IW’s “Big Tent”

Dear Friend,

A common theme in national politics is creating a “big tent” - an environment that pulls in more people who feel connected to your cause. I will not delve into politics here, but I am borrowing the concept of creating a big tent to highlight one of the things that makes IW special. 

 In recent weeks, I have been struck by just how big the IW tent is. In fact, it seems to grow bigger all the time as our relationships expand and more people and organizations choose to become our committed partners.  

In August, we held our annual Back to School fundraising campaign and backpack distribution to help students and their families start the new school year feeling prepared and confident because they had the tools they needed to succeed. Our traditional drive and distribution pulled in more people in new ways. Our dedicated employees worked tirelessly to foster and create new relationships with local schools, PTA groups, and other community agencies to distribute over 5,000 backpacks to students across the county, going far beyond the traditional distribution at our Essential Needs Center! Our team also connected with the Guatemalan Consulate, our Rollins office next-door neighbors, to give out hundreds of backpacks to their clients.  

The continuation of support from partners old and new was also reflected in the recent Park Potomac Ice Cream Social. Our dear friends and longtime supporters Bruce and Margo Fonoroff decided to retire from the event after hosting and supporting IW for 15 years. Our friends at Potomac Lifestyle magazine recognized the importance of this event and stepped up to host it for the 16th year. I am thrilled to know that this tradition will continue for years to come with the new support of Potomac Lifestyle and other local vendors and businesses. 

In another new partnership, our Faith and Community Partnerships team collaborated with the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Silver Spring to collect a large donation of over 800 items. These include sheets, comforters, mini toiletries, pillows, and wall art, which will benefit clients across all our programs and beautify our spaces.  

These are a few examples of the new and evolving partnerships that IW has cultivated, adding to committed supporters like you who join us under the big IW tent. You share the values of the IW mission and reflect the culture and ethos we strive to create and maintain in our community. There will always be room in our tent for those who share our commitment to helping our neighbors find their pathway to greater stability.  

Sincerely,

Courtney Hall, CEO