Updated December 28, 2009 In 2009, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have recoginzed the importance and impact of nonprofits by engaging many of them in our Greater Washington region.
Below is a list of White House engagements with Roundtable Members. (If we have missed your organization, please send the information to Nana by email.)
December: Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington welcomed President Obama according to The Hill , the Washington Post , their webpage , and the official White House video. "While most of us were digging our cars out of the snow or shoveling sidewalks, Club members of our Richard England Clubhouse #14 in Northeast D.C. were enjoying their time with the President of the United States! President Obama paid the Club an unannounced visit, and the children got a once in a lifetime chance to be a part of something amazing."
November: Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital met with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to witness the signing of the Girl Scouts of the USA Commemorative Coin Act. This act authorizes the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins that honor the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scout movement in 2012. (This photo sure seems like a presidential bow to a Girl Scout!)
October: Brainfood visited the White House again for Halloween "to help the White House Kitchen throw a Halloween party for the President and First Lady's guests, including military families and White House and Residence Staff children." July: Brainfood visited the White House, according to the Washington Posttheir website , "to prepare for the Obamas' Fourth of July extravaganza."
June: Unity Health Care welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama to their Upper Cardozo Health center, according to a White House press release , the First Lady's speech , and Unity Health Care's website . Vincent Keane noted that, "the financial investment in the renovation and modernization of community health centers is unprecedented. As Health Care Reform remains a high priority for all Americans it is obvious that President Obama envisions CHC’s as playing a key role in insuring health care access for many of the 46 million uninsured."
June: Greater DC Cares welcomed First Lady Michelle Obama as the keynote speaker for their Business and Philanthropy Summit. "The Summit convened business, nonprofit and community leaders to recognize excellence in community service and philanthropy, exchange ideas, share promising practices, and develop stronger partnerships to better impact the region during this extraordinary economic time."
April: The Capital Area Food Bank welcomed Mrs. Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, joined
more than 100 congressional spouses, passing out packages of wheat pasta and cans of pineapple as
volunteers bagged meals for low-income kids in the area. Said the First Lady: "I think it's important for Americans to see you all here doing this. We can give
something back to the D.C. community that often times don't get to see
us."
March: Miriam's Kitchen was featured on the Today Show and in the New York Times after a visit from Michelle Obama who said,
"I'm not going to talk long. My purpose here is to listen, work, and to
scoop some risotto."
Obama volunteered at Miriam's Kitchen, where she served about 50
homeless guests. She stood at the end of a serving line and dished up
risotto with mushrooms. Mrs. Obama praised the menu at Miriam’s Kitchen, a nonprofit drop-in center serving this city’s homeless.
February: Mary's Center welcomed First Lady
Michelle Obama where she declared, "DC is our home," according to a press release, the White House Blog, Slate and El Tiempo Latino, as well as lots of television among other
media hits. The White House transcript quotes the First Lady
declaring, "One of the things that I didn't realize, as I was talking to
Maria - the fact that here you've got pre-school, you've got teen centers, and
you've got help for college, this is the kind of center that's taking care of
not just women and children, but the whole family -- that's a unique and
important model."
January: President Obama visited Sasha Bruce Youth Work during Inauguration weekend, rolling up his sleeves to volunteer, and encouraging America to do the same.Sasha Bruce Youthwork welcomed Barack Obama who spoke with staff and clients and took up a paint brush, according to a press release, the Washington Post and video, as well as the White House blog, among other sources.
We look forward to the progress that the nonprofit community will make in partnership with the Obama Administration!
from May 1, 2009
All of Washington, DC is abuzz with conversation about President Obama's first 100 days
in office. While there is much to discuss by way of our new President's
policy decisions, the nonprofit community is also talking about the
commitment the new administration has made to our sector. Not only has
the President passed new legislation via the Serve America Act to
encourage community service and nonprofit capacity building, but the
First Family has set the example by volunteering themselves. (Listen here for our recent Serve America Act Conference Call held with National Council of Nonprofits.)
according to a White House 
"DC is our home," according to a 
January: President Obama visited Sasha Bruce Youth Work during Inauguration weekend, rolling up his sleeves to volunteer, and encouraging America to do the same.