Mary’s Center Announces Major Rebranding to Reflect Expansion, Diversity, and Inclusion
Mary’s Center completed a major rebranding to reflect the organization’s growth, diversity, and ongoing mission of providing high quality services to individuals from ALL communities across the DC metropolitan region. Since its inception in 1988 when Mary’s Center opened a small basement clinic to provide prenatal care to Central American women fleeing war and poverty, the organization has broadened its services and population. Today, Mary’s Center serves over 54,000 individuals a year from more than 50 countries. The new look reflects the organization’s growth, diversity, and inclusivity. Learn more
Mary’s Center Covers the Cost of Over $9.5 Million in Free Care
The number of Mary’s Center participants unable to afford care increased in 2019, so Mary’s Center increased its expenditure of free care by 19%. Mary’s Center is extremely grateful for the generosity and commitment of our donors, which helped us cover the cost of over $9.5 million in free medical, dental, and behavioral health care for our most under-resourced participants. In the past five years, this generosity has enabled us to provide $33 million in free care. By covering these costs, Mary’s Center can give our community members access to the latest treatment trends, resulting in high quality patient care outcomes for our most under-resourced patients.
New Silver Spring Location Opens
On April 1st, we officially opened the medical suite at our new 344 University Boulevard West location in Silver Spring, MD. Since we moved to the new building in the fall of 2018, we were providing medical services in an area temporarily adapted to meet our medical needs while we finished the construction work. In addition to medical services, we also provide behavioral health, social services, health education, and nutrition services at this location. Construction is underway for our first dental suite in Maryland. This new comfortable building will allow us to serve nearly 15,000 participants a year.
Mary's Center President and CEO Maria Gomez Selected to Advise on Reopening in DC and Maryland
Mary’s Center President and CEO Maria Gomez was asked to co-chair the ReOpen DC Committee on Human Services, Social Services, and Health, alongside David Catania and Deputy Mayor Wayne Turnage. In this role, she is assisting Mayor Bowser with her initiative to not only reopen DC, but also build toward a more equitable, resilient, and vibrant city. Maria was also appointed to join the Prince George’s County Reopen Taskforce.
Mary’s Center Releases Key Findings from Evaluation of its Social Change Model Conducted by Urban Institute
In the fall of 2019, Mary’s Center released the final report by the Urban Institute that examines the organization’s Social Change Model and its unique approach to addressing the social determinants of health in the DC metropolitan region. The report includes analysis conducted by the National Institutes of Health. Overall, the report demonstrated the benefits and challenges of providing quality, integrated care across diverse programs. One national study of 176 community health centers found that only 10 percent of them provided adult education services, and only 22 percent provided workforce development services, both of which Mary’s Center provides. Learn more.
Mary's Center Is Named a Washington Post Top Workplace
Mary’s Center and Briya were named one of the Washington Post Top Workplaces in 2020, a recognition of the best places to work in the Greater Washington region. This is the third time in 4 years that Mary’s Center received this recognition, and the first time receiving it together with Briya. At the 2019 Top Workplaces reception, Mary’s Center President and CEO Maria Gomez also received the Large Employer Leadership Award.
Kresge Foundation Selects Mary’s Center for National Next Generation Initiative
In July 2019, Kresge Foundation selected Mary’s Center for the second cohort of its national Next Generation Initiative. Mary’s Center has joined nine other private nonprofit and public human services organizations advancing the social and economic mobility of children and families with low incomes around the country in this two-year learning program. Learn more.
Project ECHO for Opiate Use Disorder
The Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program launched Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) for Opiate Use Disorder. Project ECHO is a national program that trains and mentors primary care providers on care coordination and connects them to other organizations facing similar challenges. At the first ECHO meeting, 23 providers participated from several clinics in DC.
Awards and Recognitions
- On December 11th, Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) presented our President and CEO Maria Gomez with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Award for Health Equity. This award recognizes individuals who have successfully changed systems and policies that help reduce health disparities and move the nation toward health equity. The event took place at RWJF’s Annual Health Equity Awards ceremony in New Jersey.
- On November 15th, our Development Team was recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of the Washington DC Metro Area Chapter (AFPDC) with the 2019 Outstanding Fundraising Team Award at the Arena Stage. This award is a recognition to their tireless and innovative year-round efforts to raise funds to support our programs, keep our current donors engaged, and attract new and more supporters.
- On November 15th, Mary’s Center received the 2019 Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Award by the D.C. and Maryland Breastfeeding Coalitions. Mary’s Center was one of the 32 organizations in DC and MD selected for doing our best to support women in the workplace by providing reasonable break time and a space for breastfeeding employees.
- Mary’s Center was announced as one of the 2019 Top-Rated Nonprofits by GreatNonProfits. This rating is earned from the number of reviews posted on the GreatNonprofits website by people who know us and expressed their positive experience. As a top-rated organization, the seal helps nonprofits stand out from the crowd to gain more supporters and donations.
- Briya Public Charter School was ranked by the DC Public Charter School Board as a Tier 1 high-performing school in both adult education and early childhood education for the 2018-2019 school year.
- Our President and CEO Maria Gomez was honored on November 1st with the Huge A. Johnson, Jr. Memorial Award at the Hispanic Bar Association of DC’s (HBA-DC) 2019 Equal Justice Awards. Back in 1998, Mary’s Center received this award as an organization and this time, it was granted to Maria as an individual for making extraordinary contributions to achieving equal justice in the District of Columbia.
- Dr. Seiji Hayashi, Chief Transformation Officer, and Medical Director at our Petworth location, won the Samuel U. Rodgers Achievement Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers.
- Maria Paige, Addiction Specialist, received El Tiempo Latino’s Powermeter 100 Award celebrating the 100 most influential Latinos in Washington DC.
- On June 15th, our President and CEO Maria Gomez officially became the first ever inductee of the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s (GWHCC) Hispanic Business Hall of Fame. With this award, Maria also received the GWHCC Legacy Award.
- Mary’s Center received the DC MAP (Mental Health Access in Pediatrics) Community Partner of the Year Award for 2019.
- Mary’s Center’s School Based Mental Health (SBMH) Program was selected to receive an American Psychiatric Association Foundation Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health in 2019.
