Katie Wilmeth, The Examiner
2006-11-27 08:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

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