FFDIA uses ice skating to build confidence, resilience, and opportunity for roughly 2,500 DC youth annually, most from Wards 7 and 8: communities long without access to safe recreation or to costly sports like figure skating and hockey. Founded in 1996 to save the city’s only public indoor rink, it built Kids On Ice into a nationally recognized model – pairing skating lessons with mentorship, academic support, and social-emotional learning. When the District’s $40 million rebuild of the rink suffered years of delays and, according to FFDIA, a faulty dehumidification system, FFDIA decided to keep its programs at Canal Park. With 30 years of experience, trained instructors, and a proven curriculum, it is ready to bring Kids On Ice back to its historic home; in the meantime, it continues to serve eager skaters and their families, as it has for decades.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 7

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; DC-Ward 7; DC-Ward 8; MD-Prince George's County; VA-Arlington County; VA-City of Alexandria; Ward 7

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11); Pre-teen/teen (12-17)

Population(s) Served: Individuals with Disabilities; Low- to Moderate-Income Community Members; Students

Schools They Work In: Our Schools Skate For Fitness program serves the entire DC Public School System

Awards & Recognition

n/a

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for Friends of Fort Dupont Ice Arena is: $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.

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