WASHINGTON, February 27, 2020 – Community of Hope (COH) received two major investments to purchase a new facility to relocate and expand its Family Health and Birth Center and launch a $20 million Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign. This support includes a $7.5 million investment from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and a $1 million pledge from the Developing Families Center (DFC).
This $20 million campaign will raise funds for the property purchase, renovation, expansion, equipment, and costs of relocation of our Family Health and Birth Center, located in Washington, DC’s Ward 5.
“Community of Hope is thrilled to expand our critical services at Family Health and Birth Center. Having the early investments of the Clark Foundation and Developing Families Center is especially meaningful. The Clark Foundation is a powerful new partner as we work together to improve Maternal and Child Health outcomes in the District. And the Developing Families Center is a long-time voice and partner on the importance of the perinatal period, the role of midwives, and access to alternative birth options supporting families in Ward 5 and beyond. We are pleased to have two such significant supporters and thought leaders join us as we envision a future where all moms and babies are healthy.” says Kelly Sweeney McShane, Community of Hope’s President and CEO.
“The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation has invested in Community of Hope because they are a leader in community-based maternal and child health in DC,” said Ryan Palmer, Director of DC Community Initiatives. “Community of Hope is not only a resource for mothers and their babies, but also provides primary care resources that nurture the whole family. We are proud to partner with them as they provide healthy beginnings and hopeful futures to the District’s residents.”
The support also includes a first-time investment from Developing Families Center, who plans to make several similar pledges to radically improve the maternal and infant health outcomes for families in DC. DFC Board Chair Andrea Miano shared, “The Developing Families Center, through the vision of its founder, has always been innovative and deliberate in empowering women as full partners in their care. We invest in the Community of Hope’s maternal health services to carry forward the DFC legacy—a strong belief in an evidence-based and holistic system of care that should be available to all women, led by midwives and coupled with educational, community-building resources, and birthing options. Our gift recognizes Community of Hope’s commitment to pursue innovations in maternal health care and to promote a generation of healthy, young families.”
Founded in 2000 by DFC and merged with Community of Hope in 2011, Community of Hope’s Family Health and Birth Center provides primary medical, behavioral health and patient care coordination. It is also the only free-standing birth center in the District of Columbia and currently the only place on the eastern half of the city where a mother may give birth to her baby. Midwives are at the core of our robust maternal and child health services, but we also provide care coordination, group prenatal and postpartum care, breastfeeding support, home visiting, and connection to other resources. Just 1.5 miles from the existing health center, the new facility will allow this currently cramped health center to relocate, which coincides with the pending sale of the current building, and to expand into a facility with over 20,000 square feet of space to serve families with primary medical care, maternal and child health services, emotional wellness, a pharmacy and other supportive services. The full $20 million campaign will include New Markets Tax Credit and a small traditional loan but will primarily be funded through philanthropic investments. To date, the campaign has raised $9,123,000, including gifts from an anonymous donor.
To learn more about our Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign, click here.
ABOUT COMMUNITY OF HOPE
Founded in 1980, Community of Hope is a rapidly growing, innovative, and mission-driven nonprofit. Our team of over 300 caring, dedicated staff members provides housing, healthcare and supportive services for low-income families in Washington, DC. We work to improve health access and equity in Washington, DC. We operate three community health centers, offering medical, dental and emotional wellness as well as extensive patient supportive services which reached almost 14,000 people in 2019. We also work to end and prevent family homelessness in Washington, DC and are the only nonprofit in DC providing all services along the homelessness continuum, having impacted 1,230 families in 2019.
ABOUT THE CLARK FOUNDATION
The A. James & Alice. B Clark Foundation partners with grantees who build practical, immediate and concrete connections between effort and opportunity, and focuses its investments in the following areas: educating engineers to solve society’s toughest problems, improving the lives of veterans and their families, and providing members of the DC community the best opportunity to thrive.
ABOUT THE DEVELOPING FAMILIES CENTER
DFC was formed in 2000, as a result of the vision of its founder, Ruth Watson Lubic, CNM, EdD, FAAN, FACNM, a pioneer in the role of nurse-midwives. DFC was established with three non-profit partner organizations, the Family Health and Birth Center, the Healthy Babies Project, and the Nation’s Capital Child and Family Development. The DFC provided a variety of comprehensive services and resources to provide access to primary care, maternity and newborn care, social services, childcare, and early childhood development services. Today, the DFC is home to the Community of Hope and the Edward C. Mazique Parent and Child Center. These three non-profit organizations maintain a unique umbrella organization to serve the women and young families of Ward 5 and beyond. The DFC is transitioning to a foundation focused exclusively on maternal health and outcomes in the District of Columbia, pursuing its mission and vision through provider partnerships, education and advocacy initiatives.
