IFES is committed to supporting community outreach programs through volunteerism and giving in ways that reflect our values and respect the people, communities and environment in which we work and live. A relationship of trust and accountability with local communities is part of our core mission.

Partnerships

Bread for the City

The mission of Bread for the City is to provide vulnerable residents of Washington, DC, with comprehensive services including food, clothing, medical care, legal, and social services in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.  

IFES sponsored a silent auction that raised $3,430 for Bread for the City. The event included an organization-wide vote by IFES staff to benefit a single charity. IFES staff and local and international businesses donated items for the silent auction. (2005)

Capital Area Food Bank

The Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) is the largest, public nonprofit hunger and nutrition education resource in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Each year the CAFB distributes 20 million pounds of food to over 700 partner agencies.

IFES contributes to the Capital Area Food Bank in three ways. First, IFES runs a biannual food donation drive providing those in need with hundreds of items of non-perishable foods. Second, IFES contributes financially to the CAFB’s annual giving program from money raised at an annual silent auction. Third, our staff regularly sends volunteers for the CAFB’s weekend bag and kids café programs.  (2001-2010)

House of Ruth

At thirteen locations in Washington, DC, House of Ruth helps women, children and families who are striving to overcome domestic violence, homelessness, mental health disorders and substance abuse.  At House of Ruth, 100% of the women served are survivors of abuse and neglect in childhood, followed by a lack of positive, supportive relationships in adulthood, as well as a high incidence of domestic violence. 

IFES staff have raised and donated more than $4,478 to House of Ruth from its annual silent auctions. (2004, 2006, 2009)

Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center

Since its inception in 1973, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins has been dedicated to better understanding human cancers and finding more effective treatments. The center has active programs in clinical research, laboratory research, education, community outreach, and prevention and control. The Kimmel Cancer Center is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in the state of Maryland.

Dubbed “Joe’s Ultimate Challenge/Charity”, an IFES staff sponsored this ‘donation drive’ event in April 2009 by pledging to go without drinking Diet Coke for 37 days. His colleagues bet he couldn’t do it, he did. Participating IFES staff raised $1,000 that was donated to the John Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center for Melanoma Research. IFES raised an additional $1,078 for center during an annual silent auction. (2009-2010)

Little Lights Urban Ministries

A charity that offers afterschool programs for children living in the Potomac Gardens Housing Project in Southeast DC. Little Lights was recently named "one of the best small charities in DC" by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.

Staff participating in an organizational silent auction raised $543 to benefit the children of Little Lights Urban Ministries. IFES staff also supported the Little Lights Urban Ministries’ banquet and silent auction held in October 2009.  (2007, 2009)