We are in the final stretch of October (can you believe it?)! See what these great nonprofits are doing to help October go out with a bang! Continue reading
Around Town 10/25-10/31
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Tag Archives: Youth
Guest Post: Playworks
October is Bullying Prevention Month. Today we’re excited to welcome Susan Comfort, Executive Director of Playworks, DC to share how their program’s strategies help create a safe, healthy environment for kids to play and be active every day!
by Susan Comfort
October is the time of year that Playworks DC Coaches at our 15 schools choose the 4th and 5th graders who are going to serve as “Junior Coaches” for the rest of the year. And we don’t always choose the star students. We purposely choose the shy kids, too, and even the bullies, who use their leadership talents in the wrong direction. Continue reading
Around Town: 10/11-10/17
No matter what type of event you are looking to head to this weekend, the events featured below will all help you make a difference in your community. See what you can do to give back to great nonprofits in your own backyard. Continue reading
Around Town: September 27-October 3
Catalogue nonprofits are staying busy! If you are looking for something fun to do with your friends and family this upcoming week, try one of these events put on by some great Catalogue nonprofits!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Beethoven’s Eternal Masterworks
National Philharmonic
Soovin Kim, violin, Piotr Gajewski, conductor – Come hear award-winning violinist Soovin Kim perform one of the most popular works ever written: Beethoven’s only violin concerto, a virtuosic masterpiece both lyrical and serene, radiating surprises and a soaring spirit. When Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 was premiered, the press commented that it “projects its force upon all people of all ages, just like the great natural phenomena, which leave us in awe every time they appear. This symphony alike, will still resound centuries to come, for as long as there will be man and music.” Beethoven Violin Concerto Symphony No. 5
When: Saturday, September 28, 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Fee? yes $28-$84 (Kids Free)
Contact: Deborah Birnbaum, (301) 581-5100
For more information: click here
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Montgomery County Farm Tour (by bike!)
Montgomery Countryside Alliance
MCA is partnering with Potomac Pedalers for the 5th annual MoCo Farm Tour. Bikers can choose from winding farm routes of 17-75 miles through Montgomery County’s Ag Reserve. There is also a picnic for bikers and event volunteers at Kingsbury’s Orchard.
When: Sunday, September 29, 2013 (09:00 AM)
Where: Start: Pooleville Golf Course, 16601 West Willard Rd, Poolesville, MD 20837
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Help set up the picnic for bikers- shuttle biker’s belongings back to their cars, engage with event attendees about the purpose and importance of the Ag Reserve. Service learning hours are available for MCPS students.
Contact: Kristina Bostick, (301) 602-4013
For more information: click here
Beethoven’s Eternal Masterworks
National Philharmonic
Soovin Kim, violin, Piotr Gajewski, conductor – Come hear award-winning violinist Soovin Kim perform one of the most popular works ever written: Beethoven’s only violin concerto, a virtuosic masterpiece both lyrical and serene, radiating surprises and a soaring spirit. When Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 was premiered, the press commented that it “projects its force upon all people of all ages, just like the great natural phenomena, which leave us in awe every time they appear. This symphony alike, will still resound centuries to come, for as long as there will be man and music.” Beethoven Violin Concerto Symphony No. 5
When: Sunday, September 29, 2013 (3:00 PM)
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Fee? yes $28-$84 (Kids Free)
Contact: Deborah Birnbaum, (301) 581-5100
For more information: click here
Teddy Bear 5K & 1K Fun Walk/Run
Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center
Register now to Join Boston Marathon runners and a local Junior Olympiad recordholder for the Teddy Bear 5K and 1K Walk/Run on the W&OD Trail starting in the heart of Falls Church, VA. All participants will receive T-Shirts and great prizes will be awarded the top three male and female runners in 8 age categories, plus best overall male, female and Stroller-Runner. Bring your Teddy Bear or favorite stuffed friend to be admitted to a tea party after the race. Online Registration thru Sept. 26 at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/TeddyBear. Proceeds benefit the Falls Church-McLean Children’s Center, a high-quality early childhood education program serving all children, regardless of their family’s financial resources.
