Ready, Willing & Working is asking for your help in making this holiday season of love and joy a little more loving and joyful for the participants and their families. As you begin looking out for gifts, or scrolling through Amazon trying to find that special toy your own little one longs for, we hope you will also remember the children of the RWW families.
Many services of the RWW program go beyond support in their employment and branch into assistance with home life. This year, RWW is hosting a holiday party for participants and their families on December 15th to gift children with presents and lessen the financial burden of the holidays. While all of our participants earn a living wage, gift giving at the holidays can be an added expense that stretches their budgets and cause financial stresses on the families.
The holiday party will be hosted as a drive by through the parking lot of National Capital Bank. The “men in blue” and their children will come to enjoy holiday, treats, photos with Santa, and take home personal gifts for each child. The event organized in part by long time DC activist and Hope House founder, Carol Fennelly, who continues her work through retirement supporting families with incarcerated fathers.
There are two ways you can help:
The fastest and easiest way is to order through our Amazon wish list. We have listed gifts with varying prices so most people can find something they can afford.
You can also purchase gifts and deliver them directly to our office. Please call at 202-842-3333 to make arrangements for drop off.
All gifts and financial donations to purchase gifts will be tax deductible. Checks can be made payable to Ready, Willing & Working and sent to 1451 Pennsylvania SE, Unit 1, Washington, DC 20003 or sent directly online. Please make a note that it is for the holiday party.
Ready, Willing & Working is grateful for the ongoing support of Capitol Hill Community Foundation (CHCF). Thanks to the funding received from CHCF grants, RWW is able to provide supportive services that are so crucial to the success of the program.
Grant funding enables RWW to provide services such as weekly case management meetings, relapse prevention, Metro fare cards. These supports are essential to helping participants develop healthy life and work habits that ensure their future success as productive citizens once they finish the program.
Thank you to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation for your continued support of RWW!
Ready, Willing & Working is excited to be working with Capitol Hill BID for the second launch of our online merchandise store as a fundraiser for RWW featuring Capitol Hill’s new look! The store will close on Monday, November 2.
Ready, Willing & Working is excited to be working with Capitol Hill BID on the official launch of an online merchandise store as a fundraiser for RWW featuring Capitol Hill’s new look!
For the past 11 years, the Annual Magic & Miracles Gala has been a critical event for raising funds for Ready, Willing & Working. We are unable to hold the gala this year due to the pandemic and need your support more now than ever.
The Capitol Hill Swag Fundraiser is an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. All sales help RWW continue to provide workers with supportive services such as weekly case management group meetings, one-on-one counseling and transportation funds.
With your Capitol Hill Swag purchase or additional donation, the men and women in RWW can continue to become self-sufficient and contributing members of society and enrich the communities they live in.
Thank you and please share the fundraiser with friends and family!
This year’s silent auction features a one-of-a-kind experience donated by Ethan Hawke himself:
In support of Ready, Willing & Working, Ethan Hawke and his wife Ryan are donating two (2) tickets to the New York premiere of one of his upcoming films! Ethan Hawke is a critically-acclaimed, award-winning actor with several motion pictures in the works and you will have the chance to attend a premier between October 2019 and the end of 2020.
Movie premiers are exclusive events and tickets are not available to the general public. Get ready to bid and don’t miss this very special opportunity only available at the 11th Annual Magic & Miracles Gala at The Kennedy Center!
Want to know what other items will be featured at this year’s silent auction? Preview all of our exciting experiences, gift baskets and luxury resort accommodations in our new silent auction catalog.
This year’s event will feature an open bar, delicious food, live music, a dazzling silent auction and a special video presentation as we celebrate the success of our in-house General Education Diploma (GED) program’s inaugural graduating class.
Don’t forget to purchase your ticket for this unforgettable evening and take advantage of our $70.00 “Early Bird” ticket specialbefore prices increase on Friday, May 3.
Washington,
DC – Ready, Willing & Working (RWW) will host the 11th Annual Magic & Miracles Gala on Monday, June 3,
from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts.
