WASHINGTON (Map, News) - In celebration of National Family Week, the Annie E. Casey Foundation announced the recipients of its annual “Families Count” awards.

The Baltimore-based nonprofit handed out $2 million in unrestricted funding to four nonprofits across the country, including Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care in the District.

Mary’s Center will receive $500,000 to further its mission of assisting families in the Washington region.

“They really distinguish themselves by being excellent at their core work as a health center, but they’ve gone well beyond that in connecting the dots for families,” said Miriam Shark, senior associate at the Casey Foundation and manager of the “Families Count” awards.

Mary’s Center was founded in Columbia Heights 18 years ago as a maternity clinic for women who emigrated to the U.S. from Central America, but over the years has expanded into a full-service family health care facility for all under-served populations.

“When we first started we focused on babies,” said Vanessa DeCarbo, director of advocacy and communications for Mary’s Center. “Well those babies grew up ... (Today) we provide a safety net that wouldn’t otherwise be available ... our focus is really on the next generation and the kids in our waiting room.”

This is the seventh year for the “Families Count” awards. Mary’s Center is the seventh D.C. recipient of the award.

National Family Week, which ended Saturday, is planned to coincide with the Thanksgiving holiday, said Shark.

“We take this week when we’re all already thinking about our own families to think about what it takes to help families succeed,” she said.

“It celebrates our families, our neighbors, members of our congregation, law enforcement, everybody who makes it possible for families to work.”

kwilmeth@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:56 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Group seeks summer activities for low-income youth"

Examiner Reader said:
At least this time Mr. Corrigan wrote a variation on his theme of the past 10 weeks, instead of just the same story with different words.

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11:57 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Ministry stresses local entrepreneurship"

Examiner Reader said:
It seems as though the Examiner just lets Mr. Corrigan recycle the same story every week or so, and has let him do it for about the last 9 weeks. As much as I support recycling, I think it might be time for a new topic.

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4:59 PM MST on Thu., Dec. 6, 2007 re: "Washington-area nonprofits coordinate different crisis-management strategies"

Examiner Reader said:
It's only a matter of time. Plan thoroughly, consider all options, and where roadblocks are placed before you, find alternatives. Remember that during the Katrina evac, all the buses where in the up-scale part of town that the walkers from poor sections couldn't get to in time. Please be careful. People need you, but there are those who don't want you to succeed.

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8:32 AM MST on Thu., Nov. 22, 2007 re: "Study: Nonprofit employment growing faster than private sector"

Examiner Reader said:
With all the shady, non-taxed, I mean, so-called, non-profits in Maryland, working for a non-profit is working in the private sector.

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11:40 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 14, 2007 re: "Marian House helps at-risk women cultivate independence"

Huh? said:
"[T]his $1.6 million, 22-employee nonprofit has a track record to support its claim." Okay, fair enough. So, what's the track record? Also, if the org has helped about 1,000 women since 1994, that's fewer than 90 women per year and there are 22 employees! It had better be successful at that ratio. Another point: Not-for-profit is merely a tax status. It does not mean that administrators cannot earn a handsome salary. I am not suggesting that is the case here but there's a reason these places don't share that info without being asked.

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8:50 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 3, 2007 re: "Martha�s Place promotes hope for women overcoming addictions"

Examiner Reader said:
As a woman in recovery who needed balance in my life recovery houses such as M artha"s Place deserve to recieve all the available resources to help restore self-esteem, and save lives. How can we mimnimize lives by withholding funds. I am an alumni who's life has been restored because of Martha's Place! I thank God for Elder & Mrs.Harris for leaping out into an area many others have not and willnot accept the challenage to save lives!

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12:18 PM MST on Tue., Jun. 19, 2007 re: "Health Care for the Homeless to expand services"

Examiner Reader said:
Hi! Thank you so much for printing this article. It is a wonderful summary of what this incredible organization does. My husband works for Jeff Singer. Jeff is an incredibly humble, gracious and loving person. He truly cares about each person who comes through his Center. He deeply appreciates the job that everyone does on a daily basis. One can only truly appreciate the magnificent compassion and respect this organization offers to our homeless friends by visiting the center and helping face-to-face, hand-to-hand and heart-to-heart as this family reaches out to those in need. Thanks again for helping to make our neighbors aware of the needs of our brothers and sisters and the assistance provided by these loving angels of mercy!

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12:20 PM MST on Wed., May. 23, 2007 re: "D.C. charity helps kids pump clean water in Africa"

Matthew C. Andrea said:
Please post the contact information for PlayPumps International. This concept is brilliant, fun and uplifting. Definitely something that I would like to support.

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7:21 AM MST on Wed., May. 2, 2007 re: "Advisory board trims list of nonprofit grant applications"

Examiner Reader said:
When is Montgomery County going to realize that Casa of MD is taking them/us to the cleaners?

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