Greater Washington Community Foundation Announces Community Action Awards Winners

$100,000 in funds awarded to actionable ideas aimed to benefit Greater Washington neighborhoods and the public good

Washington, DC – February 11, 2021 – The Greater Washington Community Foundation is pleased to announce the full slate of community projects selected to receive Community Action Awards, presented by Comcast—cash awards up to $2,000 to help residents take action to make their communities safer, stronger, and more dynamic. In all, $100,000 was awarded to 50 projects working to make our region a more equitable and inclusive place for everyone to live, work, and thrive.

The Community Action Awards, presented by Comcast, are part of VoicesDMV, a powerful community engagement initiative launched in 2017 to explore the region’s challenges and opportunities related to housing, transportation, safety, economic security, race relations, and community well-being. VoicesDMV celebrates and intentionally listens to the voices of those in our community that often go unheard. To learn more about the initiative, visit voicesdmv.org. 

In 2020, VoicesDMV tapped into Community Insights through a regional survey captured in the weeks immediately preceding the COVID-19 crisis. Even before the pandemic, the survey found that our Black and African American neighbors were experiencing economic inequality and expressing deep concerns about access to quality education, jobs, and medical care. View the findings here.

On the Table then brought together thousands of DMV residents for virtual community conversations to engage in meaningful dialogue around the challenges presented by the survey findings, to work to develop solutions together, and to inspire action to make a difference in our communities.  

Finally, the Community Action Awards program, presented by Comcast, is providing support to help participants move ideas discussed at the table into action. These awards are intended to support neighborhood-based projects and individual leaders who may encounter challenges in accessing traditional foundation funding.

“VoicesDMV presents a powerful platform to engage residents to do good for their communities — in fact, 90 percent of On the Table survey respondents said they were likely to take action on an issue discussed at their conversation,” said Benton Murphy, Senior Advisor for Impact at the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “The Community Action Awards were designed to support these ideas and help community members to take action to better their communities. We are looking forward to seeing these projects come to life in communities across the region.”

Selected projects come from across the Washington, DC metro area – including DC, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland, and Northern Virginia. The projects address a wide range of issues, including education and youth development, community engagement, health and wellness, arts and culture, food access and more. All projects receiving awards can be viewed here.

Over 200 individuals and nonprofit organizations submitted ideas through an online application with the option to share a two-minute video clip describing their project. A team of Community Foundation staff and individuals representing a variety of backgrounds, neighborhoods, and expertise evaluated the entries. Winners were selected based on creativity of idea, level of community engagement, and potential impact of the project. 

Community Action Award Winners

• Action Research for Community Change, a partnership between American University’s Community-Based Research Scholars and E.L. Haynes Public Charter School to facilitate an Action Research 101 class for students and pilot a student-led action research project on a community issue important to them.

• Advancing Equity and Inclusion through Entrepreneurship, SEEK SPOT’s 2-Day Launch Camp, to support 10 DC-area entrepreneurs to accelerate business ideas that solve local problems.

• Kids in COVID Book Project, from Bee the Change, to support an opportunity for Montgomery Country children to reflect and write on their experience during the pandemic.

• Baños de Bosque and Defensores de la Cuenca to engage Spanish-speaking immigrant communities in “forest bathing,” a form of therapy that uses nature to teach mindfulness.

• Black on the Block, a collaboration between Creative Suitland Arts Center and Joe’s Movement Emporium, to support a Black wellness festival offering health and business booths, workshops, and performances by local artists.

• Black Chamber Business Tour, an initiative of the PFC Black Chamber, to host a socially distant, caravan-style tour to provide exposure and increase visibility of 10 Black owned businesses in Prince George’s County.

• The Book Club for Kids to support expansion of its podcast program into Anacostia schools.

• Brighter Bites to purchase food for its produce boxes that help underserved families gain access to healthy foods.

• Brightwood Park Unity Mural, a project commissioned by Uptown Main Street, to support creation of a mural that fosters unity, inclusion, neighborhood peace, and youth involvement in the Brightwood Park neighborhood of DC.

• Briya Voices for All, a program of Briya Public Charter School, to support student-led advocacy efforts in 2021.

• B-Roll Media & Arts to help transition its teaching model to online learning and virtual classes.

• Helping Older Adults Weather the COVID Winter through Walking from Capitol Hill Village to create and promote a Year-Round Walking Program designed to bring neighbors together, reduce social isolation, increase social support, and encourage physical activity.

• Civic Saturday Prince George’s County, part of Civic University, to create a program aimed to increase civic engagement in local communities.

• The Coming Home Coop to offer stipends to local business owners for participation in its workshop program.

• Dance Place Accessibility Project to expand Dance Place’s accessibility of its programming and facilities to people with disabilities.

• DC South Asian Food Walking Tour, an initiative of South Asian Rapid Response Initiative (SARRI), to create a walking tour that highlights Asian immigrant restaurant owners.

• DC KinCare Alliance Relative Caregiver Community Board Outreach and Education Project, a DC KinCare Alliance project, to develop an oral history video focused on the everyday life experiences of relative caregivers who’ve stepped up to raise DC's at-risk children in times of crisis.

• Empowered Healing, an initiative of Support Hopeful Youth (SHY), to host three mental health workshops for unstably housed youth in DC.

• Fill the Fridge to offer nutritious meals to underserved communities by purchasing, installing, and filling refrigerators in area schools, libraries, and departments of recreation.

• FreeState to support the second edition of its Maryland LGBTQIA+ community needs assessment.

• Fort Dupont Park Clean-Up Project, an initiative of Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena, to offer positive youth development opportunities during the pandemic.

• Food Landscape Photovoice, a collaboration between Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) and the Prince George’s County Food Equity Council (FEC), to capture personal stories from community members about their food environments to communicate their needs and potential solutions. 

• Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild to purchase farming materials for its urban farm that grows and distributes fresh food to area food banks.

• Got You Covered Diaper Bag Project, a program of Seed of Faith, to distribute diapers, clothing, and other essentials to economically disadvantaged new parents.

• Health and Hope on Wheels, a program by Rainbow Community Development Center, to hire unemployed drivers to pick up donations for its partner agencies.

• Impacto LGBT, a Spanish-language mental health program for persons living with HIV, to expand its bilingual services of LGBT Latinx gay men.

• Invest in the Future, a program by Youth for You, to support a 12-month, academic and college and career readiness program for underserved students in the DC area.

• Kinder(Garden), a program of the Community Educational Research Group, to purchase garden materials and supplies for a youth gardening project with instruction on healthy eating habits and environmental stewardship.

• Live It Learn It to provide two 5th grade classes at Drew Elementary School with access to fun, engaging, hands-on lessons and experiences, such as Sheroes, a social studies lesson focused on women in history and activism.

• Mamas Together Mutual Aid Community Survey Project, an initiative of Mothers Outreach Network, to conduct a digital survey to create awareness and measure the need for a food and supplies bank for the most marginalized moms of several neighborhoods in dire need.

• Maple Avenue Parent Support Group, part of Community Health and Empowerment in the Takoma Park and Long Branch neighborhoods, to create a new weekly parent support group for immigrant families with elementary school age children.

• Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a program of Just Neighbors, to provide stipends to former clients to continue engagement around discussing, advocating, and volunteering on issues that will help make their community a more welcoming place for immigrants.

• No Safe Place to Call Home, a collaborative reporting project that would give one of Street Sense Media’s formerly homeless vendor-writers the chance to produce an investigative story about his experience in partnership with a seasoned professional journalist.

• Overcoming Gentrification in Chinatown to support AALEAD's Youth Council, a group of high and middle-school AAPI youth who advocate for diversity and racial equity concerns in their own lives and their community, to raise awareness of gentrification concerns and give a voice to Chinese residents of DC’s Chinatown neighborhood.

• Potomac Triangle Parks Project, part of the volunteer-run nonprofit Guerilla Gardeners of Washington, DC, to help the residents of Potomac Gardens and Hopkins to reclaim two adjacent public parks from disuse and neglect.

• Raising Las Voces to involve Prince George's County Youth Poet Ambassadors in creating a series of posters to promote and foster awareness of various issues affecting the Latinx community and how to access related resources.

• School Supplies for Students from the Sequoyah Elementary School PTA to prepare and distribute school supply boxes to support the physical, material, and social-emotional needs of students during distance learning.

• Sewing Academy for Latina Women, a partnership between IMPACT Silver Spring and local Latina residents, to launch a 20-week sewing academy for 25 Latina women.

• Sonn Cosita Seria’s Langley Park Project to support a collective music workshop program that teaches and promotes Son Jarocho music in the DC area.

• Surviving a Global Pandemic: Recipes from ROC-DC to help print, publish, and distribute a cookbook that aims to build, strengthen, and maintain community across cultures and languages during the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Takoma Education Campus Community Garden, led by the TEC Parent Teacher Organization, to rehabilitate and expand an unused garden space to bring freshly grown, nutritious vegetables to the local community.

• Total Wellness to support its Bold Beautiful Brilliant Girls Empowerment Group by offering yoga supplies and online yoga classes that help middle school girls take better care of their minds and bodies.

