The Mayor's Office of Partnerships and Grants Development (OPGD) is pleased to report that five alumni of its Strengthening Partners Initiative (SPI) were recently honored by two local recognition programs - the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington and WETA's Hometown Heroes program.

Published annually since 2003, the Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington highlights smaller charities in the Washington area in order to increase and improve charitable giving to these groups specifically, as well as promoting philanthropy in general. The organizations are selected for "distinction, merit, cost-effectiveness, and accomplishment. Location, diversity among fields and kinds of organizations, appeal to donors, and value in teaching and promoting philanthropy, all contributed to the final decisions."

Four of the charities featured in the 2005 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington are alumni of the SPI program:

• Art Enables is an arts-and-enterprise program for adults with developmental and/or mental disabilities from throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
• Community Help In Music Education (CHIME) mobilizes community resources to promote and provide access to music education for all District of Columbia public school children during and outside of school.
• Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care preserves, assists, and strengthens the well being of children (ages 5-18) living with HIV/AIDS in metropolitan Washington, DC so they can achieve their fullest potential.
• Ramona's Way creates a sanctuary for substance abusing battered women and their children, a population often forced to make tough decisions that compromise their health and well-being.