Marriott honored for 'corporate citizenry'

More than 300 business and nonprofit leaders gathered to recognize J.W. "Bill" Marriott Jr. for his "corporate citizenry" and philanthropic efforts, including charitable gifts to his hotel employees and unrestricted contributions to foundation grant-making.

"The success of our company has been because we give," Marriott, chairman and chief executive of Marriott International, said in an interview after accepting the Civic Spirit Award presented by the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region at the Ritz-Carlton in Georgetown. "We're here to help people pull themselves up."

The foundation also honored four members of the community for their leadership and service, Edgar Aranda-Yanoc, an educator at the Legal Aid Justice Center; Chris Barnhill, education and curriculum coordinator at Metro TeenAIDS; Allison Baugher, Spanish teacher at Ballou Senior High School in Southeast Washington; and Evelyn Green, manager of Bethany Women's Center in N Street Village.

"If you would've seen me 19 years ago, you would've walked the other way," said Green, a former client at N Street Village, which provides services for homeless women. "Someone saw something in me that I didn't see in myself."

Each award winner received $2,000 in cash and a $3,000 contribution to the nonprofit group of his or her choosing.

The foundation, which holds and manages more than 700 charitable funds created by individuals, families and corporations, gave $54 million to nonprofits this year.

Through ticket sales, sponsorships and donations, the foundation raised $300,000 for operations and programs including Neighborhood in Need, which was created to assist local nonprofits hit by the economic downturn. The program has awarded $3.6 million to 70 selected nonprofits.

Among the guests were philanthropist George Vradenburg; Linda Howard, executive director of the Summit Fund of Washington; philanthropist Ada Linowes; and Anne Gunsteens, executive director of the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.

Corporate sponsors included Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, BET Networks, Capital One, Chevy Chase Trust and HSBC Bank.

"This award is special to me," said Aranda-Yanoc, who was honored for his grass-roots immigrant advocacy work. "In times like this where the immigrant community is so threatened and insulted, it's special to recognize someone that is working for them."

-- Vanessa Mizell