And we’re back! 2011 already is yielding plenty of cool weekend happenings at our non-profits. Read on to find one (or many) events in your community:
First, congratulations to Class 16 on their graduation from Operation Understanding DC this weekend! For a great performance, written and directed by OUDC’s young leaders, about their year-long journey to find their voice and passion, head to Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase on Saturday at 7:00. Email info@oudc.org to learn more.
Double helping of “7 Questions” this week, folks! Today, we’re going to meet Beata Okulska, the Executive Director of KEEN Greater DC. When no other organization offered exercise and recreation designed specficially for young people with severe intellectual and physical disabilities, KEEN (“Kids Enjoy Exercise Now”) stepped up to serve those who are often left out of community sports and games — at no cost. Read on to learn more about KEEN and about Beata!
1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?
2010 was a very busy year for KEEN Greater DC. In addition to the Kids Euro Festival organized for KEEN athletes by the French Embassy, as well as a new public service announcement video produced by Discovery Communications for KEEN, the most significant event this past year was the newly-formed partnership between KEEN Greater DC and the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. Through this partnership KEEN athletes had the opportunity to play soccer on the White House lawn and receive the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award presented at an official White House ceremony by none other than First Lady Michelle Obama — with a surprise visit from the President himself! It was truly an unforgettable experience for all of us and a high-profile way to reinforce KEEN’s belief that people of ALL abilities can be fit, active, and part of their community.
‘Tis the day for mid-week news and notes… And let us know if you have anything to share with the Catalogue crowd!
How to Find Generous Donors — Just before 2011, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported on three new giving studies, conducted by Blackbaud, Network for Good, and the Daily Beast. Their findings? Our area stacks up quite well! In the Blackbaud study, DC and Maryland ranked #1 and #2 respectively for the number of donors with incomes over $100K. And Network for Good reported that DC is #1 and Virginia #8 in average giving per household.
Good morning, friends! Let’s welcome to “7 Questions” … Andrea M. Saccoccia, Executive Director of Project Mend-A-House (PMAH) in Prince William County, VA. With the help of a dedicated core of volunteers, PMAH mends an average of 120 households per year. Large and small, their home repairs are physically and financially beyond the means of the needy and elderly clients that PMAH serves — and they are provided at no cost.
1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?
Making a bathroom accessible for a stubborn German man who had to take sponge baths for over a year. One of Project Mend-A-House’s volunteers and neighbors finally convinced him that it might make life a little easier for him if he could use his bathroom. One of our volunteers who is a world traveler happened to be in town and started modifying his bathroom. He widened the doorway to 36 inches, replaced the cabinet under the sink with a narrower unit, installed grab bars in the tub, loaned our client a raised toilet seat, and retiled the floor. These seemly simple modifications greatly improved our client’s quality of life. He was so appreciative of our volunteers’ assistance that he invited him to share a stein of beer with him. Prost! (“Cheers!” in German)
Good morning, Washington. Happy New Year from the Catalogue Team!
We hope that you have an enjoyable and productive first week of the New Year. Speaking of new, we are now back to our regularly-scheduled blog-programming. So plenty of new posts will soon be coming your way.
If you haven’t had the chance, do check out the winners of Part 1 and Part 2 of our Power of 8 video contest. They offer some great start-of-the-year inspiration!
“Every revolution was first a thought in one man’s mind.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Good morning, Washington. Just two days until 2011, so we’re wishing you all the very best with your end-of-year campaigns!
As you know, in this last week of 2010, we have been featuring the awesome winners of our Power of 8: Part 2 contest here on GoodWorks.
So last but not least, for December 30-31, we present … the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. Tapping into the generosity and skill of our legal pool here in DC, the WLCH seeks to prevent and end homelessness through legal aid, education, and advocacy. Last year, they helped over 1,300 clients and their caseload is still growing. Learn more right here:
Good morning, Greater Washington — and hooray for our snowstorm dodge!
As you know, leading up to 2011, we will be featuring the awesome winners of our Power of 8: Part 2 contest here on GoodWorks.
For December 28-29, 2010, we welcome Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project. Specializing in custody and abuse, DV LEAP empowers victims (often protective mothers) and their advocates by arranging expert representation for appeals, educating its pro bono counsel, and training lawyers, judges, and others on cutting-edge issues. Watch away!
Good morning, Greater Washington — we hope that you had a great Christmas! As you know, leading up to 2011, we will be featuring the awesome winners of our Power of 8: Part 2 contest here on GoodWorks.
For December 26-27, we welcome AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation. Committed to strong language and literacy education for 3- and 4-year-olds, AppleTree creates pre-school centers of excellence and ensures that early childhood teachers receive the best training and professional development. For a quick glimpse of all they do, check this out:
Good morning, Greater Washington! As you may know, leading up to 2011, we will be featuring the awesome winners of our Power of 8: Part 2 video contest.
For December 23-24, we are pleased to present: Greater DC Cares! First featured in the Catalogue in 2006, GDCC increase the capacity of hundreds of non-profits with over 6,000 volunteers addressing a range of vital issues, including at-risk youth, homelessness and hunger, adult literacy, and more. Watch and enjoy — this video always makes me smile:
Many Catalogue cheers and congratulations to: Greater DC Cares, AppleTree Institute for Education Innovation, Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project, and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless!
“Why,” you ask? Because these are the winners of Part 2 of our Power of 8 Contest! For the original contest, we asked our non-profits to choose from a list of “8″ words (celebrate, elevate, collaborate, appreciate, etc.) or to choose an “8″ word of their own; then they filmed a super-short video about how that word represented them.
We announced our original winners in mid-November and then invited you to choose the next set of winners by viewing and liking their videos on YouTube. So here on GoodWorks, we will be featuring the four “most viewed-and-liked” videos throughout the holidays.