• Ward 3 Mutual Aid, a volunteer-run network of neighbors, to provide groceries, cleaning products and household supplies directly to neighbors affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Wellness Together project at Thomas G Pullen Creative Arts Academy to create a wellness initiative for students in grades 3-5 with a twice weekly virtual afterschool program including yoga, meditation, and art therapy.

• Wheels for Women, a partnership between Lyft and the Brem Foundation, to offer cost-free ride-sharing service to breast screenings and diagnostic appointments for women in need.

• Woks for Washington COVID-19 Meal Donation Project and Players Philanthropy Fund to purchase meals from local Asian restaurants and donate those meals to local homeless shelters and medical staff.

• Young Royalty, a program of Royalty LLC, to offer daily and menstrual hygiene products and self-esteem workshops to young ladies 12-17 years of age.

• Young, Black & Working from Home Community and Young, Black & Giving Back Institute to support an online community of Black nonprofit professionals to share ideas, network, dialogue, and have a space to experience Black joy despite current societal crises.

• Youth in Support of Police Reform, a project of Prince George’s People’s Coalition, to educate high school youth on the Maryland state legislative process and support their advocacy efforts around police reform legislation.

• ZOOM PALS to support greater social connection for those aging in place in Hyattsville, Maryland by offering technology training taught by youth and high school students.

Down Payment Grants for a More Just Future

By Lisa Wise, CEO and Founder of Flock DC

Home ownership is simply life changing. Homeowners enjoy stability and security, appreciation and wealth generation and fixed costs vs. year over year increases in rent. They unlock tax perks, appreciation and agency. A home of one’s own should not be a privilege enjoyed by some and left out of reach for the rest - particularly when those excluded are often Black, indegenous, and/or people of color. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in the first quarter of 2020, 44% of Black families owned their homes, as compared with 73.7% of white families. And while DC enjoys the highest rate of homeownership among Black households at 50%, it’s still far less than white households, 70% of whom are homeowners.

This wealth gap, inequity and (by design) power imbalance needs to be challenged mightily. And those of us in the real estate industry should be called upon to contribute meaningfully to a more just and equitable future. Indeed, many who have benefited the most from these discriminatory policies have indirectly done so at the expense of many.

Flock DC, our family of real estate management companies, launched the birdSEED Fund in partnership with The Community Foundation to start a new narrative. The fund is seeded with $215,000 for down payment grants - money never to be repaid and earmarked - for first-time Black and Brown home buyers. Grants will range from $5,000 to $15,000 at a time, for those who have been historically excluded from the wealth generating acquisition of homes.  

We want to acknowledge just how much we have to repair in this industry - and we’re initiating this conversation by first investing in our community. 

I have been managing homes for over 30 years. I experienced housing insecurity growing up and have always been drawn to this work. Managing property with empathy and kindness has been my North Star from the start. 

At Flock DC, we’ve chosen to honor people and place over profit. We embrace the communities and neighborhoods that knit together our portfolio. birdSEED and our housing justice work aligns with our values system, and gives us a very specific pathway to helping people with our profits and passion. 

To get there, we are thrilled to partner with the Greater Washington Community Foundation. Their support and commitment to justice, local investments and dignified housing offer a powerful alignment that will help accelerate our impact. With their sophisticated fund management, they allow us to stay focused on grantmaking while they help manage the administrative complexity of the work and reach the right partners. This partnership allows our 100% volunteer-led program to be effective and accessible.  

<— Our birdSEED logo is an homage to the peace and love the dove represents.  We’ll continue to fly high for justice - and hope you will join us in this important work.  

MORE ON BIRDSEED AND HOW TO APPLY

birdSEED is now open to Black and Brown first-time home buying residents in the DC area. The application/review process is deliberately uncomplicated. A board of advisors will review applications and we will match funds with qualified applicants. Grantees can have a combined household income up to $150,000 and must be first-time home buyers and plan to occupy the home. We offer 120 days to use the funds, which are released at closing and are compliant with mortgage lending guidelines. Apply at https://birdseedfoundation.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lisa Wise, CEO and Founder of Flock DC, describes herself as a serial entrepreneur with a social justice lens. Over the last 30 years, all of her professional experiences have been cause-driven, community-based and geared towards improving the lives of others. Lisa leads Flock, with a focus on giving back to communities and populations that are underserved or underrepresented. 

Day to day, Lisa oversees the strategic direction of Flock DC. In particular, she manages strategic partnerships for long term growth and sustainability, leads philanthropic efforts, partners with the heads of sales and client experience managers at all business units to make sure they continue to deliver on their commitment to exceptional customer service and instills a company culture that has led to an industry low turnover rate and a team that is committed for the long haul.

COVID-19 Partners Advance Food Security and Equity in Region

More than 15% of residents in our region struggle with food insecurity—and we anticipate this only getting worse as the cold winter months continue. In response to this emergency community need, we recently distributed an additional $2.04 million in phase 3 grants from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, helping support local nonprofits that are providing food assistance, as well as childcare, eviction prevention, and unemployment support.

Our nonprofit partners have stepped up to feed our community, and we are excited to share a few of their stories. Read on for more.

Community Outreach and Development CDC

Community Outreach and Development CDC, a Prince George’s County-based nonprofit, works to provide quality services so residents can become self-sufficient, productive members of our community. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has expanded their food assistance program to deliver to over 1,000 households who are homebound, including seniors and those who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. 

“Elderly individuals called our agency thanking us for our delivery service, especially during a time when persons were anxious about being in the public and they had underlying medical conditions. One family called stating that they tested positive for COVID-19 and had no groceries. We were able to assist that family with two weeks' worth of food while going through isolation, and provided a tub of cleaning products to help with disinfecting their home.”  -Community Outreach and Development CDC staff member

 In the below, short impact video, Corae Young, Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Development, shares more of their story.

Dreaming Out Loud

Since the onset of COVID-19, Dreaming Out Loud (DOL) quickly pivoted their program model to include meal preparation for vulnerable populations, as well as supporting mutual aid programs for residents across Wards 1, 7, and 8. This directly supports this local nonprofit’s mission—creating economic opportunities for the DC metro region’s marginalized communities through building a healthy, equitable food system.

With support from The Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, DOL provided logistics and coordination support to provide more than 200,000 meals. And, they procured produce from Black BIPOC farmers, and helped maintain community-based hires to pack and distribute food. In total, their direct COVID-19 food support has served an average of 2,000 people per week to DC residents.

“This grant allowed DOL to add capacity to support food aid to thousands of DC residents,” said Christopher Bradshaw, Executive Director. 

“It was very important the way that the food aid resources were deployed. They supported Black food makers and workers and farmers, hiring from within the community – while reaching vulnerable residents with healthy, delicious food. This is in line with our mission of creating economic opportunities within marginalized communities, while building a health equitable food system.” 

Institute for Public Health Innovation

The Institute for Public Health Innovation is focused on improving the public’s health and well-being, across Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC. And with our region’s current food security crisis, that includes providing urgent food assistance to those in need. In response to COVID-19, the Institute has:

• Provided grant writing and development support for food assistance providers

• Developed an extensive COVID-19 resource hub for food access on their website

• Developed a partnership with La Clinica Del Pueblo that allows us to refer requests for food assistance support form Spanish speaking residents to support staff at the organization

• Acted as a liaison between donors, food providers, and Council members to help coordinate large donations

…among many others. In partnership with World Central Kitchen and National Philanthropies, the Institute was able to provide county partners with over 10,000 meals served weekly from April to June, and 8,000 weekly for the months of July and August.

“We were able to leverage our deep relationships with food and farm stakeholders, regional organizations, and county agencies to lead the County’s COVID-19 emergency food response. Support from the Greater Washington Community Foundation enabled us to quickly build staffing capacity and launch new initiatives,” said Sydney Daigle, Food Equity Council Director. 

“The programs we have launched during our grant period will support residents during the pandemic and during our County's recovery.” 

Food for Montgomery: A Community-Wide Response to the Rise in Hunger

By Anna Hargrave, Executive Director for Montgomery County

Can you picture yourself waiting in the cold for hours to get enough food for your family? Or taking multiple buses only to discover the food distribution event ran out long before you arrived? Worse, can you imagine being sick with COVID-19 but realizing that you must go to the food bank because otherwise your kids will go hungry?

This is the reality facing thousands of our neighbors. But, with a small twist of fate, it could be any of us.  

As our community’s need for food skyrocketed last spring, our Montgomery County leaders, community stakeholders, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation teamed up to create Food for Montgomery. This remarkable public-private partnership is marshalling the resources of county government, the knowledge and connections of food providers, the organizing power of our Montgomery County Food Council, and the donations of individuals, businesses, and foundations to prevent thousands of children, adults, and seniors from going to bed hungry.

Check out the video below to hear directly from leaders behind the Food for Montgomery initiative.

Thanks to the hundreds of people and businesses who gave early to Food for Montgomery, our partners have quickly scaled innovative solutions to address the staggering increase in food insecurity affecting 1 in 10 of our neighbors.

Here are a few inspiring examples.

Between March and November 2020, Manna Food Center provided more than 112,050 packages of food to people throughout Montgomery County, responding to a 64% increase in need, compared to the same period in 2019.

• The Manna Food Center, Capital Area Food Bank, local wholesalers, other nonprofit and faith-based distribution partners, and the County are working together to coordinate bulk purchases, maximizing every dollar devoted to addressing the urgent need. 

