During the past year, we’ve all been bombarded with horrifying images—devastating natural disasters across the globe and on our shores, war in Iraq, and continued terrorist incidents. Here at home, we have our own mounting struggles as we face increasing global competition, poverty, hunger, the prospect of a flu pandemic, and more, all wrapped up in a bitterly divided political system. All of these wreak havoc and exact their cost on society.

These painful images, thrown at us by newspapers, a continuous stream of news and talk shows, myriad blogs, and an unrelenting flow of emails, are enough to cause us to question whether there is any real hope for civil society. Why go on? What’s the use?

Amazingly, amid all of this, hope and inspiration survive and thrive, as true gifts to humanity. And juxtaposed against the horrors are the many people whose lives and acts, big and small, inspire the rest of us.

One of those individuals was Peter Drucker, a truly inspiring man and one of the great minds of our times, who passed away in mid-November. Although I did not really know Drucker, in the mid-90s, I had the great privilege of spending three days with him thanks to philanthropist Bob Buford, who invited me and 12 other “social entrepreneurs” from around the world to Claremont, California. Not only was I completely awed by Drucker and his remarkably clear insights, I was struck by the many pearls of wisdom he shared, and by one comment in particular. After three days of stimulating private session discussions and an articulate summary by Drucker, one of my co-participants asked if Drucker could change things, what would be the one thing he would do? He responded pensively and without hesitation, “Civilize our cities.” And, so, in three words, this business leader, this believer in free markets and business enterprise, this advocate of excellence in management brought the discussion down to the core of our lives and challenged us to civilize how we live our lives and how we live with each other.

So, in the spirit of the holidays, my thanks to some individuals in the National Capital Region who inspire and give us hope by doing things to help others and, in their way, “civilize our cities.”

Thanks to the wonderful group of leaders (past and present) of the organizations we are proud to call our investment partners—Eric Adler, Sandy Dang, David Domenici, Will Gunn, James Forman, Maria Gomez, Donald Hense, Dennis Hunt, Lori Kaplan, Barbara Fox Mason, Darin McKeever, BB Otero, Vin Pan, JB Schramm, Pat Shannon, and Raj Vinnakota—and to their boards and staffs for what they do every day, big things and small, to improve the lives of children and their families, and for making this region a better place. They are true leaders, driven by purpose and a desire to make an important difference in the lives of others. And thanks, as well, to their support networks of community workers, mentors, tutors, daycare workers, teachers, and volunteers for their time and skills.

Thanks to the children, youth, and families who work with and benefit from the services provided by our investment partners, for demonstrating the will to improve their own lives and for creating their own hope for a brighter future—students working hard to earn an education and go on to college; young mothers making sure their sons and daughters are healthy and happy; New Americans building a future.

Thanks to all of the great folks at VPP. To our investors, especially my co-founders Governor Mark Warner and Raul Fernandez. To each member on our board, for their strong conviction about our work and our community’s future. To our Executive Committee—Jack Davies, Terri Freeman, Charito Kruvant, Billy Shore, Les Silverman, and Ken Slaughter—for their sage counsel and constancy in ensuring that we stay the course in our work. And to our board advisor Lynn Taliento, legal counsel Bob Boisture, auditor Fenando Murias, and management advisors Bob Templin, David Bradt, and Rich McDonnell, who add greatly to our work.

Last, and most personally, thanks to our team at VPP. To Managing Partner Carol Thompson Cole for her remarkable leadership; to our talented Partners Shirley Marcus Allen, Fred Bollerer, and Eleanor Rutland; and to the other committed and dedicated members of a truly great team—Marta Craig, Courtney Dunakin, Manon Matchett, and Suzy Twohig, Victoria Vrana and the team at the Morino Institute—who, together, are making a difference in this community. And to the countless others with whom we are privileged to work who care greatly about what we do and how we do it.

All of these people and organizations strive for excellence in their work, heal the wounds of our cities, and contribute every day to “civilizing our cities.” And they recognize that the best gift they can give is to inspire hope in our children and help give them the opportunity to grow into healthy, productive adults who will, each in his or her own way, contribute to the strengthening of our social fabric.

