Chances are if you have attended, participated in, or read about a non-profit campaign in the Washington DC area in the past few years, you have happened across Kate Michael’s name…probably many more times than one. Kate has lent her name and talents, to countless charitable causes in the District as a participant, chair, host, volunteer or on her hugely popular online magazine, KStreetKate – a must read for many, this Examiner included. On July 16th KStreetKate celebrated three successful years of keeping tabs and setting trends in the city.
Kate launched the site in 2006, originally used as a vehicle to document her experiences as she prepared for the Miss America pageant (Kate was Miss DC 2006). Post pageant, the sites popularity increased as Kate began to chronicle her social, charitable and professional experiences in a fully interactive format.
The Washington D.C non-profit community has benefitted exponentially from Kate’s dedicated support of so many causes, I recently chatted with the busy media maven about her favorites, and her thoughts about philanthropy in the digital age.
As Miss DC 2006, Kate championed Literacy as her philanthropic platform; it remains the cause closest to her heart. “If you can’t read you can’t have the hope of getting a good job, the door is closed on so many opportunities for a fulfilling life” she says. Kate has been active with First Book and Reading is Fundamental among others. Her favorite D.C philanthropic event is the National Book Festival, established by The Library of Congress and First Lady Laura Bush (thankfully continued by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2009). Kate is a 5-year volunteer and cannot mask the anticipation excitement in her voice when she speaks about her involvement in the upcoming event (slated for September 26th).
Another cause championed by Kate is breast cancer, specifically through the Susan G. Komen foundation. One of the more unique initiatives Kate has participated in dealt with assisting ESL (English as a Second Language) Breast Cancer patients, directing them through the appropriate channels to receive coverage, benefits and resources.
Such ‘marriages’ of causes is an aspect of non-profit campaigns Kate thinks in necessary for the continued success of initiatives in Washington. She also describes the benefits of digital philanthropy such as accessibility of information, ease of contribution, and increased awareness for campaigns – but counters that over saturation in the city may hurt more than it helps at times. As philanthropy moves into the digital age she says, “the task is to come up with interesting and unique events… contributors need to be engaged more than ever before”.
When Kate finds the time to sleep I will never know… her newest endeavor is as Producer and Host of The District Dish (alongside fellow Washington social specialists Pamela Sorenson & Ebong Eka). The District Dish, which airs 3 times weekly on www.thedistrictdish.com, brings the viewers the scoop on the city from everything on politics to parties. If you need to be in the know, you need to become a viewer. Congratulations to Kate and best wishes for continued success – the city is lucky to have her.
For more information and the latest on all the who, what and where, as well as great causes and ways you can get involved in D.C don't forget to stop by KStreetKate.com
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