In 2009, after learning that DC had the highest HIV rate in the country, a Georgetown varsity athlete decided to recruit and train his NCAA student-athlete peers to deliver sexual health education at area schools – and Grassroots Health was born. Since then, more than 1,500 athletes have provided more than 50,000 hours of free sexual health education to over 10,000 DC teens. A three-year, sports-based health education curriculum covers sexual, nutritional, and mental health for middle school students in DC's highest-need schools. Health communication workshops for middle school students' parents and caregivers improve communication about what many find a sensitive subject. And community health fairs link students to critical youth-friendly clinical and social services. The athletes who provide their services at no cost are people to whom kids look up ... and to whom and listen.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 2

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 1; DC-Ward 2; DC-Ward 3; DC-Ward 4; DC-Ward 5; DC-Ward 6; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17); Young adult (18-24); Adult (25-49)

Population(s) Served: Students

Schools They Work In: Center City PCS - Brightwood Campus; Center City PCS - Petworth Campus; Center City PCS - Shaw Campus; Center City PCS - NoMa Campus; Center City PCS - Capitol Hill Campus; KIPP DC: Will Academy; KIPP DC: AIM Academy; KIPP DC: Valor Academy ; Mary McLeod Bethune PCS; Meridian PCS; E.L. Haynes PCS; Perry Street Prep PCS ; Washington School for Girls

Awards & Recognition

n/a

Press

  • No stories found

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • The current budget for Grassroots Health is: $1 million to $3 million
  • $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Every year, 190+ local nonprofits (with budgets under $4M) apply to join the Spur Local network. 170+ community volunteers assess these applications for impact. 100% of organizations are site visited and financially reviewed. Finally, 76+ critical, local nonprofits are selected for inclusion in Spur Local's annual print and digital catalog, and enter a four-year partnership with us. Since 2003, we have raised over $65 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region. We charge no fees and raise funds separately to support our work.

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