• Many organizations simply did not have the capacity to distribute more food. Thanks to grants from Food for Montgomery, our partners were able to buy or lease trucks, cold storage, technology, and other key resources which helped them increase the quantity and quality of food distributed.

Last April, Kingdom Fellowship AME Church hosted its first family food distribution, which helped 300 families. With support from Food for Montgomery, they are now leading the East County Consolidation Hub which brings together several organizations and county agencies to serve more than 1,000 families each week. 

• In the spring, restaurants were at risk of closing while local farmers were concerned their food would end up in the trash. Thanks to creative collaborations, their fresh local produce and prepared meals have been able to support people in need, particularly seniors and COVID-positive households that need to remain in quarantine. 

While we are proud of what this incredible partnership has accomplished, we know there is still much work to be done. Feeding America estimates that the number of people facing food insecurity could grow to 120,000-140,000 by the end of 2021. 

As Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando said:

“This is an all-in effort to build a stronger, resilient system and support Montgomery County. We want to take care of each other, and it starts with ensuring that everyone has food.”

 If you share our concern, join us.

Give. Make a gift to Food for Montgomery today!  The strength of this partnership will maximize your impact by helping thousands of people across our community. 

Learn More. You would be amazed by the creative problem-solving and tireless dedication of the partners behind this effort.  Contact us to sign up for opportunities to hear directly from the leaders on the ground and see their work in action.  

Get Involved. Many people still don’t realize how many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table.  If you want to be part of the solution, sign up to help educate others and inspire them to become part of the solution. 

Get Shift Done DMV Fuels Local Nonprofits’ Fight for Food Security

By Kate Daniel, Donor Services Associate

This past year tested the resilience of our community. Our region saw at least 77,800 of our neighbors in the leisure and hospitality industry lose jobs as of October.  At the same time, food insecurity rates climbed over 15% in the District, indicating over 100,000 residents were food insecure. We knew we needed to act—and, when we learned about Get Shift Done, we were inspired to address this mounting crisis in our community head-on.   

The Community Foundation recognized the Get Shift Done model as a bold approach to address both record levels of unemployment and the rise in hunger affecting our community. We launched Get Shift Done DMV in partnership with Washington Nationals Philanthropies, and seeded by The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, Capital One, the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, the Bainum Family Foundation, Washington Gas, and Communities Foundation of Texas, to pair displaced hospitality and restaurant workers with nonprofit food providers. The initiative provides a living hourly wage to work shifts preparing food and meals for neighbors facing food insecurity. 

One local nonprofit that has benefited from this initiative is the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB), the region’s largest hunger relief organization. CAFB, like many other food providers in the area, felt the pressure of the pandemic early on, but was able to call on their dedicated pool of volunteers in the initial months of the crisis.

By August, food insecurity rates were staggering, and Capital Area Food Bank had significantly increased its food distributions. At the same time, volunteer support fluctuated with long-term volunteers juggling how best to navigate stay-at-home orders, health concerns and, for some, returning to a new school year. 

“This could have caused a perfect storm and derailed our ability to meet the demand, but with the help of our community and Get Shift Done DMV, we’ve been able to pack and distribute more food than at any other time in our organization’s history,” said Radha Muthiah, President and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank, a Get Shift Done DMV and Community Foundation nonprofit partner.  

Radha and her team at CAFB reached out to The Community Foundation to see how Get Shift Done DMV might be able to help. The Community Foundation sprang into action, raising additional resources so that Get Shift Done DMV could more than double its shift offerings to support the Capital Area Food Bank through the end of 2020.    

In the past six months, Get Shift Done DMV workers have worked over 22,000 hours with Capital Area Food Bank alone. With this support, CAFB has provided 338,770 emergency food boxes since March. Each box provides enough to feed a family of four for up to five days. Get Shift Done DMV workers have also supported the Curbside Groceries program, which brings affordable, nutritious groceries to those with transportation and accessibility barriers.

“Our work with Get Shift Done DMV is important because we’re [helping] get more food to people that need it. Being part of this program makes it possible to provide for our families, while making connections and building relationships with a diverse new group of people.” 
-Olukayode Yusuf, Get Shift Done DMV worker

As we enter a new year, much is still unknown about the sustained impact this health and economic crisis will have on our community and its recovery. Feeding America estimates 1 in 6 Americans could face hunger, many of whom will be seeking help from a local food bank for the first time in their lives. While our local food providers have weathered a very difficult year, there is still much work to be done to remove barriers to food access and provide sustainable, equitable, and healthy solutions to our neighbors in need.  

“Food insecurity is likely to remain at very high levels through 2021, and Get Shift Done will continue to be a critical partner this year,” said Muthiah. 

As we seek to better understand the crisis we face together, we are proud that our neighbors and nonprofit partners can depend on us to provide some aspect of certainty in this uncertain time. With Get Shift Done DMV continuing to play a crucial part, we look forward to creatively addressing our region’s most pressing needs together in the year ahead.

Interested in other ways you can help make an impact for families dealing with hunger or unemployment throughout our region?

Partnership to End Homelessness Update: A Year in Review

This year, our work to end homelessness in DC has been more critical than ever, as our neighbors without housing were at greater risk of contracting COVID-19, on top of the risks people experiencing homelessness face every day. Throughout 2020, and always, our focus has been on working with our partners to look at the efforts happening across the city and to identify strategic opportunities for investment.

So, this holiday season, as we reflect on our first full calendar year of the Partnership to End Homelessness, we want to say thank you. Thank you to our donors who trusted us to stay informed and to make strategic investments that will result in fewer people experiencing homelessness and more people maintaining safe and affordable housing. Thank you to our nonprofit partners on the frontlines working to make sure our neighbors have food, shelter, medical care, and other basic necessities, in such a scary and uncertain time. And finally, thank you to our government partners who are working tirelessly to respond and direct resources where they are needed most.

Volunteers for Church of the Epiphany, a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, hand out food and supplies topeople experiencing homelessness

a year in review

With your help, this year we have provided over $1.25 million in grants to organizations supporting individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability during the pandemic. These grants included COVID-19 response partners Mi Casa Inc., which provides long-term support and critical housing resources; the Church of the Epiphany, which provides food to people experiencing homelessness in the community; and Bethesda Cares, which provides case management and counseling services. You can learn more about these partners and others here.

In addition to our grantmaking, since 2019 we have supported the development and preservation of over 530 affordable homes through our partnership with Enterprise Community Loan Fund. These investments will create long-term housing options for our neighbors and help to preserve and increase the supply of deeply affordable housing in DC.

Together, we have continued to invest in the strength of our system and helped to provide our neighbors without housing access to healthy meals and medical care when they needed it most. Even in uncertain times, we remain committed to supporting the creation of processes and systems that will help people exit homelessness more quickly or avoid homelessness altogether.

As we head into the new year, we know that tens of thousands of our neighbors are behind on rent and at risk of eviction. We know we must continue our emergency response, while also investing in long-term solutions and systems change that will mean less people experiencing homelessness and a more equitable response for those that do.

COVID-19 Response Fund partner Mi Casa Inc. works with Girard House Co-op to preserve affordable housing

Ways to join us

Next year, keep an eye out as we ramp up our advocacy work and continue to coordinate with our public and private sector partners. As Congress appears to be moving forward on a new COVID-19 relief package, join us in sending a message to your Members of Congress to let them know that now, more than ever, we must make investments that ensure everyone has housing where they can isolate to stay healthy, continue their education, and work to address other needs.

We hope this year, in addition to supporting the amazing frontline providers in our community, we can count on you to support our work as we continue to identify strategic investments to ensure everyone has safe and stable housing.

So once again, thank you. Thank you for all you have done this year and for joining us in our efforts to make sure that no one in DC experiences homelessness and that everyone has housing they can afford.

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About the Partnership to End Homelessness

The Partnership to End Homelessness, led by the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the District Government’s Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH), brings together the public and private sectors to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurring in DC. We believe that all DC residents deserve a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

By joining together, we will increase the supply of deeply affordable housing, help everyone find a home they can afford, and help more people access housing and exit homelessness more quickly.

Get Involved

Every action, whether large or small, can make a difference in ending homelessness. Visit EndHomelessnessDC.org to learn more.

This blog post is from the Partnership to End Homelessness newsletter. Sign up here to receive these quarterly updates.

A Year of Impact: Top 10 Stories of 2020

#1: Tonia Wellons Named Hero of the Crisis, Nonprofit Leader of the Year

It’s been a busy year for Community Foundation staff—especially for Tonia Wellons, who was named permanent President and CEO just weeks after the pandemic hit. Tonia was recently named Washington Business Journal’s 2020 Nonprofit Leader of the Year for her role and leadership in our region’s COVID-19 Response efforts; and “Hero of the Crisis” from Washingtonian Magazine. We are so proud of Tonia, and the incredible leadership she’s provided throughout this crisis. 

#2: COVID Impact Stories: Bringing Partner Voices to Life 

This special video highlights our COVID-19 nonprofit partners’ impact —and thanks donors for their incredible generosity and support throughout this crisis. 

Highlights are pulled from our individual, 2-minute COVID impact story videos, including local organizations like Black Swan, Generation Hope and Montgomery Hospice. Click here to access a full list of videos—and hear more of our nonprofit partner’s stories first-hand. 