Despite the work of countless people in our community, it’s still easy to despair over the enormity of the challenges we face. When I start to feel this way, I think back to something Billy Shore shared some years back. I was astounded that Billy was taking on the seemingly insurmountable challenge of eliminating hunger. I remember saying, “Billy, this can’t be solved; it’s a never-ending challenge...how can you possibly succeed?” He answered, “You may be right, but I don’t look at it that way. I just know that each day I and the others at Share Our Strength have to do whatever we can do and hope that others will be inspired by our work, do their part, and, in turn, more and more people will focus their efforts on eliminating hunger.” After years of unrelenting effort, Billy’s organization announced last year that eliminating hunger in the United States was now within reach and could actually happen within the next 20 years. That’s the power of inspiration and hope, complemented by a dose of strong leadership.

So, I wish everyone a great holiday season. And my personal wish for 2006 and all the years to come is that the leaders of our portfolio of nonprofit partners continue to inspire their own organizations, our communities, and most of all, the children.

Happy holidays,
Mario Morino

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Investment Partner Updates

IKEA and Boys & Girls Clubs Of Greater Washington Team Up To Benefit At-Risk Youth
Thanks to Tanzi West, Director of Communications, for this update.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) and IKEA Washington Metropolitan stores announced a new partnership at the IKEA 20th birthday celebration breakfast. The partnership provides a four-month promotion in all three Washington area IKEA locations where $1 will be donated to BGCGW for every purchase of the IKEA PS FÅNGST hanging storage unit, which retails for $3.99.

“We are very grateful to the IKEA Corporation for giving BGCGW the opportunity to partner with a great company and create a unique platform for us to not only raise needed funds for our educational programs, but to also introduce consumers to our mission, our kids, and our commitment to society,” commented Will A. Gunn, President and CEO of BGCGW. “Like IKEA we pride ourselves on being a leading organization in our communities. Creating opportunities for our youth is exactly what BGCGW stands for. We are a catalyst for change.”

The purchase of the IKEA PS FÅNGST storage unit helps to raise funds to benefit the learning and development of children at BGCGW. The IKEA FÅNGST can store almost anything. Designed with a special element of fun in mind, the hanging mesh net is great for emulating basketball shots. Hitting targets makes tidying up and sorting more fun and helps develop a child’s ability to estimate distances and coordination.

The announcement of the partnership marks the inauguration of the relationship between the two organizations. IKEA, recognized as a socially responsible company, supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. And, as the largest affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, BGCGW has provided services for youth for 119 years. BGCGW offers a variety of programs in character and leadership development, education and career development, cultural arts, health and life skills, and sports, fitness and recreation.

CentroNía Names New Board Members
Thanks to Isabel Barranzuela, Communications Associate, for this update.

CentroNía welcomes five new members to its board: Clete Boykin, Margie Brand, Maria Elena Campisteguy, Dennis Davison, and Heather Hodges.

Boykin, team leader for DuPont’s legislative marketing efforts with the federal government, has headed the legislative initiative on biotechnology since 1998. She also serves on the board of the Washington/Baltimore Clemson Club.

Brand is an internationally experienced trainer, facilitator, curricula developer, activist, international development consultant, and entrepreneur. She has trained more than 2,000 teachers, trainers, and master trainers in over ten countries across four continents. She is the Founder of EcoVentures International, a nonprofit research, education, and training organization that promotes the understanding of development issues through the creation of environmentally focused microenterprises.

Campisteguy, a leader in strategic and cross-cultural communications, is the Executive Vice President and principal of Metropolitan Group and currently serves on the board of Mosaica: The Center for Nonprofit Development and Pluralism.

Davison is a long-time Washington attorney and Partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge where he focuses on real estate development, business transactions, and related litigation/arbitration. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of Trial Lawyers of America.

Hodges is a four-year volunteer in CentroNía’s literacy program. As an Associate Attorney for Arnold & Porter, she focuses on litigation and intellectual property and technology. She is a member of the American, DC, and Virginia Bar Associations, and vice president of the Tulane Law School Alumni, District of Columbia Chapter.

