A Celebration 25 Years in the Making
Thank you!
Thank you to our incredible community for packing the house on Friday, April 26th, at the Omni Shoreham Hotel for our 25th Anniversary Celebration! Your continued support and commitment to our Scholars makes our efforts possible. Thank you, especially, to our sponsors, whose generosity made our epic Celebration an unforgettable evening.
Here's to the next 25 years of doing good in the DMV!
SCHOLAR & ALUMNI SPEECHES
As they always do, our Scholars and alumni stole the show with their remarks. You can watch all of their speeches when you check out the YouTube playlist now!
AWARD RECIPIENTS
We are thrilled to honor The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation and "The Originals" as key contributors who have made a significant impact in our community through their tireless dedication and commitment to increasing access to opportunity for hundreds of our area's young people. Their contributions have not gone unnoticed, and we are honored to have the opportunity to recognize their achievements at our 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The 2024 New Futures Award was presented to the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation in recognition of their transformational $1.5 million grant, which has allowed New Futures to expand its reach and deepen our impact on the lives of the young people we serve. This award is given annually at our benefit to a local leader or institution that embodies the spirit of our mission.
Past honorees include: Capital One; Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President of Montgomery College; José Andrés, Chef and Philanthropist; Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation; Don Graham, The Washington Post and TheDream.US; Anthony Carnevale, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce; Katherine Bradley, CityBridge Education and 2017 Washingtonian of the Year
Scholar-ceNTRIC & INNOVATIVE
Danielle Hamberger (left, with Sherrod Williams, PhD., New Futures CEO), Director of DC Education Initiatives, praised New Futures as a "Scholar-centric, innovative organization" during her acceptance remarks on behalf of the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation.
The ORIGINALS
For our 25th Anniversary Celebration, we were proud to recognize several individuals who were pivotal to New Futures' success during its founding years. Collectively, we call them "The Originals." This beloved group of former volunteers and board members includes: Greg Banks, Debbie Carty, Steve Ettinger, Lori Kaplan, Romana Li, Earl McJett, Ilene Rosenthal, Emily van Agtmael, and Louise Wiener.
The Gould Family Award recognizes an individual, organization, or corporation that has made a lasting impact on the lives of young adults, setting them on pathways to their own new, bright futures.
Established in 2017, the Gould Family Award was originally named in honor of our beloved founder, Mike Gould, and his brother, Allen, whose financial gift helped establish New Futures. In carrying on his brother's legacy, Mike has been an inspiring advocate for underserved young adults who has dedicated the last two decades of his life to turning possibilities into opportunities. His tenacity, warmth and unwavering belief in human potential have changed the lives of hundreds of young people from across our region and have set them on pathways to rewarding careers.
What a ride!
During the presentation of the Gould Family Award, founder Mike Gould (pictured with many members of "The Originals") reflected on the early years of New Futures and the spirit of collaboration and determination which spurred it to new heights.
The previous recipients of the Gould Family Award include: Barbara Kafka (2023); Romana Li (2019); Lori Kaplan (2018); and Emily van Agtmael (2017).
CELEBRATION SPONSORS
Our 25th Anniversary Celebration would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you!
KICK-OFF RECEPTION
The Celebration Committee held an intimate gathering at Capital One Cafe in Chinatown on Wednesday, January 24th. New Futures leaders, partners, Scholars, and alumni mingled, enjoyed complimentary food and drinks, and reminisced. The spirit of the evening was a perfect match to the Celebration's theme, Honoring Our Journey, Forging Our Future, which was officially introduced. Check out photos from the evening below!
Read more about the Kick-off Reception, including remarks from CEO Sherrod Williams, PhD., and Celebration Committee Co-Chair, Mary Zmuda.
From new futures to nasa
Carlos Lopez Aleman (pictured), a first-time Scholar (Construction & Trades Career Pathway) studying Air Traffic Control at Community College of Baltimore County, was the evening’s featured speaker. He credits his relationship with his New Futures advisor, Molly, for launching “a period of substantial growth and learning. Through engaging one-on-one meetings, where my thoughts are heard, and valuable feedback and support are generously provided, to learning the importance of seeking assistance without fear, and establishing meaningful connections with mentors, each experience has left a lasting impact on my journey. To me, New Futures isn't merely an organization offering financial support for my education; it's a newfound family that I've been welcomed into.”
On track to graduate this June, Carlos is making the most of his opportunities. This past summer, he earned an internship with NASA’s L’SPACE, where his positive attitude, eagerness to learn, and love for the subject led to his selection as an ambassador for the program.
He shared that New Futures helped him learn “to stop comparing my journey to other peoples’. It’s not a race, it’s about making the best choice for me and who I want to become.”
Kick-off Reception photos
Whether you were there and want to relive the memories or couldn't join and want to catch a glimpse of the festivities, our photo gallery and video from the speaking program will immerse you in the spirit of the night!
Scroll down to see highlights from an unforgettable evening among the New Futures community!
