Strengthening Crittenton Today
President’s Circle members are community leaders and supporters who help fuel Crittenton’s response to the urgent and growing demand for our best-in-class programs. With an annual commitment of $1,000 or more for two years, members of the President’s Circle are making a powerful investment in the lives of more than 1,000 Black and Brown teen girls in our region’s most underserved areas.
The President’s Circle revives an early tradition in Crittenton’s 134-year history, when local women mobilized themselves into neighborhood fundraising circles. Moreover, it evokes the power and effectiveness of our programs, as our girls gather in a circle each week to learn about themselves and each other—and to build the skills and knowledge they need to grow into the self-assured, confident women they’re meant to be.
Advancing a Vision for Tomorrow
The President’s Circle is also helping Crittenton Services of Greater Washington continue to evolve our programs to meet the changing needs of our region’s most vulnerable young women. Our most recent reinvention occurred in the 1980s when Crittenton transformed from a home that served unwed mothers into our current, data-driven programs for teen girls.
Today we have a mountain of evidence—and countless success stories—that demonstrate the effectiveness of our middle and high school programs. 100% of our girls graduate high school; 99% advance to the next grade; and more than 80% pursue higher education or workforce training.
But in the thirty-plus years since we launched our SNEAKERS and PEARLS groups, the world has changed dramatically. Young adults today need more support than previous generations to meet the challenges and demands of adulthood. In response, Crittenton is reexamining its programs and exploring the development of a special Alumni Network to provide our graduates with the extended support system and everyday expertise that today’s young adults need to succeed.
To become a charter member of Crittenton’s President’s Circle, contact Ruth Swanson at rswanson@crittentonservices.org or click here to make your first gift today.