We are delighted to announce the Winners and Honorable Mentions for 2017. Congratulations to all the students, teachers, parents, and principals. We could not be more pleased. We are very proud of you. We received quality essays from both DCPS and Public Charter schools. THANK YOU to all the students who submitted essays and shared your stories. You are awesome.

To see the Winners and Honorable Mentions of the 29th Celebration of Youth essay contest, click here.

Dorothea (Dodie) Brady, president of Global Harmony Through Personal Excellence, will be the recipient of Community of Hope’s second annual Tom Nees Award for Exceptional Service. This award recognizes its recipient for his or her long-standing, deeply-impacting service to the women, men, and children who turn to Community of Hope for help with housing and healthcare.

Every holiday season for the last 25 years, families affiliated with Community of Hope and volunteers from Global Harmony Through Personal Excellence have sung Christmas carols and holiday songs to the elderly at the Washington Center for Aging Services. As the group carols through the halls, the children visit the elderly and hand out homemade holiday cards. Dodie has tirelessly organized this event every year, bringing together homeless families and the elderly to spread joy and holiday spirit. If you would like to participate in this year’s event, please click here to learn more.

We’re excited to report that NBC 4 featured our 2014 Celebration of Youth essay contest. Watch “D.C.’s Brightest Young Minds Honored” to see the student winners share their essays.