 #3 Your Voices Matters: VoicesDMV On the Table Conversations

This WDVM segment highlights how VoicesDMV On the Table conversations brought together residents throughout the DMV area to talk about ideas for improving their communities.

On October 1, we hosted our inaugural VoicesDMV On the Table conversations, bringing together hundreds of residents from across the region for small-group conversations, remotely. Groups discussed and reimagined the future of our community, offering meaningful, action-oriented perspective on how to improve the lives of our neighbors in the DMV. Read more from Benton Murphy, Senior Advisor for Impact, who led the initiative.

#4: Arts Forward Fund Announces $1 Million in Grants to Local Arts Groups Impacted by COVID-19

This fall, together with the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation and 16 other foundations and individual donors, we launched the Arts Forward Fund, an initiative to help local arts and culture organizations weather the impact of COVID-19. We were so excited to announce $1 million in grants from the fund, helping arts and culture nonprofits make essential shifts needed to sustain their work—and respond to the national movement for racial justice. 

 #5: Back to School Means Facing the Digital Divide

As remote learning continues, schools still don’t have enough devices for every student, and too many homes in DC lack access to high-speed internet. Together with the DC Public Education Fund and Education Forward DC, we established the DC Education Equity Fund, which has provided 4,000+ students with internet access. and 3,000+ students with personal devices. Read more in “Back to School Means Facing the Digital Divide,” by our partner Erin Sheehy of Education Forward DC. 

#6: #MakeADifference Mondays

This bi-weekly blog series features our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund partners’ stories, grouped by funding priority: housing and homelessness, medical care and access, education and youth, domestic and community violence, and workforce and small business. Take our #MakeADifference Monday: Housing and Homelessness blog, for example, which includes a feature on Mi-Casa, Inc.:

Through its Emergency Rental Assistance and Tenant-Based Rental Assistance programs, [Mi Casa] helped more than 15 residents access critical housing resources. More than 400 households received virtual trainings around financial education, food banks, unemployment benefits, and the financial effects of the pandemic.

Read our blog for a full list of our #MakeADifference Monday posts, sharing the difference your support has made for our community.

#7: How to Reconstruct an Equitable Future for Our Region

In this opinion piece for the Washington Post, our President and CEO Tonia Wellons and Ursula Wright, Managing Director for FSG, explore a new framework for reconstructing a more equitable future for our region. In the article, they refer to our country’s current situation as a “trifecta of crises” that threatens our nation’s public health, economic security, and democracy. 

Though this pandemic is new, racism and economic injustice are not. The pandemic has served to further reveal preexisting inequities in housing, education, health care, food security, policing and criminal justice, income and employment.

 #8: Celebrating Three Leadership Legacies

Richard Bynum, board member and President of PNC in Greater Washington and Virginia, was honored by the Washington Business Journal with the Minority Business Leader Award—an honor that coincided with two other major board member milestones. Dr. Charlene Dukes, Secretary of our Board, retired as President of Prince George’s Community College after 13 years of service. And Artis Hampshire-Cowan, Vice Chair of our Board, was honored by Leadership Greater Washington as the 2020 Leader of the Year.

Read more about their achievements and success stories. 

#9: Legacy Fund Supports Small Businesses in Prince George’s County

This fall, we were proud to launch The Legacy Fund for Small Business Development, seeded with a $1 million gift directed by Sam Brin and support from Meridiam, to provide critically needed access to capital for small businesses in Prince George’s County—one of the hardest hit groups in the County. We have disseminated $1 million in relief funds to 173 small Prince George’s County small businesses, helping them minimize vulnerability to closure and enabling them to thrive. 

#10: Celebrating the Power of Our Community

It’s been challenging year, but our community stepped up in amazing, awe-inspiring ways. Our community recently came together to celebrate these efforts at the Power of Our Community, Montgomery County and Power of Our Community, Prince George’s County, two virtual convenings that applauded the cooperative spirit of these communities and the collective impact of our work.

Read our Power of Our Community recap to watch the event recordings and view our key-takeaways and impact video updates.

Celebrating the Power of Our Community

This has been a challenging year, but our community stepped up in amazing, awe-inspiring ways. Our community came together to celebrate these efforts at the Power of Our Community, Montgomery County and Power of Our Community, Prince George’s County, two virtual convenings that applauded the cooperative spirit of these communities and the collective impact of our work.

If you missed these inspiring events, read on to access each event recording, our key take-aways and our Montgomery County and Prince George’s County impact reports.

Recap: Power of Our Community, Montgomery County

On December 8, a panel of philanthropic leaders—known for thinking creatively and working in close partnership with the communities they serve—discussed giving and leading boldly, creating a culture of “yes,” and how to embed a framework of social justice in philanthropy to create deeper change.

For a preview of the event, check out our short Montgomery County impact video.

• “I think we have to be less afraid of failure,” said Mieka Wick, executive director of The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. “There’s a lot of learning in failure. And if we’re not ever failing as funders, we aren’t being brave and bold enough.”

• Crystal Carr Townsend, president and CEO of Healthcare Initiative Foundation, encouraged donors to be humble and flexible while working with communities to change systemic inequities. “If we’re going to change the future, we need to get to the root causes and invest in innovative approaches that align with other sectors and other funders to ensure holistic approaches that engage the community.”

• Alise Marshall, director of strategy and new ventures at the Public Welfare Foundation stressed the importance of self-reflection for funders. “The call to action is work inside out. Really examine your internal practices, your hiring practices, the contractors you work with. Look within your organization and be super intentional about the work you’re doing.”

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Recap: Power of Our Community, Prince George’s County

Hosted on December 10, Power of Our Community, Prince George’s County welcomed a panel of government, education and philanthropic leaders who discussed the importance of eliminating silos and embracing partnerships, going beyond what’s required to what is expected to get the job done, and the need for restoration so we can bring our best selves to our work.

For a preview of the event, check out our short Prince George’s County impact video.

• Diana Léon-Brown, director of strategic partnerships for Prince George’s County, outlined the County's emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing food, medical care and supplies to frontline workers and raising $4 million from their partners. “This community has really come together. And I think crisis, as difficult as it can be, can also bring out the best in people. We had to really think about long-term impact and sustainability”

• Dr. Falecia Williams, president of Prince George’s Community College, encouraged us all to NOT “stay in our lanes.” “What I’ve seen in this community is a willingness to redefine the boundaries, as we think about how to build communities through partnership.”

• This event helped us focus not on the negative, but, rather, the power of our community. “It is moments like this where it’s often the case that, not only do we see the worst of what humanity can be, but we also see the best of it,” said Ronnie Galvin, The Community Foundation’s new managing director of community investment and moderator of the Prince George’s County panel.

In this Together—In Any Season

By Rebecca Rothey, Vice President of Development and Senior Philanthropic Advisor

Rebecca Rothey

At this time of year, I am particularly grateful for my job. Philanthropy is my passion, and helping others discover opportunities to be philanthropic is a great joy. The Greater Washington Community Foundation provides the perfect context for this work, thanks to the collective knowledge of our donors, volunteers, and staff. That is knowledge not only of effective giving practices, but also of the issues affecting our region. 

This year, the killing of George Floyd, among far too many other Black men and women, led to widespread civil unrest and calls for racial and social justice as urgent issues for our community and our nation to take action on. Many community members—especially our Black and brown neighbors—were struggling before this pandemic and now find themselves standing in line for boxes of food or eking out their savings to make the rent or mortgage payment. On top of that, nonprofit organizations across the region, many of whom endeavor to help our lowest-income neighbors, are facing sudden losses of expected revenue, and increased but unfunded operational costs. Many have already folded. 

The Community Foundation has closely tracked regional needs throughout this year of turmoil and served as our region’s philanthropic first responder. Since the start of this crisis, our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund has addressed the public health and economic needs of our communities, with a particular focus on those disproportionately affected—typically low-income households and communities of color. 

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of individuals, as well as corporate and foundation donors, we have been able to distribute over $10 million to meet the extraordinary needs of our community. And, with 50% of COVID-19 nonprofit partners led by people of color, we’ve continued to prioritize racial equity in our grantmaking.   

And the work is not over yet. 

Each year, particularly during this season, donors turn to The Community Foundation to help them identify where their philanthropy will have the greatest impact. In a year like 2020, this can be particularly crucial. We stand ready to listen to your particular interests and concerns—whether those be in environmental justice, human services, or elsewhere—and offer guidance or support. 

Rufus Lusk, III and Jessica Damen

Let me tell you about a couple who are very clear about their priorities and have partnered with The Community Foundation for over 15 years to maximize their impact. Social justice is at the core of Rufus Lusk, III. and Jessica Damen’s giving. “Everything has a social justice component to it. There’s not a single charity we contribute to that doesn’t have this factor,” said Rufus.

Through their donor-advised fund at The Community Foundation, Rufus and Jessica support a wide range of social justice-focused organizations, including The Sierra Club, American Friends Service Committee, Doctors Without Borders, Southern Poverty Law Center, and many others. 

They are committed to advancing equity—especially at the local level, in the Prince George’s County community. The couple credits The Community Foundation with connecting them to local organizations that are committed to social and racial justice, and advising them about giving  opportunities like the Legacy Fund, established by The Community Foundation to provide relief to small Prince George’s County businesses suffering as a result of COVID-19.  