CFNC Receives VCU Excellence in Virginia Government Award
Thanks to Susan Francis, Director of Development, for this update.

On November 29, CFNC was honored with an Excellence in Virginia Government Award from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). The Excellence in Virginia Government Awards “celebrates the accomplishments of Virginians who have made distinctive contributions to the practice of government and to the well-being of our communities and our citizens.”

CFNC’s Executive Director and Founder, Barbara Fox Mason, accepted the inaugural Community Enhancement Award, for “an individual or group whose actions have made a discernible impact on improving the quality of community life in Virginia.” Dr. Robert Holsworth, Director of the Wilder School and Master of Ceremonies, noted that CFNC’s success was a “remarkable story.”

Other Virginians honored for their commitment and leadership included Senator Walter Stosch; Robert Grey, a Partner at Hunton & Williams; and members of the Virginia School Report Card, including Peter Blake, Virginia Secretary of Education. Other guests included Richmond’s Mayor Douglas Wilder. Dr. Eugene Trani, President of VCU, congratulated all of the awardees as “exceptional public servants.”

Barbara accepted the award on behalf of CFNC’s board, staff, and families, noting that the diverse nature of the organization’s families is what truly enhances the community.

On Saturday, November 19, CFNC distributed 217 Thanksgiving dinners to their families. This annual event was sponsored by parishioners from the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, who put together boxed dinners that included a turkey, bag of potatoes, rolls, cans of vegetables and cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie. For many CFNC families, it was their first opportunity to experience a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

On November 1, CFNC took the first step toward its Arlington expansion by opening a new classroom in South Arlington in property owned and operated by the Arlington Housing Corporation (AHC). A second site is due to open in January 2006 at another AHC location.

College Summit: New Tool, New Team Member, and New Project
Thanks to Omar Garriott, Sr. Coordinator of Marketing Strategy and Public Policy, for this update.

In the past month, College Summit developed a “High School Scorecard,” a new tool to rigorously track a variety of key metrics among top-tier school partners in each region. The Scorecard is an important programmatic innovation in raising college enrollment rates school-wide and measuring leading indicators of relative successes in each high school, including the percentage of students sending college applications and the structure of the College Summit “class” being implemented. These school-by-school Scorecards will show results to both district- and school-level administrators and help inform school changes mid-year. They will also expose areas for improvement and serve as a basis for dialogue about best practices within, and among, College Summit regions.

Long-time advisor Derek Canty recently joined the staff full-time as Co-Founder and Vice President of Organizational Development. Canty has a long history with the organization, helping organize and run the first-ever College Summit workshop in 1995, developing the “Rap” curriculum, overseeing the Rap Director training program, helping College Summit develop its core values, and facilitating ongoing staff trainings and retreats. Based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, he will have primary responsibility for College Summit’s growing Talent function.

College Summit has engaged the Monitor Group on several significant strategic projects. Most noteworthy is market research analysis designed to help College Summit better understand how its customers make decisions. The research will also be informative as it relates to partnering with college application assistance programs, as well as what customers value in potential partners.

Latin American Youth Center Pilots Evening Reporting Center
Thanks to Lori Kaplan, Executive Director, for this update.

Approximately nine months ago, Vincent Schraldi, the newly appointed Director of the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS), asked the LAYC to pilot a new initiative in the District of Columbia. This effort, the Evening Reporting Center (ERC), offers an alternative to juvenile jail. The ERC model was initially developed and piloted in Chicago’s juvenile justice system. The ERC is intended as an interim measure to reduce the risk of re-offending. LAYC staff offer intensive individualized supervision during high-crime peak hours, between 3:00 and 9:00 pm on weekdays and during the weekend, while court proceedings are pending. The ERC aims to ensure that the youth will appear in court, while allowing him/her to continue in the community, attend school, and remain at home, rather than in a secure lock-up facility.

After intensive planning, the LAYC opened the first ERC in the District of Columbia in July 2005. The LAYC program is located at the Center’s Ward 4 satellite site. The ERC receives referrals from the DC Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services and Court Social Services. Individual youth can participate in the ERC for up to 30 days and in special circumstance for an additional 15 days. LAYC staff provide the youth with counseling, homework assistance, arts and recreational activities, transportation, and most importantly ensure that the young person shows up for their court appearance. After their 30-day period is over, youth can participate in all of the multi-service programs offered at the LAYC.