When: Sunday, September 29, 2013 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: W&OD Trail, 400 N. Oak St., Falls Church, Virginia 22043
Fee? yes 5K thru Sept. 26, $30; 1K thru Sept. 26, $15.
Volunteer Info: Volunteers welcome to assist along the trail, giving out water to runners.
Contact: Renee Boyle, (703) 534-4907
For more information: click here
Tuesday, October 01, 2013
Volunteer Opportunity at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Children’s National Medical Center
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC
Volunteer Opportunity at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Children’s National Medical Center Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Greater Washington DC needs volunteers to work a weekly 3 hour shift in the Ronald McDonald Family Room located at Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC). Shifts are seven days a week: 9AM to Noon, Noon to 3PM, 3PM to 6PM and 6PM to 9PM. Volunteers will be cross trained by both RMHC and CNMC. A commitment of two shifts a month/60 hours a year is required. Contact: Karen Judson, 202-529-8204/kjudson@rmhcdc.org. www.rmhc.greaterdc.org.
When: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 (09:00 AM)
Where: Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC), 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20310
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Greeting and helping families, coordinate family programming activities and more.
Contact: Karen Judson, (202) 529-8204
For more information: click here
Around Town: September 20-26
The weather may be cooling down, but our nonprofits are just heating up! Check out these great events put on by some of our wonderful Catalogue nonprofits. Heading out to one of these events? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at info@cfp-dc.org!
Saturday, September 21, 2013
VolunTrivia 3.0
Volunteer Fairfax
Join Volunteer Fairfax and compete for hundreds of dollars worth of prizes at VolunTrivia: live, MC-hosted team trivia! Teams of up to 6 players will compete for a chance to win the $200 1st place prize as well as over $300 in other prizes. Join us on Saturday, September 21st at Bennigan’s in McLean to test your knowledge, enjoy special happy hour specials, and support volunteering. To compete, you must pre-register. All registrants will have the option to play on your selected team (of up to 6 people), play solo, or ask to be placed on a pick-up team.
When: Saturday, September 21, 2013 (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Where: Bennigan’s, 8201 Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102
Fee?: yes $25 team; $10 individuals
Contact: Emily Davis, (703) 246-3892
For more information: click here
Monday, September 23, 2013
You’re Invited to Coffee Talk with Jubilee Jobs
Jubilee Jobs
Last year, Jubilee Jobs helped 1,000 people obtain employment. Want to know how we do it? Want to help us place 1,000 more people in jobs this year? Then join us on September 23rd at The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW at 8:30 am. We need your help to assist the unemployed in the community. Come and hear applicant testimonials, meet our Executive Director Terry Flood, learn more about our volunteer opportunities, and join others who want to make a real difference and help others in the community. Please call ahead of time at (202) 667-8970 so we know to look for you.
When: Monday, September 23, 2013 (08:30 AM)
Where: The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee?: no
Contact: Sheila Robinson, (202) 667-8970
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
WILL Power Party
Wilderness Leadership & Learning
A special cocktail reception to highlight the positive impact WILL makes in the lives of the DC youth from underserved neighborhoods and to honor the WILL Partner of the Year – Rachel Skerritt, Principal of Eastern High School
When: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Fee?: yes $75 per person
Contact: Steve Abraham, (202) 319-2
For more information: click here
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Leave a Legacy Dinner and Roast for ANS Volunteers, Staff, and Former Staff
Audubon Naturalist Society
Long-time ANS support and current Executive Director, Neal Fitzpatrick, plans to retire in September after 33 years of service. Since Neal has been such a passionate advocate for protecting our local water resources and natural spaces, it seems fitting that his legacy include a fund established in his name that would support the mobilization of people of all ages to protect and restore streams in the greater DC region. To honor Neal and to build his Legacy Fund, we have planned a number of festive events! Join us for a farewell dinner to Neal on Thursday, September 26th, at 5:30pm at Woodend Sanctuary. All ANS Volunteers and current and former staff members are invited. Dinner and drinks will be served. There is a suggested donation of $15 per person (all of which is a tax-deductible gift). RSVP by Friday, September 20th, to Pam Oves at poves@audubonnaturalist.org or 301-652-9188 x16. We hope to see you there!
