Thursday, November 29, 2007

Help for Homeless Kids

Five community organizations in the District have received grants to help homeless youths. The Freddie Mac Foundation has provided more than $2.5 million to nonprofit groups that serve children and their families. The grants will go toward four focus areas: strengthening families, foster care and adoption, youth development, and stable homes and families.

The five District organizations receiving the grants are Capitol Hill Group Ministry, $20,000; College Summit, $50,000; D.C. Action for Children, $75,000; Horton's Kids, $45,000; and Latin American Youth Center, $100,000

Three organizations in Maryland and three in Virginia also received grants.

Looking for a gift for the soccer fan on your holiday shopping list? D.C. United will hold its annual holiday equipment sale from 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 7 in the VIP Hospitality Lounge at RFK Stadium.

The sale will feature team-issued gear such as T-shirts, jerseys, warmup suits and socks. All proceeds will benefit United for D.C., the team's nonprofit arm, which helps economically, physically and mentally disadvantaged youths in the D.C. area.

Starbucks has joined with the Modest Needs Foundation, a charitable organization, to help families in need this holiday season. On Dec. 8, 15, and 22, Starbucks will donate 10 cents for every holiday beverage purchased at area stores.

"The holidays can be a tough time for people living paycheck to paycheck," said Keith Taylor, director of the foundation.

The Modest Needs Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that assists those who face small yet potentially catastrophic emergency expenses. For more information about the program, visit http://www.modestneeds.org or http://www.starbucks.com.

Officials announced last week that Kathleen L. Penney has been named chief engineer of the D.C. Department of Transportation. Penney will be responsible for the design, engineering and construction of roadways, bridges, traffic signals and alley projects.

Penney, a resident of Ward 6, has years of experience in the field. Since 2004 she has served as deputy chief engineer for the department's Infrastructure Project Management Administration, where she managed ward-based engineering and construction teams. She also oversaw the department's role in the Anacostia waterfront initiative, the renovation of Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and a variety of other complex, high-profile projects.

Penney holds a degree in civil engineering from Marquette University in Wisconsin.

-- Compiled by JILLIAN S. JARRETT