Capital One Bank Community Champions

The Mystics and Capital One Bank are teaming up once again to recognize the heroes in our community. As part of their long-standing "Investing for Good" philosophy, at every home game this season, Capital One bank is saluting the people who truly make a real and last difference in the communities we call home.

You can read about each Capital One Bank Community Champion winners below:

Below is the list of the past winners:

Horton's Kids is a 23-year-old organization that serves more than 300 youths and 100 parents from the Wellington Park and Stanton Oaks neighborhoods in Washington DC's Ward 8. A 2011 recipient of the Washington Post's Excellence in Non-Profit Award, Horton's Kids provides one-on-one academic programs that improve children's reading and math skills as well as provides more than 1,000 meals a month, including emergency food assistance for families in need. In addition to making emergency dental and vision care available, every year Horton's Kids provides each child with a backpack filled with school supplies and any further clothing they may need. Ms. Kristen Woodiwiss and her staff remain committed to educating and empowering the children of Washington DC's Ward 8 in providing comprehensive, direct services to improve the quality of their surround community.

Casey Tree's mission is to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation's capital. Jared Powell and his staff are committed to making the DC area greener by planting thousands of trees within the city, grown from their 730 acre farm located in Clarke County, Virginia. In addition, Casey Tree's provides engaging classroom and field learning opportunities suited to individuals of all ages and abilities that educate and raise awareness of DC's urban forest.

Ms. Julie Childers mission at Trails for Youth is to mentor at-risk youth and provide opportunities for all children to experience the joys and benefits of being active outdoors. They focus on getting all youth outdoors by involving them in a variety of activities including nature bike rides, safe routes to school, youth mountain bike racing, camps and classes. As an avid cyclist herself, Ms. Childers shares her love of the outdoors with her surrounding community in an effort to help others become healthier by utilizing the many bike trails in the Greater Washington Area.

Autumn Campbell's mission at Back on My Feet is to promote the self-sufficiency of the homeless population by engaging them in running to build strength, confidence and self-esteem. Back on My Feet provides a community that embraces equality, respect, discipline, teamwork and leadership. Through dedication and hard work, members earn the opportunity to create a new road for themselves by having the ability to gain access to educational, job training and employment opportunities, as well as financial aid.

Becky Lee's mission at Becky's Fund is to foster awareness, encourage advocacy, promote activism, and create support for the victims of violence and abuse. Becky's Fund is a leader in education and awareness; it is also a source of hope. Becky's Fund works with a regional network of strategic partners to assist victims of violence to make a fresh start. Their resources include transportation providers, health and psychological care givers, hoteliers, lawyers, doctors, social workers and career counselors. With the help from Ms. Lee and the people of Becky's Fund, victims of violence within our community in the D.C. area are able to gain protection and support in order to live a better life.

The Young Women's Project is a multicultural organization that builds and supports DC teen women and girl leaders so that they can improve their lives and transform their communities. The Young Women’s Project recognizes teen women and girls as valuable community resources and supports them where their environments fail, while investing in them through training and peer support. Their programs provide leadership training, employment opportunities, project work, and a larger continuum of care that enables teens to educate their peers and work to make a greater difference within their community.

The Coalition for the Homeless is a non-profit organization that has served the Washington metropolitan area since 1980. In 1985, the Coalition evolved into a direct provider of services to the homeless, and it currently operates 13 program facilities across Washington, DC. Amy Rice is the Program Director of the Spring Road Family Apartments that provides 28 apartments for families who have temporarily become homeless. During their stay at Spring Road, she helps parents work toward self-sufficiency in a safe, regimented atmosphere.

As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Title IX, we honor a woman that has been instrumental in the success of the Mystics Title IX night. Thanks to Barbara Mattox there are little girls here at the Mystics game tonight celebrating the accomplishments of Title IX. Forty years ago Title IX promised that women would have opportunities equal to men and Barbara hopes that women's sports continues to grow and that one day women's sports will be up there in popularity with men's sports.