“Giving to small businesses—especially minority-owned—is absolutely crucial,” said Jessica. “They’re the backbone of our economy.” Rufus agreed, and added, “To develop greater social equity, you need strong organizations. And you need local strong organizations. That’s what The Community Foundation is all about.”

I started this blog post by saying that philanthropy is my passion. I’m dedicated to working with donors to invest in organizations fostering real change in our society—and helping people discover their passions along the way. I’d be delighted to partner with you in this process and help to further develop your giving priorities.   

One easy place to start is this Washington Post piece, featuring giving tips from our Montgomery County office Executive Director Anna Hargrave. Some other resources I recommend include:

• Bethesda Magazine’s annual Guide To Giving, to which we contribute, with a vetted list of nonprofit partners in Montgomery County addressing a range of issues.

• The Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington, which we mail to all of our donors in November. This year, it features 80+ nonprofit partners focused on COVID-19 response work.

• Our own list of more than 200 nonprofits selected over the past six months to receive grants from our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund—all worthy of consideration for additional gifts. 

• Become a Community Champion with a contribution to the Fund for Greater Washington, and help us provide vital resources to civic and community organizations, incubate new ideas, and remain flexible and vigilant in leading the response to today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges. 

“We’re all in this together” is a familiar refrain in this pandemic. But it could be the motto of The Community Foundation in any year. We’re glad to have you with us.

The Children’s Opportunity Fund Awards up to $100,000 to Literacy-Focused Montgomery County Nonprofits

Nonprofits Selected Through A Participatory Grantmaking Process

The Children’s Opportunity Fund (COF), a community impact initiative of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, is pleased to announce up to $100,000 in grants to 4 nonprofit organizations working to improve educational outcomes for Montgomery County’s children, youth, and families.

Each organization will receive funding up to $25,000 for project/program support providing direct service, advocating for, or researching literacy skills for children ages birth to 8 and their families.

 The Community Foundation recognizes that now, more than ever, it is critical to engage with and empower community voices to advance more equitable solutions. In particular, those that often remain unheard are our Black, brown, and low-income neighbors—and they need a platform to share their views. 

 To that end, the Children’s Opportunity Fund used a participatory grantmaking framework for its grant review process. Participatory grantmaking drastically alters the traditional funding model by ceding decision-making power over funding to local community members. 

Our Participatory Grants Committee included Montgomery County community members, educators, students and parents. This offered a diverse mixture of perspectives and experience, which we hope will promote more equitable decision-making. The review process began with several group discussions on the importance of equity in education, and the opportunity and achievement gaps present in Montgomery County. Committee members then focused on these issues, and insights from their group discussions, when reviewing applications and making final funding recommendations.  

Below, meet our new COF grantees and learn how their projects will support and empower students and families in Montgomery County. 

Advancing Black Lives in Education 

Advancing Black Lives in Education (ABLE) will use this funding to address learning loss for Black students by providing tutoring services, family support, critical learning tools and educational supplies.

 “The philosophy behind this impact initiative matches our vision: to provide support to Black children who attend Montgomery County Public Schools in grades pre-K through 5. We’ve seen many parents in the Black community request academic support for their children, as well as assistance in understanding the recovery plan and making informed decisions about their children's return to school. 

It is widely known that Black families are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus, economically and with respect to education. This work is important because our children and families need additional support from the community to thrive in the virtual learning environment and after they return to school.” -Natalie Thomas, President

ABLE expects to see a positive impact on children's academic achievement and families' social-emotional stability. ABLE hopes that, by reaching Black parents and providing them with a voice, they will become more actively engaged with their childrens’ school and related activities, such as PTA and school reform. 

Story Tapestries 

This grant will help fund Story Tapestries’ Discover the Power of the Written Word (DPWW) program, which offers high-impact literacy programs to 1300+ economically disadvantaged youth, educators and caregivers in Montgomery County. This includes professional development for educators, family supports through interactive events, and monthly arts and literacy kits for families. 

“Young children in Montgomery County are struggling to adapt to health and safety measures required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hardest hit are those who were already experiencing economic hardship. Many of those children were already behind their peers in learning how to read and write. 

Story Tapestries has the tools and community connections to reach these children, their educators and their families - online - with a unique set of resources and services that boost their learning, overcoming barriers such as language, while also increasing an important ingredient in their daily lives - JOY!” -Arianna Ross, Executive Director

Story Tapestries will help bridge the learning gap for children who are behind their peers in learning targets, and generate a feeling of connectedness in 5 school communities, helping promote joy and hope. They will help reconnect educators with their passion for teaching by connect them with Teaching Artist mentors. And, they will help mentor parents on how to support their children more effectively from home.

GapBuster, Inc.

This grant will allow GapBuster, Inc., to offer a Cross-Tutorial Mentoring program to address the widening academic gap for students that have been impacted by COVID-19. It will also help students continue to move from in-person instruction to a virtual learning environment.

“Studies have reported that the digital divide disproportionately impacts students living in poverty and students of color--and COVID-19 has only magnified this problem. Right now communities are suffering, requiring innovative, creative, and aggressive programs that can lead to positive outcomes.” -Yvette Butler-Yeboah, MD, Executive Director 

GapBuster, Inc. hopes to positively impact students with our one-on-one and group Cross-Tutorial Mentoring program, resulting in at least 75% of participants improving at least one grade level in math and ELA by June 30, 2020; and, at least 75% of participants reporting reduced stress as it relates to COVID-19

Loud Voices Together 

Loud Voices Together will use this grant to fund the Harriet Tubman Scholars program, which supports Black and brown students in Montgomery County, MD, in the areas of literacy and math.

“Loud Voices Together was inspired to apply for this grant because of our commitment to equity and education for all students. We are particularly focused on Black and brown students with disabilities, due to the disparities and inequities experienced historically by this community. This funding opportunity will provide these students with the same opportunities as their economically advantaged peers who can secure literacy and numeracy direct services privately.” -Ronnetta Stanley, M.Ed., Executive Director

Loud Voices Together endeavors to help all students develop adequate reading and math skills, to support their long-term academic and professional success. The hope is that all students will make measurable growth in literacy and numeracy skills through this project. 

About the Children’s Opportunity Fund

The Children’s Opportunity Fund is a public-private partnership funded jointly by the Montgomery County Government and Public Schools to leverage public funds to attract private investment. COF champions, plans, and funds strategic investments that improve the lives of low-income children and families in the county. With a focus on innovative, evidence-informed efforts targeted at closing the opportunity gap, COF identifies priority areas for investment based on unmet need, aligns resources toward effective multi-sector collaborations serving the county’s most vulnerable youth and their families, and seeks new funding sources. COF has invested $2 million to expand opportunities for out of school time programs, internships and career prep programs, and early childhood care and education for low-income families. 

Fund for Children, Youth And Families Awards $1.99 Million to Greater Washington Region Nonprofits

The Fund for Children, Youth, and Families (FFCYF) at the Greater Washington Community Foundation is pleased to announce $1.99 million in grants to 49 nonprofit organizations serving disadvantaged children, youth, and families across the Greater Washington region. The organizations will receive grants of up to $50,000 for project/program support or general operating support.

These grants support organizations that are:

• Helping families experiencing homelessness, and those participating in housing-based service programs

• Closing the achievement gap for students from various racial and ethnic backgrounds

• Closing the achievement gap between low-income and high-income families by investing in early childhood education, academic achievement for school-aged children, and college preparation and career training

• Supporting children in the foster care system by promoting permanency and helping youth leaving the system achieve self-sufficiency

Watch coverage of our FFCYF grants in this Local WDVM segment

Take the Wesley Housing Development Corporation, for instance, awarded funding to help low-income households avoid eviction. The grant will help 139 households in DC to maintain their housing. Of these households, nearly 50 residents will participate in one-on-one career coaching to attain unemployment benefits or re-enter the workforce. And, they will receive material assistance, such as grocery store gift cards, hygiene items, and youth “Study & Snack Packs,” at no additional cost.

Or, CollegeTracks, a Montgomery County nonprofit that that helps prepare high school students for higher education. Our grant will help fund their College Access Program, focusing on college admissions and counseling. Of the 784 students who were enrolled in the program in Spring 2020, nearly 630 will enroll in college within a year of their high school graduation.

Our grant to Prince George’s Child Resource Center will provide child development and parent/child learning activities for 95 participants, with the goal of improved language and cognitive abilities. Within one year, we also anticipate participating parents to demonstrate an improved understanding of nurturing parenting techniques.

These are just a couple organizations and projects that we’re proud to support. Below, read on for a full list of our FFCYF grantees and their projects.

