House of Ruth

Annual Donor Reception

555 13 St. NW., Washington, DC 20004
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Sponsored by 

Relive the joy of the 2025 Annual Donor Reception!

Your generosity raised $100,000 for House of Ruth during the evening!

If you did not have the opportunity to make your gift during the event, you can still do so here.

Donate Today

Your gift ensures survivors receive safe housing, counseling, childcare, and supportive services – all at no cost.

2025 Award Recipients

  • Distinguished Service Award: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their commitment to our mission through philanthropy both monetary and in-kind. They donated the commerical stove to Kidspace to provide nutritious, on-site meals for children. This past fiscal year, their Bishop’s Storehouse grant provided food, kitchen staples, and household items. In 2023 and 2024, they selected House of Ruth for the Light the World Giving Machine Initiative, an international program turning vending machines into a force for good—allowing people to donate to charities instead of purchasing items.
  • Distinguished Service Award: Association of American Medical Colleges for their partnership through donations, volunteerism, and resource access. Their grants have invested in the teachers and equipment at Kidspace, overnight security at housing programs, and salaries for housing staff. Their team also seeks out volunteer opportunities.
  • Community Partner Award: MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for their collaboration in creating a multi-generational mental and emotional health program at Kidspace. Thanks to our incredible team of MedStar clinicians, Kidspace is offering an innovative and comprehensive range of wellness services. All these services are provided by licensed clinical professionals at no cost to the families.  
  • Community Partner Award: College Park Speech and Language Clinic for providing speech therapy for the children at Kidspace for over 30 years. They have provided speech therapy in one-on-one sessions, classroom support, and small groups. 
  • Volunteer of the Year Award: Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Ladies Philoptochos Society for rising to meet the needs of our program participants, such as fully funding a baby shower for an expecting mother. The ladies also generously donate financially each year.  

Event Co-Chairs

  • Louis Cardenas, Board Chair, and James Lumalcuri
  • Monica Y. Brame, Board Vice-Chair
  • Stephanie and Adam Kushner

Host Committee

  • Caryl S. Bernstein
  • Thomasine Carter
  • Darryl E. Christmon and Arnita Hannon Christmon
  • Andrew and Ellen Kentz
  • Diane Lewis and Julius Hobson, Jr.
  • Patricia Massey
  • Char Mollison
  • Pamela M. Pinkett
  • Gina Schaefer and Marc Friedman
  • Julie Shroyer, MSW and David Shaw
  • Astrid Weigert, PhD

Honorary Co-Hosts

  • Congresswoman Eleanor H. Norton, District of Columbia
  • Sue Marshall, Director, The Community Partnership

Honorary Co-Hosts
Council of the District of Columbia

  • Phil Mendelson, Chairman, Chair, Committee of the Whole
  • Brianne K. Nadeau, Ward 1 Councilmember Chair, Committee on Public Works and Operations
  • Brooke Pinto, Ward 2 Councilmember Chair, Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety
  • Matthew Frumin, Ward 3 Councilmember, Chair, Committee on Human Services
  • Charles Allen, Ward 6 Councilmember Chair, Committee on Transportation and the Environment
  • Wendell Felder, Ward 7 Councilmember
  • Anita Bonds, At-Large Councilmember Chair, Committee on Executive Administration and Labor
  • Christina Henderson, At-Large Councilmember Chair, Committee on Health
  • Kenyan R. McDuffie, At-Large Councilmember, Chair Pro Tempore Chair, Committee on Business and Economic Development