Bread for the World is an organization that urges our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Bread for the World has more than 70,000 members and 5,000 church congregations involving more than a million people. Bread for the World members write personal letters and send other personalized communications to their representatives in Congress so that they may help contribute to this cause. By working with churches, campuses, and other organizations, Bread for the World can engage more people to help end world hunger.

The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is a non-profit child advocacy organization that has worked relentlessly for nearly 40 years to ensure a level playing field for all children. Its policies and programs lift children out of poverty; protect them from abuse and neglect; and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation. Supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations, CDF advocates nationwide on behalf of children to ensure children are always a priority.

The Washington Literacy Center (WLC) has been providing adult literacy instruction since 1963. Begun as an all-volunteer literacy organization based on the “each one teach one” philosophy, the organization has evolved into a vigorous nonprofit where professional staff, paid and unpaid teachers, and volunteer tutors work together to help adult nonreaders in the District of Columbia meet their goals and function better on the job, in their families, and in society. Terry works hard to find and implement best practices, recruit and motivate staff and volunteers, enable students to enhance their life experiences, and educate decision-makers and raise public awareness of literacy efforts to benefit adult learners and their families.

A 1964 & 1972 Olympic hurdler, Lacey among noted female athletes, such as Donna DeVarona, Janet Guthrie and Billy Jean King, whom pioneered the efforts of the passing of Title IX. She taught Health and Physical Education in the DC public schools system and initiated the DC Girls' High School Interscholastic track and field program in 1969. Lacey founded Fit and Feminine in 1978, a sports and fitness consultancy to help girls and women achieve their highest potential in good health from youth to adulthood. She also founded Juffure Enterprises International, an International Consultancy company. She has a wealth of training and management skills having served as the Country Director for the United States Peace Corps in The Gambia, West Africa, and as an US Diplomat, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso West Africa.

Touraine Lynch founded Enchanting Women Foundation after surviving a battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer. As a result of the treatment, Touraine lost her voice for a brief time and she resolved to dedicate her life to becoming an advocate for those who were less fortunate once her voice returned. Enchanting Women Foundation is dedicated to help women, teens, and children who face debilitating situations. In addition to services like preparing meals and delivering clothing and blankets, Enchanting Women Foundation seeks to provide encouragement, morale and confidence boosters to women, teens, and children in need.

A local non profit organization that affords young girls and women opportunities to learn all about the different professional options in the sports world and to gift them with a chance to succeed in careers fueled by their passion for sports. Hollingsworth leads this charge by providing at no cost to her students the experiences of team-building, teaching self-esteem, and most importantly helping her young girls in the practice if paying it forward. Through a host of events such as their annual supplies drive, career day, and their upcoming Mommy and Me Day of Play, Hollingsworth is able to keep her passion for sports alive.

Vinna Freeman began her career in 1952 at Dunbar High School as a teacher and coach in health and physical education. Her forty-three years in DCPS were marked by versatility, energetic and high-spirited leadership. Freeman retired in 1995 as the first African-American Female Director of an Urban Interscholastic Athletic Program and is credited with significantly recasting the DCPS athletic program under the provisions of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments. Today Vinna is continuing her efforts to impact the community through her work with the Association of Health Physical Education and Recreation and Dance.

Kenyatta Brunson has worked to help women in DC overcome homelessness through the Catholic Charities Organization for 7 years. Currently she oversees two emergency shelters in the city for homeless women, transitional housing for homeless women and all of th Catholic Charities' hypothermia shelters. Combines, she and her staff work with more than 150 homeless women and families everyday. Kenyatta also advocates for those she serves through the Fannie Mae Help The Homeless Walkathon which she coordinates for Catholic Charities and invites everyone to help make a difference by participating. Kenyatta's goal is to provide the same unconditional love that she experienced gorwing up to the people that she serves everyday.