• Adoption Together
  To host informational meetings on foster care and adoption with 250 prospective families

• AHC, Inc.
  To support the development of literacy and social engagement skills for 112 students in its afterschool program

• Aspire Afterschool Learning
  To support 80 children in its LearningROCKS! afterschool program

• Center for Adoption Support and Education
  To provide therapy sessions for 33 children who are moving from the foster care system into permanent, loving families

• Central American Resource Center
  To provide housing counseling services to help 50 participants maintain stable housing

• Children’s Law Center
  To provide legal support and other service to help children grow up in permanent, stable, loving families

• Collaborative Solutions for Communities
  To help 12 families transition to permanent housing

• CollegeTracks
  To help almost 800 high school seniors enroll in college or vocational programs

• Community of Hope
  To help 14 families in remain stably housed or transition to another positive housing situation

• Cornerstones
  To help 25 families move into stable, permanent housing

• Court Appointed Special Advocate - Montgomery County, MD
  To recruit and train 100 additional CASA volunteers

• Court Appointed Special Advocate - Prince George's County, MD
  To increase capacity for its Transitioning Youth program

• Court Appointed Special Advocates – Fairfax County, VA
  To provide the services of a CASA volunteer to 292 children

• DC Bilingual Public Charter School
  To enroll 34 children in PK-3

• DC Volunteer Lawyers Project
  To train 38 volunteer lawyers to offer 140 victims legal and/or advocacy assistance

• District Alliance for Safe Housing
  To assist families through its Cornerstone Program, Empowerment Project and Survivor Resilience Fund

• District of Columbia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
  To improve the capacity of the District's 2,300 early childhood educators to identify children at risk for developmental disabilities

• Doorways for Women & Families
  To provide safe housing, life skills and employment services to 30 households experiencing homelessness

• Edgewood Brookland Family Support Collaborative
  To help 80 families and individuals obtain or retain stable housing

• Family and Youth Initiative
  To match four teens with an adoptive family

• Friends of the National Arboretum
  To provide career awareness workshops to youth from low-income communities

• Generation Hope
  To offer college readiness workshops, application and enrollment services, and ongoing support throughout college for 170 teen parents

• Good Shepherd Housing & Family Services, Inc.
  To place 90 vulnerable and homeless participant families in affordable housing

• Healthy Babies Project
  To help pregnant/parenting youth find stable housing and create educational or job readiness plans

• Homeless Children's Playtime Project
  To increase the number of advocacy coalition partners and expand support services for children in families experiencing homelessness

• Homestretch
  To provide debt and financial services and help four homeless adults transition to stable housing

• Hope House
  To provide college preparation services to high school students and ongoing support to students while in college

• Housing Up
  To help 686 families obtain and/or maintain stable housing

• Identity, Inc.
  To help 50 students demonstrate improvement or achieve their grade-level target in key literacy skills

• International Rescue Committee
  To help 70 refugees increase their incomes through public benefits and securing entry-level jobs

• Legal Aid Justice Center
  To provide housing-related legal services to more than 300 households

• Main Street Child Development Center
  To help children achieve or make progress toward school readiness goals

• Mental Health Association of Frederick County
  To close 15 cases and place foster children in permanent homes

• Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless
  To help 126 families maintain stable, permanent housing through its Partnership for Permanent Housing (PPH) program

• Neighborhood Legal Services Program of The District of Columbia
  To provide low-income DC residents and homeless families with legal and housing services

• Northern Virginia Family Service
  To help 130 households transition from homelessness into temporary housing or from temporary into permanent housing

• Prince George's Child Resource Center
  To provide child development and parent/child learning activities that improve language and cognitive abilities for 95 participants

• Reach Education
  To help high school and elementary students develop and grow their literacy skills

• Rising for Justice
  To help 1,500 tenants and their families avoid eviction

• Sasha Bruce Youthwork
  To support homeless youth and runaways with housing and family strengthening services

• Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia
  To help 75 children served by the CASA program achieve permanency in their family placements

• Shelter House
  To help 19 families achieve housing, public benefits and income stability through its RISE program

• Stepping Stones Shelter
  To help 30 families move into stable housing and increase their income

• Survivors and Advocates for Empowerment (DC SAFE)
  To assist 300 participants in successfully moving to safe transitional or permanent housing

• The Arc Prince George's County
  To support more than 40 participants with training and employment services through its Project SEARCH and Ready@21 programs

• The Barker Adoption Foundation
  To provide clients with lifelong services and advocate for ethical, respectful and child-centered adoption practices

• The Platform of Hope
  To help 60 low-income families develop life goals, increase their resource networks and participate in programs that help achieve their goals

• Voices for Virginia's Children
  To collect and distribute data-driven information to policy makers and support 1,000 children in the foster care system

• Wesley Housing Development Corporation
  To help 139 low-income households avoid eviction and maintain housing

About the Fund for Children, Youth And Families

The Fund for Children, Youth and Families (FFCYF) was established to invest in the betterment of underserved children, youth, and families across the greater Washington region - specifically, to invest in organizations achieving significant impact providing services and programming across the following program areas: Stable Homes Stable Families, Foster Care and Adoption, and Academic and Career Success. Through its grantmaking, the fund supports effective organizations working to make the community healthy and stable. Please visit www.fund4cyf.org for more information.

#MakeADifference Monday: Medical Care

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $10 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $10 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference.

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring.

Care for Your Health, Inc.

Care for Your Health believes that every single patient who receives adequate medical care is a win for the whole community.

As the pandemic grew and Care for Your Health staff began working remotely, the organization knew it was critical to support its staff with high-speed Internet, since most activities were pivoting to telemedicine. As a COVID-19 Response Fund grantee, they also received funding for office supplies, stamps and other essential items needed to serve the low-income and uninsured communities of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties.

We have effectively taken care of our clients’ primary care medical problems, either via telemedicine or with visits from the nurse practitioner and the physician. In relation to the 80 new patients incorporated into our practice during the pandemic, we have tested them for COVID-19, attended to their medical problems, and referred them to other health providers and social workers when appropriate.

CCI Health & Wellness Services

Personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 test kits are a key component of fighting COVID-19—as well as software that allows telehealth visits. As CCI Health & Wellness pivoted to better serve its community during the early stages of the pandemic, our COVID-19 Response grant allowed them to focus on shoring up equipment, processes and guidelines. Notable milestones include:

• Establishing workflows and designating separate space for persons under investigation and those testing positive for COVID-19

• Installing sneeze safety guards that form a dividing wall to better separate symptomatic and non-symptomatic patients

• Implementing routine deep cleaning at all health centers on a weekly basis and on demand in response to virus outbreaks in staff areas

• Placing respiratory hygiene stations in all health center waiting rooms

• Purchasing PPE for health center personnel

• Testing for COVID-19 at three health center locations and securing all supplies necessary to stand up temporary testing sites at four health center locations

Montgomery Hospice, Inc.

Providing quality, compassionate end-of-life care is critical. Hundreds of individuals in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties are coping with terminal illnesses and require specialized care—and the COVID-19 pandemic presents many challenges in doing so.

Montgomery Hospice, Inc. used its Emergency Response Fund grant to provide quality care for terminally ill coronavirus-positive patients at Casey House, an inpatient facility.

During the grant period, patients received comprehensive, compassionate care, and they and their families were protected from infection. Furthermore, our services reduce patients’ use of other healthcare resources, especially hospitals, that are strained by the pandemic.

Total Family Care Coalition

Total Family Care Coalition aims to help keep families together for a better and safer community.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted life as we know it, particularly when caring for loved ones. Families are experiencing stress and exacerbated mental health challenges as a result of unemployment and financial instability. Youth are experiencing increased exposure to poor parenting, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect.

[The Community Foundation’s] funds made a huge difference to the community. Children could eat. Parents were able to reduce anxiety and increase self-care techniques such as mindfulness to increase positive parenting.

With funding from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, Total Family Care Coalition:

• Served more than 275 individuals including 112 children, 85 adults and 80 families

• Kept its doors open and responded immediately to families’ needs

• Helped parents receive appropriate mental health medication they could help their small children

• Kept one single, young mom from taking her own life by consistently reaching out and letting her know that she and her baby are loved

Tonia Wellons Named Nonprofit Leader of the Year by Washington Business Journal

Dear Friends of The Community Foundation,

Photo by EMAN MOHAMMED/WBJ
Courtesy of Washington Business Journal

What a year it has been! In light of the ongoing crisis and continuing cycle of bad news, I wanted to share the exciting news that Tonia Wellons, our fearless CEO, has been named Nonprofit Leader of the Year by The Washington Business Journal.

Tonia could not have taken over as The Community Foundation's permanent President and CEO at a tougher time. Tonia has proven to be the exact right leader for this moment and for our community. Under Tonia’s leadership and with the tireless work of our amazing staff, together with the generosity of all of you and many others in our community, we have raised over $10 million to date for our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

As we continue to respond to the ongoing crisis and move forward with other critical initiatives, I hope you will join me in congratulating Tonia by making a gift to support The Community Foundation's work.

Congratulations to Tonia for this well-deserved recognition of your hard work!

Yours,
Katharine Weymouth
Chair, Board of Trustees
Greater Washington Community Foundation

#MakeADifference Monday: Workforce Development

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic.

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $10 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $10 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference.

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring.

CareerCatchers

With funding received from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, CareerCatchers hired additional staff and part-time contractors so that the organization could expand its reach and serve more clients during the pandemic.

Notable milestones include:

• Working with 355 clients to help them with upward mobility and stable employment

• Increasing the number of clients participating in work skills and trainings programs by 200 percent

• Helping more than 100 clients with unemployment insurance claims—through both one-on-one support and Zoom workshops

• Acting as a processing agency for Montgomery County Government’s Emergency Assistance Relief Payment (EARP) program, providing immediate financial assistance to households not eligible for federal or state COVID-19 aid

CareerCatchers will continue to fulfill its critical mission—providing personalized and individualized career counseling for survivors of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, people with disabilities, returning citizens, youth aging out of foster care, and disconnected youth.