When: Thursday, September 26, 2013 (5:30 PM)
Where: Woodend Sanctuary, 8940 Jones Mill Road, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Fee?: yes $15 suggested donation (fully tax-deductible)
Contact: Pam Oves, (301) 652-9188 ext 16
For more information: click here
Around Town: September 13-19
A calm weekend for Catalogue nonprofit events, but we have a fantastic one waiting for you next Tuesday, courtesy of Sitar Arts Center!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Documentary Film Screening
Sitar Arts Center
A brief film titled “Doing it For Me” by teens at Sitar Arts Center. The film views the issue of dropping out of high school from the perspective of three teens.
When: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 (7:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: Sitar Arts Center, 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 101, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? no
Contact: Kendall Ladd, (202) 797-2145 ext 113
Around Town: August 23-30
The school year is almost upon us, but Catalogue nonprofits are still in full summer swing! Check out what these great nonprofits have going on in your neck of the woods! Don’t forget–if you head to an event, let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or by email at info@cfp-dc.org!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold an information session for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write or speak English. Tutors work one-on-one or with small groups. No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times. Registration is required. Call 301-610-0030 or e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org.
When: Friday, August 23, 2013 (10:30 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Information session for potential volunteers.
Contact: Maggie Bruno, (301) 610-0030 ext 208
For more information: click here
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Nash Run Trash Trap Cleanup
Anacostia Watershed Society
The Anacostia Watershed Society has been experimenting with a stationary device built to strain the trash from the flowing waters of Nash Run, located adjacent the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Northeast DC. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the trash challenges of the Anacostia and what is being done to address it. We need your help to keep the trash trap clean and functioning well! Contact Maddie at 301-699-6204 ext. 109 or mkoenig@anacostiaws.org to sign up!
When: Saturday, August 24, 2013 (09:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Intersection of Anacostia Ave. NE and Douglas Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20019
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: See above.
Contact: Madeline Koenig, (301) 699-6204 ext 109
Monday, August 26, 2013
Wetland Workday
Anacostia Watershed Society
The Anacostia Watershed Society is working to restore a wetland along the Anacostia River called Kingman Marsh. Wetlands do great things for our river — they provide habitat for native wildlife, help filter toxins from river water, and act like a sponge to prevent flooding. We need your help to ensure to restore Kingman Marsh! No previous training or skills are required. All tools and supplies needed (including boots and waders) will be provided. Please note that the work will be muddy and volunteers will be asked to wear waders for the entire event. Bending, lifting, digging, and walking fair distances will be required. If this will be an issue, please consider joining us for another event. Contact Maddie Koenig at 301-699-6204 ext. 109 or mkoenig@anacostiaws.org to sign up!
When: Monday, August 26, 2013 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Driving Range of Langston Golf Course, Benning Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: See above.
Contact: Madeline Koenig, (301) 699-6204 ext 109
For more information: click here
Adult Literacy Tutor Orientation
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
The Literacy Council of Montgomery County will hold an information session for volunteers interested in helping adults learn to read, write or speak English. Tutors work one-on-one or with small groups. No foreign language skills are necessary. Tutors meet with students in libraries or community centers at mutually convenient times. Registration is required. Call 301-610-0030 or e-mail info@literacycouncilmcmd.org.
When: Monday, August 26, 2013 (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Rockville Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Information session for potential volunteers.
Contact: Maggie Bruno, (301) 610-0030 ext 208
For more information: click here
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Wetland Workday
Anacostia Watershed Society
The Anacostia Watershed Society is working to restore a wetland along the Anacostia River called Kingman Marsh. Wetlands do great things for our river — they provide habitat for native wildlife, help filter toxins from river water, and act like a sponge to prevent flooding. We need your help to ensure to restore Kingman Marsh! No previous training or skills are required. All tools and supplies needed (including boots and waders) will be provided. Please note that the work will be muddy and volunteers will be asked to wear waders for the entire event. Bending, lifting, digging, and walking fair distances will be required. If this will be an issue, please consider joining us for another event. Contact Maddie Koenig at 301-699-6204 ext. 109 or mkoenig@anacostiaws.org to sign up!