Join RWW
for an exciting evening at the nation’s busiest performing arts center as the charitable
501c3 organization celebrates the success of their in-house General Education
Diploma (GED) program’s inaugural graduating class.
The gala
will feature delicious food, specialty cocktails, live music, a dazzling silent
auction, breathtaking views of the city from the Kennedy Center’s rooftop
terrace and an inspiring video presentation chronicling the academic journey of
the GED program participants.
“I look
forward to this event every year when dignitaries, supporters and participants
come together to celebrate the Magic of
Opportunity and the Miracle of the Human Spirit,” said RWW President Patty
Brosmer.
With support
from sponsors and an honorary host committee comprised of members of the United
States Senate and House of Representatives, Council of the District of Columbia
and other notables, Magic & Miracles
aims to raise awareness and much-needed funding for the RWW program. A limited
supply of “Early Bird” tickets are available for $70.00 until Friday, May 3. (Ticket
prices increase to $85.00 May 4.)
All
proceeds will benefit Ready, Willing & Working.
“Ready, Willing & Working” (RWW) is a
501(c) 3 non-profit organization that empowers individuals to break the cycles
of homelessness, welfare dependency and criminal recidivism through a paid-work
rehabilitation program offering holistic programs and supportive services that
allow individuals to achieve permanent self-sufficiency. More than 70% of
participants will never be homeless or incarcerated ever again. For more
information, visit www.rwwdc.org.
Join RWW for an exciting evening at the nation’s busiest performing arts center as we celebrate the success of our in-house General Education Diploma (GED) students.
Enjoy live music, delicious food, breathtaking views of the city from the Kennedy Center’s rooftop terrace, a dazzling silent auction and special video presentation chronicling the journey to GED traveled by our inaugural graduating class.
Official “save the dates” will be mailed by the first week of April.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and tickets will go on sale in April. Please contact Patty Brosmer at pbrosmer@capitolhillbid.org for more information.
The 10th Annual Magic & Miracles Gala benefitting Ready, Willing & Working (RWW) was held on Wednesday, May 23, at The Heritage Foundation’s Rooftop and Theatre.
The evening began at 6:00 p.m. with live music from the Herb Scott Jazz Quartet, a dazzling silent auction and delicious food from Belga Cafe, Trattoria Alberto of Capitol Hill, Joselito, Insomnia Cookies and Windows Catering. Guests enjoyed an open bar that featured a “Men in Blue Margarita” as they mingled on the rooftop while taking in the beautiful weather and a panoramic view of Capitol Hill.
A sea of “Men in Blue,” guests and supporters filled the Allison Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. for an inspirational program and presentation. Patty Brosmer, President of Ready, Willing & Working, opened the program by honoring Paul Pascal, former Vice President and supporter of the “Men in Blue.” Patty then introduced legendary news anchor Paul Berry as Master of Ceremonies.
Local singing sensation Natalya Jimenez took the stage for a beautiful rendition of our National Anthem before Paul Berry introduced Councilmember Charles Allen and keynote speaker Willie Taylor. Councilmember Allen delivered remarks on how the “Men in Blue” impact the community and presented Patty Brosmer with a resolution to commemorate her 10 years of service as president. RWW participant Willie Taylor spoke about his personal struggle with homelessness and incarceration and how the program has helped him make a positive change in his life.
Next, Natalya and her sister Adalia Jimenez gave a heartfelt performance of “Lean On Me,” as the “Men in Blue” lined the stage with their arms around another.
The highlight of the evening was a special video presentation honoring George and Harriet McDonald of The Doe Fund, New York. The video (which can be viewed here) showcased the humble beginnings of RWW and how The Doe Fund’s philosophy of “work works” continues to change lives in New York. George and Harriet then took to the stage to accept an award presented by Patty, which was followed by an inspirational acceptance speech from George.
The program concluded with a surprise video produced by Matt McClain, which congratulated Patty for her 10 years as president of Ready, Willing & Working. Friends, coworkers and loved ones gathered on camera to express their appreciation for Patty and her dedication to the success of the program.
Thank you to all of our sponsors, silent auction donors, supporters and George and Harriet McDonald for making the 10th Annual Magic & Miracles a truly unforgettable evening!