Isaac Castillo, LAYC Learning and Evaluation Specialist, is closely tracking the youth outcomes of this program. Initial outcomes are excellent. While participating in the program, 100% of the youth attended their scheduled court appearances on time, and 100% of the youth were not rearrested or charged with an additional crime (0% recidivism rate). As a result of LAYC’s success, DYRS will soon be replicating this effort in other locations throughout the city.

Mary’s Center’s President Honored with Two Awards
Thanks to Lyda Vanegas, Development and Communications Officer, for this update.

Maria Gomez, Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care President and CEO, received two important awards in one week for her commitment to low-income families living in the Washington, DC area.

On November 30, the District of Columbia Department of Health presented Gomez the Individual Impact Award for her exceptional leadership, management skills, and accomplishments in the improvement of oral health outcomes. Thanks to the partnership established with March of Dimes and Howard University Hospital, Mary’s Center has taken the lead to build and expand oral health services in the region to help solve the limited number of centers providing preventive oral health to low-income individuals.

That same leadership and commitment was recognized with the Monseñor Romero Honoris Causa Award at the Annual National Salvadoran Committee Ceremony on December 2. Monseñor Romero was a Salvadoran religious leader, and Salvadorans honor his name through the recognition of leaders working for their community.

SEED Visited by Royals
Thanks to Elizabeth Frazier, Director of Communications, for this update.

Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, and First Lady Laura Bush spent the afternoon at The SEED School of Washington, DC in early November. During their visit, the royals and Mrs. Bush observed an 8th-grade English class and an 11th-grade US history class, where they participated in a discussion about the War of 1812. They also toured the students' dormitories and met with parents, staff, and students.

Prince Charles and Lady Camilla planted an English oak tree in the School's courtyard in honor of their visit. SEED School senior Davon Jenkins and ninth grader Kendra Roberts, who served as tour guides, were impressed by the visitors' interest in and engagement with the SEED community. "They were the most down-to-earth people I ever met," said Davon Jenkins, who hopes to attend Georgetown University. "Lady Camilla was so nice…and Prince Charles actually told me that I reminded him a little of himself."

Ninth grader Bianca Jones presented the royals and Mrs. Bush with examples of her exquisite handmade pottery as mementos of their visit. Mayor Anthony Williams spoke at the tree planting ceremony and reiterated his commitment to expanding SEED School operations to allow more Washington children access to this unique program. Chairman Linda Cropp and DC Council members Carol Schwartz and Marion Barry were also present.

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Two Tools for Donors: Spirit of Giving Guide and 2005 Catalog for Philanthropy

The Community Foundation of the National Capital Region’s annual Spirit of Giving is now available. This year’s guide, Jobs, Families, and the American Dream, features 15 organizations whose services range from offering training for jobs in specific sectors, such as healthcare, to those providing more general supports to help people become "work ready," such as language and literacy training, clothing for interviews, and help finding stable housing. More than $700,000 in cash and in-kind contributions have been raised through the Guide for the organizations featured over the past two years. Download the 36-page PDF.

The DC Bilingual Public Charter School, managed by VPP investment partner CentroNía, has been selected as a featured charity in the 2005 Catalogue for Philanthropy. The school was selected from a competitive field of nearly 250 candidates. Proposals were reviewed by 50 professional grantmakers and leaders at 30 local foundations and nonprofit organizations. According to Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation, which publishes the guide, "Charities were selected for excellence, innovation, and cost-effectiveness—and for what they can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works. These are certainly among the best small charities in the Washington, DC region.”

The Catalogue profiles 75 new nonprofits each year under the environmental, cultural, educational, human services, and international organizations categories and those from previous years are re-listed as well. According to Harman, "The Catalogue is designed to be a showcase for DC-region philanthropy and an inviting way for individuals and families to participate in charitable giving." Read the full list of the 2005 organizations.

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Warm Holiday Wishes from All of Us at VPP!