Calvary Women’s Services Honors Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton at The 18th Annual Hope Awards Dinner

Left to right: The Honorable Jennifer Wexton, Board of Directors Member Dee Martin, Calvary Women’s Services Chief Executive Officer Kris Thompson

Calvary Women’s Services honored leaders who empower and uplift women, and celebrated women who are working to overcome their homelessness during last night’s 18th Annual Hope Awards Dinner at the Capital Hilton. 370 guests and more than 50 sponsors raised over $375,000 to benefit Calvary’s housing, health, education, and employment programs. Proceeds will also go toward launching the next phase of our expansion this summer.

Thanks to the generous support from our donors and partners, Calvary will provide housing and services to an additional 40 women by the end of the year. Kris Thompson, Chief Executive Officer at Calvary Women’s Services, stressed the need for these programs in our community. “The women who come to Calvary do not lack hope – or determination, grit, compassion or courage. What is missing is safe and affordable housing, stable employment, equitable education, and access to healthcare.”

Our host for the evening, Sasha-Ann Simons, reporter at WAMU, began by reminding the audience of the vital role they play in Calvary’s mission. “Everyone in this room is a part of a community of people who make sure that women in our city have the housing, health, education, and employment programs that empower them to end their homelessness.” The program featured several guest speakers, a rousing live auction with 11 incredible packages, and the debut of a new video, “What Does Calvary Mean to You”.

The Hope Award is presented annually to a leader who has shown incredible dedication to improving the lives of women and girls. This year’s Hope Award recipient was Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.

Congresswoman Wexton has worked tirelessly to end domestic violence and addiction, two primary contributors to women’s homelessness. During keynote remarks, Congresswoman Wexton reflected on the importance of Calvary’s mission. “I want to thank Calvary Women’s Services for this honor, and for the incredible work they do to uplift women in our community who need a hand up. We should all aspire to the mission of Calvary to empower women, to inspire hope, and to change lives for the better.”

Yani Hodges, a former resident at Calvary, shared her personal story with the audience.  In an emotional moment, she recounted with pride her journey and transformation at Calvary all the way to where she is today. Yani is now living in an apartment of her own and working in the operating room of a large DC hospital.

Calvary also recognized two partner organizations who have been critical in helping us achieve our mission. Attorneys at Williams & Connolly were recognized as our Pro Bono Partners of the year. Their support and advocacy have been crucial to our work this year. We also recognized Hilton as our Partner of the Year for their remarkable dedication to furthering Calvary’s mission. Frank Otero, Area Vice President for Hilton Worldwide, accepted the award. “All of us have been moved by the speeches during tonight’s program. We are so proud to partner with Calvary Women’s Services, the amazing work done here tonight will do so much to move our community forward.”

Thank you to everyone who attended the 18th Annual Hope Awards Dinner. We are grateful for the incredible generosity of all the guests, as well as our wonderful sponsors and partners who supported the event. Check out photos from the evening.

If you were unable to attend the event, but you would still like to support the programs at Calvary, please consider making a donation.