Future Harvest

Future Harvest advances agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment through mini-cash grants to farmer entrepreneurs who do not qualify for federal stimulus programs.

Future Harvest combined its Greater Washington Community Foundation grant funds with other sources to create the “Feed the Need” Fund, which awarded more than $60,000 to 22 small-to mid-sized, financially struggling family farm operations—14 of whom were BIPOC farmers.

One grant recipient, Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro, MD, grows a diverse array of vegetables on 4 ½ acres of land. “Last year, we made a commitment to see how we can share our produce with people who otherwise couldn't afford it.” Each week, Owl’s Nest Farm provides CSA shares to families at the Richardson Dwellings public housing complex.

Funding from the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund will allow Future Harvest to continue advancing agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment.

New Futures

New Futures supports under-resourced young people who are pursuing community college as the launching point to further education and rewarding careers—young people who also provide in some way for their families or are their household’s primary financial provider.

In the earliest weeks of the COVID-19 crisis, many were laid off suddenly from part- or full-time jobs in the most vulnerable industries of food service, hospitality and retail, among others.

New Futures established a Scholar Emergency Fund to play a role in preventing Scholars’ sudden, short-term financial disruptions from cascading to devastating challenges that impacted their ability to persist in and complete their credentials. This fund is saving lives and preventing financial disaster.

“My family is so happy because of this support. Please, let all the New Futures personnel know that we are so grateful with this unconditional love and support.”

People for Change Coalition

Small businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and pivoting business strategies has proven critical to staying afloat.

That’s why People for Change Coalition used its funding to create a COVID-19 Small Business Rescue (SBR) program—a program that ultimately helped 10 Prince George’s County small businesses and entrepreneurs develop a digital strategy to adjust to the new norms caused by Covid-19.

“Businesses were caught unexpectedly by Covid-19 and needed a rescue plan to keep their doors open, retain existing customers and clients, as well as secure new ones.”

The businesses who participated in SBR are using their new brand, look, and marketing materials to promote their business, get new clients and contracts, and increase their sales.

Washington Business Journal Recognizes Community Foundation with 2020 Citizenship Award

We are proud to share that the Greater Washington Community Foundation and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield are recipients of the 2020 Citizenship Award, part of the Washington Business Journal's annual Philanthropy Awards program. The award recognizes our partnership on the CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield PPE Response Fund to distribute thousands of PPE units to frontline workers at health clinics across the region.

Pathways to Housing staff receive a shipment of PPE

Mission of Mercy provided free medical and dental care during COVID-19 using the gift of PPE from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield PPE Response Fund.

Tonia Wellons named one of Washingtonian's "Heroes of the Crisis"

Tonia Wellons, President and CEO, of the Greater Washington Community Foundation, was recognized for our efforts to help struggling arts groups as part of the Washingtonian‘s feature on “Heroes of the Crisis.” The feature shines the spotlight on “some of the people who have helped get us through these most challenging of times” from medical professionals to social-justice activists to culinary stars.

Our Kids Need our Community to Act Now

By Sophie Felts, donor, concerned neighbor, and Founder of Sophie Felts Floral Design

My husband and I have four elementary school kids in Montgomery County, MD. Their teachers are some of the most creative, dedicated and hard-working teachers in the entire world (in my humble opinion). But distance learning last spring was ROUGH for our family. Our little kids, a 4th grader, a pair of second graders, and kindergartner, needed constant parental help with their Zoom calls. Our family ended the spring semester with academic regression, frayed nerves, and one less full-time job.

Part of me felt relieved, though, when Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) decided to go virtual this fall. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about my kids getting exposed to coronavirus at school. The other part of me remembered how hard the spring semester had been. That’s when the real panic began to set in. It sank into my gut. If MY family was struggling, imagine how thousands of low-income and essential worker families in our community would suffer.

Our county is the 15th largest school district in the nation. Distance learning logistics are intense, and the county has been working hard to deliver academics to every school child. To an extent, it really is working, at least in theory. The academic component of school IS being provided by teachers teaching on-line. But the childcare component of schooling, so crucial to working families, is missing.

Many families are figuring it out. They are moving to one salary, with many women leaving the workforce. They are hiring staff to create learning pods. They are relying on friends and family. Unfortunately, thousands of other families have fewer resources, and their children are left home alone or in the care of older siblings juggling their own schoolwork. 

These problems felt huge and hard and heavy. So, I started to research solutions. I sat in on County meetings, participated in MCPS forums, reached out to principals and PTA presidents, and called up other parents and business leaders. My first glimmer of hope came in the form of a woman named Rory Richardson. Rory, who is brilliantly energetic and insanely hard-working, along with her team at Bar T Ranch (one of the largest childcare providers in the area), had an idea.

Bar-T Ranch teamed up with 15 other certified child-care providers to develop the “Learning Hub” concept. Each hub has two adult staff members to support a group of up to 13 children.  Providers follow strict safety protocols and each hub occupies its own room. Children have staff at the ready to help them log into classes and lots of exercise and play in between classes. With nine hours of childcare coverage each weekday, parents are able to keep their jobs. 

This fall, our local childcare providers hope to operate as many Learning Hubs as possible in MCPS elementary schools. The barrier, of course, is money. It costs $1,200 per month for one child to participate in a Learning Hub. For many parents, this simply is not feasible. 

What could be done to help fund Learning Hubs? 

I decided to ask Anna Hargrave and Kimberly Rusnak from the Montgomery County office of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. Anna and Kimberly take their mission of building more equitable and just communities seriously. They are both determined and dedicated and are doing the hard work day in and day out. 

I was delighted to discover the Children’s Opportunity Fund, one of the foundation’s impact initiatives, was already working to seeking solutions to help address the needs of kids struggling with remote learning.  I was thrilled that Children’s Opportunity Fund could become the primary mechanism to raise childcare “scholarships” for the families who need it the most. 

I’m happy to report that we have raised over $500,000! This week, our first 32 scholarship students started “school” in their hubs and there are more opening up in the coming weeks which are projected to help at least 100 kids. That is but a tiny percentage of the 29,000 county children who need our help.  We, as a community, need to keep going. We have momentum.

Lots of us want to help – we just don't know how. A gift to the Children's Opportunity Fund is a real way to make an impact right away.

In this moment, I know we all have our own “stuff” to deal with. “Stuff” that is panic inducing and keeps us up at night. I have been tempted to put my blinders on, to just focus on my own family. But NOW is the time when our community needs us to show up. To dig deep. To move past the debates over how this problem could have been handled differently. To look the problem right in the eyes. And to collectively wrap our arms around the kids and families who need it the most.

 Join Us

You can support our community’s families and children by giving to the Children’s Opportunity Fund today. Click below to give, or contact Kate Daniel at [email protected] for assistance giving via check, stock gift, IRA charitable rollover, or a grant from a donor-advised fund.

Educational Equity in our Response to COVID-19, and Beyond

By Kimberly Rusnak, Project Director of The Children’s Opportunity Fund

“We do run the risk that the learning loss students experience now will be the enduring legacy of this pandemic.” - Ralph Smith, director of The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, a national advocacy group

During a typical school year, children only spend 15% of their time in school.  For the 2020-2021 academic year, we know that “school” is very different.  Throughout the DMV, all school districts are starting 100% online.  Unfortunately, there are many students who are not fully participating in online learning for a variety of reasons:

• Insufficient technical support or access to the internet; 

• Not having a supportive adult on hand for support; 

• Distractions from pets, siblings, tv, etc.; 

• Digital eye strain after 3-6 hours of Zoom each day; 

• Isolation, depression, and mental health challenges; 

• For older children, they may need to supervise younger siblings; and 

• Decreasing motivation from not having clarity about academic progress in the virtual setting.  

The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare many long-standing inequities.  Unfortunately, without significant intervention specifically focused on the needs of children, the challenges will get much worse.  

Our Regional Response to COVID-19 for education

Several years ago, the Montgomery Public School System (MCPS) and Montgomery County Government partnered with the Greater Washington Community Foundation to create the Children’s Opportunity Fund. It works to plan, launch, and expand strategic investments to close the achievement gap by addressing racial inequities and expanding opportunities for marginalized children and families. 

The Fund’s leadership decided to focus on helping kids build a strong foundation for life-long success after discovering only about 50% of third-graders in Montgomery County were able to read at or above grade level.  Research shows third-grade literacy has been tied to dropout rates, higher rates of anxiety and depression and increased behavioral problems. Therefore, ensuring our kids have a strong start is key to the community’s economic viability.   

In response to the pandemic, the Children’s Opportunity Fund is focusing on important programs for elementary school age children, including tutoring, family supports and early literacy interventions. Moving into the 2020-2021 school year, we’ll focus on building out effective, evidence informed programs to expand tutoring for Elementary School age children in reading and math, providing families with supports such as Equity Learning Hubs and access to affordable childcare options for families who cannot afford it otherwise.  We are also partnering with Waterford Upstart, a national evidence-informed program, to provide a virtual kindergarten readiness program for a cohort of four year-olds in Montgomery County. 

