills and develop a positive, ... 1705 Fern Street, 2nd Floor, Alexandria, VA 22302, (703) 820-9001 scanva.org


HUMAN SERVICES: Girls and Women
	Girls on the Run of MoCo Any girl can be a runner. And every girl can benefit from the healthy, empowering experience of running – and racing towards a goal. Committed to inspiring pre-teen girls to respect themselves and their bodies, Girls on the Run combines training for a 5K road race with uplifting workouts and team-building exercises at over 65 elementary and middle ... 12320 Parklawn Drive, Suite 212, Rockville, MD 20852, 301-881-3801 girlsontherunofmoco.org

	Interstages Middle-grade girls often fall through the cracks – too old for aftercare programs designed for young children, too young for the extra-curricular and work activities of high-schoolers. But in Southeast DC’s Wards 7 and 8, Interstages offers a powerful alternative to school day chaos, rival street crews (including girl gangs with members as young as ... 7720 Alaska Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20012, 202-824-0740 interstages.org

	Rachael's Women's Center Emergency shelters provide for the nighttime needs of homeless people - some 12,085 of them according to a 2006 survey - but do very little to address the massive problems that confront them when they wake up in the morning. The Day Shelter Program at Rachael's Women's Center supplements evening shelters, providing refuge and healing for homeless women ... 1222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202-682-1005 rachaels.org

	Through The Kitchen Door International 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 ... 3305 Pauline Drive, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, 3016571157 kitchendoor.org


HUMAN SERVICES: Health, Mental Health, and Aging
	Child Center and Adult Services, Inc. It often feels like darkness to those at risk for mental illness: pain, social stigma, and barriers to service confront them every day. Child Center and Adult Services offers high-quality mental health care for low-income children and adults at three primary healthcare clinics, where bilingual therapists are always just a few doors away. In addition to ... 16220 Frederick Road, Suite 502, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-978-9750 ccascounseling.org

	GUH Kids Mobile Medical Clinic 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 ... 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, 2PHC, Department of Pediatrics, Washington, DC 20007, 202-444-8135 georgetownuniversityhospital.org/body.cfm?id=1033

	Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic serves those who have nowhere else to turn: more than 46,000 residents of Fairfax County live below the poverty line and 82,000 have no health insurance. So the Clinic fills the gap, providing a “medical home” for those in need. Children come to see a doctor for the first time in years (if they have ever ... 13525 Dulles Technology Drive, Herndon, VA 20171, 571-235-3577 jsfreeclinic.org

	KEEN Greater DC (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) It was clear from the beginning: children, teenagers, and young adults with profound disabilities – autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, developmental disabilities, and other severe health problems – needed some help. Existing organizations focused on medical, vocational, and occupational needs, but none offered exercise and recreational programs ... PO Box 341590, Bethesda, MD 20827, 301-461-5353 keengreaterdc.org

	Operation Homefront DC Metro Chapter More than 300,000 troops and military families in the metropolitan region lead quiet lives of sacrifice in service to their country. Their faith and perseverance are tested every day – and they are tested emotionally, logistically, and financially. For those with an average base pay of $32,000, salaries barely cover basic necessities, and needs are ... 45975 Nokes Boulevard, Suite 140, Sterling, VA 20165, 703 421-9033 operationhomefront.net/dcmetro

	Simple Changes At Simple Changes Therapeutic Riding Center, lives are changed one step at a time. With access to over 800 acres of land, both an outdoor and indoor riding arena, miles of natural trails, and wide open pastures in Northern Virginia, Simple Changes gives year-round riding lessons to individuals with disabilities, including autism, genetic syndromes, and ... PO Box 991, Lorton, VA 22199, 703.402.3613 simplechanges.org


HUMAN SERVICES: Hunger, Homelessness, and Housing
	Doorways for Women and Families 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 ... PO Box 100185, Arlington, VA 22210, 703-504-9290 doorwaysVA.org

