Programs That Enrich The Lives Of Vulnerable Children

freddiemacfoundation.org/news/press, Aug 16, 2005

Foundation Invests Nearly $5.5 Million In Programs That Enrich The Lives Of Vulnerable Children And Families







2005 Giving Focused on Improving Lives of Washington, DC Metro Families and Communities
McLean, VA – In recent giving, the Freddie Mac Foundation continued to strengthen communities by awarding nearly $5.5 million in grants to organizations whose innovative programs help better the lives of children and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

"We remain very committed to strengthening families and communities," said Maxine B. Baker, president and CEO, Freddie Mac Foundation. "Making a difference in and giving back to the Washington, DC area is especially important to us – this is our community and we are proud to play an important role in making it a better place for children to grow and families to thrive."

The Foundation, which is dedicated to opening the doors to hope and opportunity for children and their families, approved 82 grants during the first six months of 2005. Last year, the Foundation invested more than $28 million in organizations working to strengthen families by preventing child abuse and neglect, finding adoptive homes for foster children, and helping youth reach their full potential.

A majority of the recent grants improve the lives of children in the District of Columbia and neighboring areas. In the District of Columbia, organizations receiving grants included:

Children's Law Center, Inc. received $90,000 to support caregivers of children in the D.C. foster care system who are seeking adoption and guardianship.

DC Action for Children, which received $50,000 to heighten awareness of issues facing children in the District of Columbia through public awareness, education and collaboration.

Latin American Youth Center, which received $100,000 to support the agency's network of housing programs and services for abused, neglected and homeless youth in the Washington metropolitan area.

The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, which received $20,000 to support the Greater Washington Youth Philanthropy Initiative, including youth-to-youth grants, youth development/leadership training and program administration.

In Maryland, several organizations received funding for their programs, including:

National Center for Children and Families, which received $50,000 to provide families who are at risk for recurrent homelessness in Montgomery County, MD with supportive services that help them achieve stability while they transition to permanent housing in the community and $500,000 to provide academic enrichment activities and support services that enhance the lives of students and their families at the J.C. Nalle Community School located in the District of Columbia. J.C. Nalle is a signature program for the Foundation.

Crossway Community, which received $50,000 to provide services to low-income families headed by women with small children in the Washington metropolitan area. The organization helps these families reach self-sufficiency through quality child care and a focus on health, safety, economic literacy and family living skills.

St. Stephens Economic Development Corporation, which received $30,000 to coordinate activities for children and families in Howard County, MD that promote academic achievement for students and parenting skills for adults.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/ Prince George's County, Inc., which received $20,000 to support volunteers who advocate for the best interests and permanent placement of foster children in Prince George's County, MD.

Among the grantees in Virginia were:

Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, which received $40,000 to support a parent education program, public education program and the Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Northern Virginia.

Center for Multicultural Human Services, which received $50,000 to provide culturally appropriate mental health services and parenting classes in the Washington metropolitan area for limited English-speaking families that experience family violence and $550,000 to provide homeless families who are language and cultural minorities with transitional housing and support services that prepare them to move to more permanent and affordable housing in Fairfax County, VA.

Northern Virginia Family Service, which received $50,000 to support the ongoing operations of Healthy Families Prince William, an intensive home visiting program for first-time parents at risk for child abuse or neglect or other poor childhood outcomes.

Voices for Virginia's Children, which received $62,000 to support a foster care and adoption policy analyst focused on raising public awareness and improving outcomes for children in Virginia's foster care system