Freddie Mac Foundation gave $26.2 million in grants in 2006, up from $25 million in 2005, concentrating their support in the D.C. metropolitan area. Most of the foundation’s grants went to programs that improve the lives of children and families, according to an April 10 press release from the McLean-based company, which outlined its giving efforts during the second half of last year.

Freddie Mac awarded 129 grants totaling $11 million, bringing its total number of grants for the year to 205. Twelve of those organizations were first-time recipients.



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List of Freddie Mac Foundation Awarded Grants, July 2006 - December 2006


Grants ranged in size from $10,000 to $750,000 and focused on four areas: strengthening families, foster care and adoption, youth development and stable homes and families. Freddie Mac has consistently supported organizations working on these problem areas, spokeswoman Patricia Fuentes said Wednesday.

The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers ranked the foundation as the second-highest giver in the region for some years. The Fannie Mae Foundation, which this year was assimilated into Fannie Mae’s corporate structure, was ranked first.

D.C.-based Community Family Life Services, a nonprofit devoted to fighting poverty and homelessness, will use its $50,000 grant from Freddie Mac to provide domestic violence counseling and support groups, Executive Director Claudia Thorne said Wednesday.

Oakton-based Northern Virginia Family Service received three grants totaling $470,000 for three programs, which deal with transitional housing in Prince William County, emergency care for children and helping first-time, at-risk parents in Fairfax County, spokeswoman Kristin Derlunas told The Examiner.

Columbia Heights-based CentroNia will use its $750,000 three-year commitment from the foundation to open a center in Montgomery County; its first mission will be to provide pre-kindergarten programs for Latino and multiethnic children in the area, CEO Beatriz Otero said.

melissa.frederick@dcexaminer.com