When: Tuesday, August 27, 2013 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Driving Range of Langston Golf Course, Benning Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: See above.
Contact: Madeline Koenig, (301) 699-6204 ext 109
For more information: click here
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wetland Workday
Anacostia Watershed Society
The Anacostia Watershed Society is working to restore a wetland along the Anacostia River called Kingman Marsh. Wetlands do great things for our river — they provide habitat for native wildlife, help filter toxins from river water, and act like a sponge to prevent flooding. We need your help to ensure to restore Kingman Marsh! No previous training or skills are required. All tools and supplies needed (including boots and waders) will be provided. Please note that the work will be muddy and volunteers will be asked to wear waders for the entire event. Bending, lifting, digging, and walking fair distances will be required. If this will be an issue, please consider joining us for another event. Contact Maddie Koenig at 301-699-6204 ext. 109 or mkoenig@anacostiaws.org to sign up!
When: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 (09:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Driving Range of Langston Golf Course, Benning Rd. NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: See above.
Contact: Madeline Koenig, (301) 699-6204 ext 109
For more information: click here
Look at Literacy
Literacy Council of Montgomery County
Come learn about the state of adult literacy in Montgomery County, how the Literacy Council addresses the needs of adults with low literacy skills, and how you can be involved.
When: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
Where: Rockville Library, Suite 320, 21 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850
Fee? no
Contact: Marty Stephens, (301) 610-0030 ext 202
For more information: click here
Spotlight: Capital Partners for Education
Today we’re shining a spotlight on Capital Partners for Education to congratulate them on their 2013 award from the Washington Post Charities! Executive Director of CPE, Khari Brown’s involvement working with urban teens through his various coaching experiences led him to pursue a career in expanding educational opportunities for low-income youth. Since joining Capital Partners for Education in 2001, Khari has reshaped the program by vastly expanding the number of students reached and establishing a programmatic framework for CPE to build upon in years to come. Khari received both a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a Master’s degree in Education from Tufts University.
1. What motivated you to begin this organization (if you are the founder) or to begin working with it? What need does it fulfill and how are you (and your organization) working towards meeting it?
I began working with Capital Partners for Education (CPE) because it was an organization that could have a direct impact on improving young peoples’ futures by helping them get to and through college.
Earning a college degree has never been more important in today’s economy. Without a college degree, our students will be left behind and destined for a life of poverty. Low-income students face multiple barriers to college completion and we work to help them overcome these obstacles and let their talent shine.
I am motivated by the positive difference we make in our student’s lives. We are changing the trajectory for each student and their family. We get results–99% of our graduates enroll in college and 75% of our graduates complete college on time. 2013 marks the eighth year in a row where 100% of our seniors enrolled in college.
2. What exciting change or innovation is on your mind?
CPE is seeking to triple the number of students we serve over the next three years. This is the first year where we will extend our program from high school through college completion. We are able to do this by integrating a new e-mentoring platform called iMentor. CPE is the first organization in this region to use this technology. Students, mentors and staff are now connected through iMentor’s online portal, making it possible for us to serve students remotely for the very first time.
3. Who inspires you (in the philanthropy world or otherwise)? Do you have a hero?
I come from a family of educators. They and some of my teachers and professors growing up were my early inspiration. There are many great philanthropists I admire. Most are not famous, but they give a big percentage of their wealth and their time to charity and aren’t motivated by recognition.
4. What is the single greatest challenge that your organization faces (besides finances) and how are you dealing with this challenge?
The greatest challenge is to make sure that we are growing in a responsible way. We are motivated to serve more students because the need is great and we have an innovative model that works. We must strive to balance expanding our reach while ensuring that every CPE student gets the individual support they need to reach their goals.
5. What advice do you have for other people in your position?
Don’t be afraid to let your organization evolve.
Empower your team to be part of big decisions and new directions for the organization.
6. What’s next/coming up for you?
This fall we will enroll 30 new students this fall into a new program that begins in the 11th grade and continues through college graduation. By adding a new entry point to our program, we are able to help more motivated, low-income students get on the path towards college. This community-based mentoring program will prepare students for college at monthly workshops focused on college preparation, career readiness and financial literacy. Once students are enrolled in college, we will continue to provide mentoring, career exploration services and financial life skills training through their college graduation.