	Food for Others Food for Others has witnessed the consequences of the recession first-hand – in its clients' ever-growing numbers and ever-shrinking incomes. Dedicated to the distribution of free food to the hungry of Northern Virginia, FFO has served more than 2,600 new families at its warehouse this year and everyone’s needs are far more acute. But FFO has kept up ... 2938 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA 22031, 703-207-9173 foodforothers.org

	Manna Food Center The only food bank that provides assistance to all of Montgomery County, Manna Food Center has been in the business of fighting hunger and feeding hope since 1983. Partnering with over 360 organizations, Manna receives referrals for each of its clients, who can pick up perishable and shelf-staple food every 30 days at numerous locations across the ... 9311 Gaither Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, 301-424-1130 mannafood.org

	Miriam's Kitchen Miriam’s Kitchen got its start when a group of individuals and faith-based organizations decided that people who spent their nights on the outdoor grates in Foggy Bottom needed a nutritious, hot breakfast. So every weekday morning for the last 28 years – on holidays, during heat waves, and in blizzards – this kitchen has served breakfast to ... 2401 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037, (202) 452-8926 ext 222 miriamskitchen.org

	Our Daily Bread 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 ... 4080 Chain Bridge Road (Massey Annex), 2nd floor, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-273-8829 ODBFairfax.org

	Project Mend-A-House Project Mend-A-House does just what its name implies: it performs minor safety and structural repairs – the kind that help the needy, elderly, and infirm of Prince William County, VA (just 25 miles outside the Beltway) to preserve their cherished independence. With the help of a core group of volunteers, and supplies that are donated or purchased with ... 7987 Ashton Avenue, Suite 231, Manassas, VA 20109, 703-792-7663 pmahweb.org

	Shelter House 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 ... PO Box 4081, Falls Church, VA 22043, 703-536-2155 shelterhouse.org

	Western Fairfax Christian Ministries 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. ... PO Box 220802, Chantilly, VA 20153, 703-988-9656 ext. 101 wfcmva.org


HUMAN SERVICES: Life Skills, Training, and Employment
	Red Wiggler Community Farm Red Wiggler Community Farm creates meaningful jobs for adults with developmental disabilities who learn to grow and sell high-quality vegetables to local customers. Participants, called growers, plant seeds, water, cultivate, and harvest a wide range of fruits and vegetables, from arugula to zucchini. After harvest, they wash the produce and prepare it ... PO Box 968, Clarksburg, MD 20871, 301-916-2216 redwiggler.org


INTERNATIONAL
	Bonobo Conservation Initiative Deep in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo lives the bonobo, an endangered great ape and one of humankind's nearest relatives. In cooperation with the Congolese people, the Bonobo Conservation Initiative (BCI) establishes new protected areas and leads efforts to safeguard bonobos wherever they are found – fostering both a conservation ... 2701 Connecticut Ave. NW #702, Washington, DC 20008, 202-332-1014 bonobo.org

	GoodWeave USA (formerly RugMark Foundation USA) 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 ... 2001 S Street NW, Suite 510, Washington, DC 20009, 202-234-9050 goodweave.org

	Kenya Education Fund The Kenya Education Fund supports over 500 students in roughly 240 high schools, colleges, and universities across all eight provinces of Kenya and, in terms of the number of scholarships provided, it is among the largest NGOs in the field. KEF weaves together the histories of two entities. The first was formed ten years ago to help the children of ... PO Box 7015, McLean, VA 22106, (646)266-6950 kenyaeducationfund.org

	Lubuto Library Project Lubuto Library Project means so many things to so many children: experiencing innovative, motivational mentoring that teaches traditional values in local languages and changes the lives of thousands of street children and youth; learning to read in seven Zambian languages through a new project in which Zambian reading teachers create computer programs ... 5505 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 368, Washington, DC 20015, 202-558-5609 lubuto.org