Fall 2008

What’s Cooking

DPHW Board of Directors

Diana Bruce, MPA

President

Rev. David Bowers

Vice President

David Bowman, PhD

Secretary

R. Matthew Kelley, Esq.

Treasurer

Erika Barry, MPA

Ex Officio

Marisa Gaither, MCPGeorge MadillLariena D. Matthews Anne K. Nelsen, PhD Tiffany Parker, MPA Ann Shafran Yvonne Rice Amy Weaver, MBA

HTH Walkathon 1Letter from theExecutive Director2United Way 2Mini Walks 3Pretty Day 3Client Spotlight4Staff Departures 4New Faces 5 Volunteer Corner 6Happy Hour Thanks 7Recent Donors 7 Wish List 8Planned Giving 8

In this issue:

Dinner Program for Homeless Women

Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon

Let’s Get More Feet on the Street

The Help the Homeless Walkathon is less than one month away, and DPHW needs your help to getmore feet on the street! Our goal this year is 1,500 walkers, but we really need your help. If we meetour goal, Fannie Mae will award DPHW a $25,000 walkerbonus.Please join DPHW in the Help the Homeless Walkathonat 9:00am on Saturday, November 22 on the National Malland take steps to end homelessness. Registration is only $25 for adults (ages 26 and up) and $15 for youth (ages 25and under). The walk follows a 3-mile route around theMall and Tidal Basin that moves at a slow pace comfort-able for many ages and abilities. All DPHW walkers arealso invited to our traditional pre-walk breakfast that takesplace at DPHW immediately before the walk.

Step 1: Go to www.dphw.org and click on the “Register to Walk” link.Step 2: Click the "Join Team" link located right above the list of team membersalready registered to walk.Step 3: Input your individual information into the easy-to-use registration form.

Welcome to DPHW's 2008 Walker Team!!

If you have any questions about the registration process, please email Elizabeth Evancho atdevelopment@dphw.org or call her directly at 202.737.9311 ext.526.Can’t walk on November 22, but still want to make a difference and support DPHW? Make anonline donation at www.dphw.org.

United Way #8280CFC #56398CVC #8275

Saturday, November 22, 2008National Mall—9:00amBreakfast at DPHW—7:45am

Dear Friends,In these unprecedented economic times, the futurecan seem bleak and uncertain. Some of you may have wondered in the last few weeks how the latest economicdownturn is affecting DPHW and the men and women we serve. As detailed in our last newsletter, DPHW hasbeen serving an average of 1,000 more meals per monthsince May. Folks who have been struggling to surviveon the margins face increasing hardships in finding jobs or housing andin meeting their most basic needs. As a result, DPHW’s case managersreport seeing rising levels of stress, hopelessness, and depression in thepeople we serve. Yet despite these challenges, DPHW continues toprovide a warm, supportive community in which individuals can get ameal or a shower, access community services, and find help intransforming their current situations.Because of the investments of time and resources that individuals likeyou have made through the years, DPHW is a well-run, financially stable organization. DPHW’s Board of Directors and staff arecommitted to being good stewards of the community’s gifts andresources, and we work hard to make sure we provide the highestquality services in the most cost-effective way possible. It is feasiblethat a continued increased demand for services might, at some point inthe near future, outstrip even DPHW’s new, expanded social servicecapacity. However, we are committed to managing our resources insuch a way that we can continue to meet the profound needs of ourmost vulnerable neighbors—not just today, but tomorrow as well.Now more than ever, we are working actively to pursue the funding weneed to serve this community, drawing support from family founda-tions, local businesses, community groups, religious organizations, andindividuals like you who know the importance of giving to DPHW.Let me extend my deepest thanks to those of you who are working hard to support DPHW, whether through your regular contributions,your participation in the upcoming Walkathon, or your tireless volunteer efforts. Even when there seem to be more ominous stormclouds on the horizon, I know that— together—we can provide hopeand options to those who may have little of either. Warmly,Erika Barry, Executive Director

Page 2 What’s Cooking

Letter from theExecutive Director

Live UnitedWith DPHW

Did you know that DPHW is member of the United Way? Whether you areplanning to sign up for the United Way Campaign, Combined Federal Campaign(CFC), or the Commonwealth of VirginiaCampaign, please choose to contribute toDPHW. The United Way is an easy andconvenient way to donate to DPHW: youcan choose to give a one-time donation oreven make a monthly pledge that can bededucted automatically from eachpaycheck. What a great way to make adifference in your community!

Please rememberDPHW in this year'sUnited WayCampaign:United Way #8280CFC #56398CVC#8275

DPHW thinks there’s a lot! That’s why weare changing our name to better fit theclients we serve and the programs we offer.Same great organization, great new look!Keep an eye out in your mail and inbox toget a sneak peak at DPHW’s new name!

What’s In A Name?

Page 3Fall 2008

DPHW ClientsWalk the Walk

Promoting the importance of health for the wholeperson,

World Mission

members conducted theirsignature Pretty Day event this October during DPHW’s evening program for women and chil-dren. Joanne Perkins, Rev. Rebecca West, andShannon Hodges, master cosmetologist, gave aninformational presentation about breast cancer,educating DPHW clients about the importance of self exams and early detection as well as how and where to receive mammograms. To raise spirits, World Mission members led DPHW clients insong and reflection. Finally, World Mission gave women goodie bags filled with cosmetics andstyled several women’s hair, reminding participants that feeling good on the outside canhelp to improve their self esteem. Thank you to World Mission for recognizing that cultivating good physical health and positive self image areessential steps in ending homelessness.

A Pretty Dayat DPHW

DPHW was filled with Halloween spiriton Thursday, October 30, as we held ourSecond Annual Client Mini-Walk and Halloween Party. Formany of the individuals whom DPHW serves, this walk provides the unique opportunity to give something back to thecommunity and DPHW. Many of the people who participate inthis walk have lost everything—their jobs, their homes, theirhealth, and even their friends and family. This event stands as asymbol of hope for a better future and the determination to riseabove the many barriers that lie ahead in overcoming theirhomelessness.DPHW registered over 200 client walkers who were eachsponsored by DPHW’s Board of Directors and several othergenerous individuals. After walking nearly one mile, clients were invited to celebrate at our Halloween party! The party included dancing, Halloween crafts and puzzles, great food, acostume contest and several games, including “Pin the Nose onthe Pumpkin” and “Guess How Many Lollipops are in the Jar.”Clients, volunteers, and staff all had a great time.

Special thanks to Target, which charitablydonated two shopping carts full of cos-tumes for our costume contest. Please re-member to support the Columbia Heights Target the next time you are out shopping.

Schools Walk forHomeless

DPHW would like to thank the

Charles E. Smith JewishDay School

Janey Elemen-tary School

, and the

Bethesda JewishCongregation

for sponsor-ing Help the Homeless Mini Walks this fall. The money raised from these events willgo directly to DPHW forclient resources and socialservices programs. The Mini Walks are preludes to thelarger Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 22. To register to walk or to learn more, visit www.dphw.org. Thanks to these schools forraising awareness about homelessness whilebenefitting DPHW.