Contact:
Fred Whiting
Points of Light Foundation
(202) 729-8177
fwhiting@pointsoflight.org

Casey Foundation Named Outstanding Foundation Partner
Organization Nominated by Points of Light Foundation

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 6, 2006)—The Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national private charitable organization headquartered in Baltimore, Md., was named Outstanding Foundation Partner at the fifth annual National Capital Philanthropy Day on November 3 in Washington, D.C.  The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network nominated the Foundation for the award. 

The event, billed as the “Washington area’s celebration of giving,” was convened by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and 16 nonprofit organizations, including the Points of Light Foundation. 

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has been a committed partner of the Points of Light Foundation since 1998, providing a total of $2.9 million in support during that time.  The Casey Foundation was established in 1948 by Jim Casey and his sister and brothers, who named the Foundation in honor of their mother.  The primary mission of the Foundation is to foster public policies, human service reforms and community supports that more effectively need the needs of today’s vulnerable children and families. 

Since 2002, the Casey Foundation has provided an average of about $190 million annually to organizations work in its areas of interest.  Unlike many private Foundations, who restrict their giving to the five percent of endowment mandated by law, the Annie E. Casey Foundation by policy commits close to eight percent of endowment to support of non-for-profit organizations nationwide.

“Politeness and reciprocity require that I acknowledge Points of Light, but I want you to know that Bob Goodwin [President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation] and the whole organization have been important Casey partners for nearly a decade,” said Miriam Shark, Senior Associate in the Office of the Senior Vice President for the Foundation. 

“In that time, we have come to truly appreciate their work to bring the spirit of voluntarism to low-income communities across the country.  They took on this challenge ambitiously, doing no less than defining a new paradigm for their work.  They call it ‘neighboring’ and it is really working to mobilize the time, talent and mutual support that can help even the toughest neighborhoods become family-supporting communities.”    

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages and mobilizes millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities. Through a variety of programs and services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of life — businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families, youth, and older adults — to volunteer.

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Miriam Shark accepts the 2006 Foundation Partner of the Year Award at National Capital Philanthropy Day
To Miriam's right is Jeff Kost, President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Metropolitan DC Chapter; to her left is Leon Harris, Evening Anchor of WJLA-TV, MC of the event.