Join Us to Make a Difference

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, we’ve disbursed more than $7 million to local nonprofits—more than $1 million of which supported organizations helping to expand educational opportunities for children and youth, and advocacy around childcare system improvements.

We are proud to help advance educational equity in our region – and hope you will join us in helping to make a difference. 

Provide Critical Support to Advance These Efforts

• Donate to the Children’s Opportunity Fund.

• Learn more about and donate to DC Education Equity Fund.

•  Donate a digital device (or backpacks, activities, and school supplies) to the “Back to School Bash”

Learn More 

• “Equal Opportunity for Remote Learning.” VoicesDMV Social Justice Town Hall 

•  “DC had a Summer to Connect with Students and Close the Digital Divide. Did it?” Washington Post

• “A ‘Covid Slide Could Widen the Digital Divide for Students.” Wired Magazine

• “Education In a Pandemic: Remote Learning and The Digital Divide.” WAMU

• “As Distance Learning Pushes Parents into Pods, Some Look for Ways to Make the Model More Inclusive.” The 74

•  “‘A Whole System Failure’: Test Scores Indicate Half of MCPS Third-Graders Can’t Read At Grade Level.” Bethesda Magazine

#MakeADifference Monday: Education and Youth

These past several months, while exceptionally challenging at times, have also been inspiring. We’ve seen our community come together to care for our neighbors in need, springing into action to support those most adversely affected by the pandemic. 

Through our COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, were able to invest $7 million to support low-wage workers who have been laid off, expand access to medical care, provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness, increase food access, and so much more. This would not be possible without our compassionate donors – a diverse group of individuals and businesses who helped us mobilize $8 million for coordinated relief and recovery efforts. Thank you for standing with us to make a difference. 

You can read about our impact here – and, below, learn more about how our nonprofit partners helped create this impact. Their stories of kindness and courage are truly inspiring. 

The Young Women’s Project

YWP Youth Leaders advocate for educational change

The Young Women’s Project (YWP) helps build the leadership and power of young people, engaging youth as peer educators, advocates, and employees. YWP’s work engages under-resourced youth of color, ages 14-21; most are women and 20% are LGBTQ, in care, dealing with unstable housing

When the COVID-19 crisis hit, they expanded their educational advocacy work to focus on the immediate mental health needs of their youth. As a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Partner, they utilized 35 youth leaders from all 24 public schools in the District of Columbia to advocate for in-school job programs and school-based mental health programs. And, developed a set of recommendations to strengthen school-based mental health programming.

In total, youth leaders presented 27 testimonies to Committees on Health and Education! Their advocacy efforts helped make a drastic difference for their peers:

•  $4.1 million was awarded to expand school-based mental health services

• $4.1 million was re-investing in students’ social and emotional learning

• Reversed the $9.5 million cut to the Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Program at the Department of Behavioral Health and add $300,000 for community-based mental health responses

Latino student fund

“Since receiving this grant, decisions regarding school closures for Fall 2020 were announced for public schools in the DC metro area. After a summer of planning for hybrid programs, families are now struggling to find support for a year of virtual learning.”

Latino Student Fund students and tutors on a virtual session.

Now more than ever, the Latino Student Fund’s year-round academic programs are essential in our community. This regional nonprofit offers 8 different tutoring and college preparation programs to underserved Pre-K-12th grade students—all of which they were able to continue throughout the pandemic.

As a COVID-19 Response fund partner, Latino Student Fund quickly shifted from in-person to virtual tutoring, serving over 400 students within three months. They have seen an increased attendance rate from 60% to 80% since starting their virtual programs. LSF recruited additional tutors to provide one-on-one support in multiple subjects, helping students adjust to virtual learning in last spring.  

By providing academic support and safe employment, families have had an increased sense of security for their child’s future and students were set on a path to remain in step with their peers when they returned to their virtual classrooms in the fall

free minds book club and writing workshop

Books for Free Minds inmates.

We know that knowledge is power—but can we harness it for the disempowered? Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop has certainly shown us how. Free Minds uses books and creative writing to empower young inmates, offering a remote reading and writing program, virtual workshops, a weekly Letter Writing circle, and their “Write Night” events.

Throughout the pandemic, Free Minds, a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, supported hundreds justice-involved youth housed within DC’s incarceration facilities, and children enrolled in programs with their community partners. For example, their “Write Nights,” a monthly poetry feedback program, connected youth with community members who provided feedback on their writing. Write Nights have seen a 250% increase from their pre-COVID numbers, now serving up to 350 people each virtual session.

“Free Minds did a remarkable job of making the virtual Write Nights [an impactful] experience of youth poetry. The presentations have been focused, direct, and incredibly moving. Watching made clear the extent of the community that Free Minds has forged.” -Write Nights volunteer

Free Minds notes that they will keep striving to fulfill their purpose of “filling the large educational gap created by the act of incarcerating young people.” The longer the pandemic persists, the more determined they are to stay connected. 

the alliance of concerned men

During their grant period, the Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM,) a COVID-19 Response Fund partner, served at-risk youth, many of whom were under court supervision from the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. This DC-based nonprofit offers services for youth crime and violence intervention, including social services, cultural enrichment, and recreational activities.  

In response to the pandemic, they launched the Cyber Transformational Mentoring program, partnering with other local nonprofits including Inner City Collaborative Community Development Corporation, Life Deeds, Sasha Bruce Youthwork Inc, and many others. The program brought youth and community members together virtually on multiple platforms: Zoom, social media, email and phone calls. They also helped build community and facilitate better communication through a large-scale social media campaign to engage their 6-week annual Summer Youth Employment Program

A leader from the program said the following: 

“We gave one youth the opportunity to tell his story. This youth was involved in over 40 robberies before his 14th birthday - and has since transformed his life.” -ACM leader

Back to School Means Facing the Digital Divide

By Erin Sheehy, Partner for External Relations, Education Forward DC

DC students are back to school, but for the vast majority of DC’s students “back to school” means back to learning—from home.

In March, when all of our lives were upended, schools acted quickly, creating work packets to mail home, developing online instructional plans, and giving out limited stocks of laptops and devices. But schools did not have enough devices to give to every student and too many homes in DC lack access to high-speed internet.

So three organizations with deep roots in the community — the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the DC Public Education Fund, and the organization I work for, Education Forward DC, came together to quickly provide DC’s students with needed internet access, devices, and basic needs.

Thus, the DC Education Equity Fund was established.

Credit: DeeperLearning4All

The focus was clear: help those students most in need get the resources and materials essential to continue their education at the onset of this crisis. We believed that schools were the right entity to directly receive this funding because they both know what students need to continue with learning and know what their families and communities are struggling with as we navigate COVID-19. 

Funds were split between DC Public Schools (DCPS), the traditional school district, and DC public charter schools based on student enrollment. We focused specifically on adult students and students who are at-risk of academic failure (students who receive public assistance through TANF or SNAP, are in foster care, experience homelessness — and, for high school students — are at least two years behind academically). 

Nearly 250 donors gave small donations to the Fund, totalling more than $70,000 and 27 major donors contributed more than $2.1 million to the Fund. Schools used nearly half of the funding to provide devices to students and more than 40 percent of funding to provide internet access to households. The remaining support covered basic needs, including groceries, toiletries, and transportation needs. 

Schools supported more than 4,000 students with internet access and more than 3,000 students with personal devices from funding through the DC Education Equity Fund.

At Achievement Preparatory Academy, a public charter school in Ward 8, Founder and CEO Shantelle Wright used the nearly $12,000 grant to buy devices for 125 students, hotspots for 120 students, and covered basic needs for 35 students and families. 

“We distributed wellness packages with basic toiletries like soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and deodorant; and we purchased grocery store gift cards for each family who received a wellness package,” said Wright. “We also used funds to support our Feed Our People program, where we provide hot meals to families in need.”

Moving forward, the DC Education Equity Fund is focused on addressing the digital divide that disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable students, and being nimble and supporting what our most vulnerable students need in an ever-expanding crisis.

We face great uncertainty about the long term health effects of COVID-19, when we will have an effective vaccine, when students can safely return to school, the economic losses to families, economic set-backs for DC, lasting unemployment issues, student and family mental health impacts, significant learning loss for students, widening achievement gaps, and if some students will fail to return to school or not pursue college.

But the focus of educators and schools, leadership of DC’s Mayor and elected officials, the commitment of mission-driven support organizations, and ongoing philanthropic support will mean that many of the challenges we face will be mitigated or even eliminated.

And, with an unrelenting focus on equity, we can rebuild what education and schools look like to better serve the students who were not well-served by the old system.

Learn more about the DC Education Equity Fund and donate to the Fund here. 

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Erin Sheehy joined Education Forward DC as the Partner for External Relations in 2016. Prior to that, Erin was general counsel at a DC public charter school and spent most of her career as a lawyer with the international law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Earlier in her professional life, Erin worked in public broadcasting for The Kojo Nnamdi Show, The Derek McGinty Show, and The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Erin taught in a Providence high school as a student teacher in college and worked for an education policy research firm in DC after graduating. Erin earned a BA in History from Brown University, and a JD magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. She is a DC native who lives in Ward 6 with her husband, three children, and two dogs.