7. Congratulations on receiving an award from the Washington Post charities! What project is this grant supporting? What does this award mean to you or allow you to do?
The investment from Washington Post Charities is instrumental in fueling our growth as we expand to serve more students. This year, we are increasing our student body by 56% by extending support to our alumni while they are in college and introducing the new program line for 11th grade students.
Spotlight: Everybody WINS! DC
Today we’re shining a spotlight on Everybody WINS! DC to congratulate them on their 2013 award from the Washington Post Charities! Mary Salander is co-founder and Executive Director of Everybody WINS! DC, a Catalogue charity since 2006. Now celebrating its 19th year, EW!DC serves nearly 5,000 children through what has become the largest mentoring and literacy program for disadvantaged youth in the Washington Metro area. EW!DC launched in the spring of 1995 with Senators and their staffers as the first mentors and reading partners. Mary Salander joined us to talk about what’s next this year.
1. What motivated you to begin this organization? What need does it fulfill and how are you working towards meeting it?
I was actually working in brain research when I was asked by then-Senator Jeffords, chair of the HELP committee, to help bring this model for literacy and mentoring to Washington. My interest in service work coupled with the scale of the problem — the rate of functionally illiterate high school graduates, to the lack of resources, including books, in low-income homes — led me to dive right in. I had a mentor in 4th grade that made a huge difference in my life and my love of learning, and this was an opportunity to share that opportunity with so many more kids.
Many of the challenges we identified 19 years ago are still challenges today. Twenty percent of adults in the District have few literacy skills, and less than half of the public high school students scored proficient in reading. There’s an enormous gap seen right from the start: middle income students in the United States typically enter first grade with 1,000 – 1,700 hours of one-on-one reading, low-income students go in with just 25. And we’ve done our children a great disservice by teaching to the standardized tests rather than inspiring them to want to learn or to read for pleasure.
Everybody WINS! brings a caring mentor into a child’s life who can introduce them to the joy of reading, as well as inspire them to want to learn. Most of the kids we serve don’t have someone in their lives who can spend time reading with them, so our mentors help fill that gap while sharing their own stories with the students. An encouraging mentor can be so powerful: I was fortunate to mentor a little girl from first through eighth grade. She came in with very few language skills, struggled with challenges at home, but we got to know each other, read together and found ways to make learning enjoyable. By the end of 8th grade, she won the Principal’s Award and even addressed her class at graduation. I heard from her just last month when she called me to tell me she’s off to college in the fall! She has a new opportunity to break the cycle and that’s what we want for every child.
2. What exciting change or innovation is on your mind?
We started EW!DC with our Power Lunch program, where adults from federal agencies to law firms read with a child over lunch. We grew from 100 kids in the spring of 1995, to nearly 5,000 today, thanks to the support of the members of Congress, corporate partners and individual volunteers.
Since then, we’ve started the Readers are Leaders program, where 4th and 5th graders are matched with K-3rd graders are reading partners. They read together, but we also run a set of leadership trainings for our student mentors where they learn about being leaders at school and in the community, through service, a leadership summit and other workshops. We’ve also started Storytime, where we bring enrichment programs to schools and get a book into the hand of every child at the end.
3. What is the single greatest challenge that your organization faces and how are you dealing with it?
The challenge of how to close the literacy gap is always foremost in our minds. Our one-on-one approach is proven to be effective and we take pride in how far we’ve come, but we’d love to scale this up to provide this service for any child in the metro region who could benefit from it.
4. What advice do you have for other people in your position?
Treat your staff royally –find ways to foster their development, build their skills and get to know them. Everyone at a small organization is vital and you’ll get rewarded the more you invest in them. Also, choose your board carefully and spend a lot of your time cultivating excellent relationships with each person. They will add tremendous value to the organization. It is critical to have a high performing board working with you.
And tenacity! Change is often slow, so stay positive knowing that the work you’re doing matters and find your reward in every day you wake up and work for the happiness and welfare of others. As long as I know I’m making a difference, having fun and still have a kick in my step, I’ll keep going because there’s no better reward for me.
