Service to the Community
Our programs advocate lifelong learning, facilitate standards of health to ensure a better quality of life, foster a better family life, sustain the arts, and endorse solid economic practices and economic empowerment. The Ivy Community Charities and its members are committed to improving the lives of the citizens of Prince George’s County Maryland.
The Life Skills Community Center
This facility was made available to Charities in 2005 through a collaborative relationship with the Prince George’s County Department of Housing and Community Development to bring services that offered positive experiences for the young people in and around Suitland Manor--a community that had become known for drugs and violence. Charities also reached out to the wider Suitland community by participating on the Suitland Crime Action Team and with the STEP (Substance Abuse Treatment, Education and Prevention) Network.
The Center served as the administrative offices of Charities and as function space for several projects until August 2007. At that time, the Center was closed to make way for the extensive revitalization of the area. Charities thanks the County Executive, Jack Johnson, and staff for their assistance and support so that Charities could be of service to the residents.
The Sarah Wise Wooten Young Ladies Academy (SWWYLA)
This program was implemented in November 2005 for young ladies in grades 7-12 in the Suitland community. Its mission is to cultivate young ladies who are considered at-risk by involving them in substantive activities that encourage positive self-imaging, develop leadership skills and promote positive community involvement. The expected outcome is responsible, high achieving and socially productive youth. The curriculum, “Got it Going On II" serves as the model for much of the program. In addition, a leadership development component is led by a professional leadership trainer.
The young ladies participate in group mentoring, personal development and educational workshops, educational field trips, and community service that encourages healthy living and productive lifestyles. During 2007, SWWYLA served over 21 young ladies from Drew Freeman Middle School. The young ladies visited the Reginald Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Maryland and the Maryland State Capitol – Lowe House Office Building and had a day of leadership with the Prince George’s County Council. They participated in two community service projects—a Beautification Day at Drew Freeman and Project HOPE (Help Other People Excel) at the Shepherd’s Cove shelter for women. This project is funded by the Prince George’s County Community Development Block Grant program. A little over $20,000.00 was awarded in 2007 and an additional award of $14,000 in 2008 was approved.
 The Institute for the Growth and Development of African American Youth (GADAAY)
The Institute GADAAY features a program devised for the personal, educational, social, and cultural development of African American Youth. The activities are centered on three groups: Yes I Can (YIC) - 7th - 9th grades; Junior Debutantes and Beaus - 10th - 11th grades; and Senior Debutantes and Beaus - 12th grade. Each group has at least one advisor who is assisted by other members of the sorority. The groups are comprised of boys and girls. Male mentors from other organizations may also assist advisors.
The Institute encourages development via the various programs and workshops. Some of the programs include: personal development, education, social and cultural. For more information about GADDAAY check us out on the wen at: www.gadaay.com
Cotillion-Beautillion
Charities hosted the 15th Annual Cotillion/Beautillion in April 2008 and presented 21 young ladies and young men to society. With the steadfast commitment of the choreographers, chair, co-chair and members of the committee, the debs, beaus, parents and their guests enjoyed an elegant afternoon. To ensure the future success of the affair, a task force was established by the Executive Director with the approval of the President to review the procedures, policies and handbooks to address some of the challenges that the committee faced this year.
 Scholarships
This year through the support of our members, political officials and the Exceptional Scholarship Philanthropists (Bianca Adkins, Terese Fombym Cheryl Petty Garnette, Shirley Jackson, Sylvia Liggins, Denise Patterson McKinney, Frances Plummer, Cynthia Poteat, the Honorable Ingrid Turner,the Family of Pat Washington, and the Hampton alumnae), we provided scholarships to 39 qualified high school seniors.
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Annual Coat Day
Members donated coats and/or blankets to Leslie’s House and Shepherds Cove. Leslie’s House is a supervised home designed to address the emotional, physical, social, educational and behavioral needs of female ex-offenders who have been recently released from the Prince George's County Department of Corrections. The women in the program are provided diverse services to assist them with integrating gradually back into the society. Leslie’s House offers women returning to the community up to a six-month stay in a safe and healthy environment. Shepherds Cove is the county’s only residential shelter for the homeless and houses adults as well as children.
Shoe Bank
Each year, Charities provides new shoes for needy students. In 2007, over 40 students participated in each of the two shopping experiences at Payless shoe stores The children participating in this program attend schools located in Prince George’s County including North Forestville Elementary, Longfields Elementary, James Ryder Randall Elementary, Judge Sylvania Woods Elementary, Glenarden Woods Elementary, Doswell Brooks Elementary School and James Madison Middle School. Also, the children from adopted families were provided new shoes.
 Tools for Schools
The purpose of this activity is to provide the necessary tools (standard notebooks, college ruled notebook paper, #2 pencils, black pens, erasers, crayons, hand sanitizers and glue sticks) for daily school success for students attending elementary schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland. We donated 30 backpacks filled with school supplies and gift cards to students attending Longfields Elementary School.
 Health Initiatives
The objectives of these initiatives are to provide resources and educational programs that focus on prevention and wellness, to identify health issues and concerns that disproportionately affect African Americans, and to conduct forums on gender specific topics. The annual Health Fair, which draws over 350 residents from Prince George’s County and throughout the greater Washington, DC area was held at Largo Community Church as a collaborative effort between Charities, the church, Howard University Hospital and the Prince George’s County Chapter of Links, Inc. A mini health fair is held during the annual 5KWalk/Run for the Health of It in September. Information on breast health, cancer and sickle cell research was distributed to the participants. Donations have been presented to Miriam’s House ($500) a shelter for abused women, Food and Friends ($500), the American Cancer Society ($1,000) and the Howard University Hospital Sickle Cell Research Center ($1,000).
Senior Citizens Service Project
Each month, members visit the Forestville Health and Rehabilitation Center to bring cheer and expressions of love to the residents. Special tokens of love are also given to the residents on their birthdays, during holidays and other special occasions. In addition, a special program for senior citizens in the community is held once a year with assistance from participants in the Institute for the Growth and Development of African American Youth.
Harlem Renaissance Festival
Charities serves as an co-sponsor of the Harlem Renaissance Festival. This year’s theme: Cultural Explosion represented a concerted effort to make the festival inclusive of and representative of the diversity of the county’s population. The events of the day underscored the purpose of the Festival—to keep alive an interest in and an appreciation for the cultural and historical contributions and significance of the Harlem Renaissance era. Approximately 5000 people attended the Festival at no cost and enjoyed live entertainment, panel discussions and a variety of exhibits. Performances by nationally renowned artists including Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jean Carne and Jon Lucien generally closed out the Festival. The festival is a collaborative effort between Charities, the Harlem Remembrance Foundation, Inc., the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Office of the County Executive, the County Council, the County Public Schools, and several community based organizations.
Adopt-a-Family
Charities continues to provide services for its three adopted families that are headed by single mothers. We support the families by recognizing their birthdays, supplying books and school supplies, shoes, coats, educational materials and financial support. In addition to providing Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, we also partner with Wal-Mart to provide gifts for each family member at Christmas.
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