5. What’s next/coming up for you?
This fall, we’re excited to have all our programs up and running early, beginning in mid September which will give us more time with the kids. We’re growing our monthly book distributions, to expand the number of books we put into kids hands each year, and will be doing a lot to gear up for National Mentoring Month in January.
6. Congratulations on receiving an award from the Washington Post Charities! What does this award mean to you?
We’re thrilled to have this support — this award allows us to sustain and grow our Power Lunch program at Ross Elementary School, which will support 100 volunteer readers this year. We’ll also be able to continue our special events for the students, including our end of year celebration for all our students, volunteers and mentors.
Guest Post: Reach Incorporated
New Catalogue nonprofit, Reach Incorporated is in the business of developing readers and leaders by training teens to teach. In this guest blog post, Executive Director Mark Hecker discusses their new program, Teens Give Back, and how it not only helped to build on the progress their tutors made throughout the school year, but helped out a few other local nonprofits as well.
Emerging Philanthropists: When Teens Give Back
By Mark Hecker, Executive Director, Reach Incorporated
This summer, Reach Incorporated launched a brand new summer program. This new effort, aimed at building on the progress our tutors make during school year programming, focused on four components, including intensive reading practice, college & career investigations, and .
On July 31st, we gathered for the final exercise in the fourth component of our summer program, Teens Give Back. At the beginning of the summer, we informed our cohort of adolescents from Eastern Senior High School and Perry Street Prep PCS that they would be responsible for giving away $2,500.
For a number of weeks, our teens identified community challenges, learned about organizations addressing those challenges, and generated a list of potential grant recipients. Through ongoing research and serious conversations, our young people selected four finalists: Homeless Children’s Playtime Project (HCPP), DC Central Kitchen, Martha’s Table, and Free Minds Book Club. These decisions were made based a number of factors, including the issue addressed, the size of the organization, and the impact made.
Selecting finalists, however, was just the beginning. Our tutors were split into four teams–one for each finalist organization–and asked to write and produce pitches. These pitches, limited to 90 seconds, sought audience support at the event on July 31st. The audience votes determined the size of the grant received by each of the organizations.
From the beginning, we could tell that our young people were well prepared. The team representing HCPP didn’t even stumble as they educated and engaged the audience. During DC Central Kitchen team’s presentation, Sasha leveraged the story found on the water bottles on each table (DC Central Kitchen had catered the event). The Martha’s Table team focused on size of impact, while the Free Minds team–led by Zorita, who bravely conquered serious stage fright!–took a more personal approach. In the end, those at the event had a tough decision to make!
While the votes were counted, we had the opportunity to publicly recognize Kyare, a rising 11th grade student at Eastern Senior High. Based on his performance both in and after school, Kyare earned a promotion to Junior Staff status–the highest honor given to Reach Incorporated tutors. Kyare is just the second person to ever receive this promotion!
Smiles filled the room as we celebrated Kyare’s accomplishment, but it was time to announce our winners. Without doubt, each group wanted to win, but only one could take home the top prize. First, we announced our honorable mentions–both DC Central Kitchen and Martha’s Table received $250 grants from our kids.
The teens moved to the edge of their seats as we announced that the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project was our runner up. HCPP was thrilled to learn that they would receive a $750 grant from our young people. That left only our winners–Rashaan, Zorita, Za’Metria, and Kyare–who were thrilled to learn that they had earned a $1,250 grant for Free Minds Book Club. Free Minds staff members gathered around to get pictures taken with their adolescent advocates.
As audience members filed out of the room, our teens accepted handshakes from inspired attendees. The teens’ preparation showed in their performance. While any competition leaves some with hurt feelings, our young people were uniformly proud of the work they had done. They had, without question, learned the value of giving back. With the audience’s help, we had given birth to a group of future philanthropists.
The Homeless Children's Playtime Project team doing research
The Free Minds Book Club and Writing Workshop team as they pitch the room
Kyare celebrating his promotion
If you’re interested in learning more about what happens when you give teens real responsibility for real outcomes, visit us at www.reachincorporated.org.