Horton's Kids

A quick glimpse into some summer fun! Summer Fest is in full swing with our participants enjoying summertime excitement while still having important classroom time. Happy summer from Horton's Kids!🔅 🍦

Tomorrow is the day! Who is excited? Home Runs for Horton's Kids is 24 hours away and we could not be more thrilled. Get ready to race with President Teddy, bat at home plate, and eat yummy stadium food.

Don't worry, it is not too late to attend! Get your tickets here: https://www.hortonskids.org/hrhk-tickets/

Home Runs for Horton's Kids is only 2 weeks away and we cannot wait! Join us and hundreds of other supporters for an evening of fun at Nationals Park that directly benefits children and families in Horton's Kids programs.

We would love to see you there! Buy tickets here: https://www.hortonskids.org/hrhk-tickets/

to June 7th! Some of our HK crew joined the 4th annual End Gun Violence Festival hosted by the T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project in Downtown DC. This awesome event brought the community together to fight gun violence and advocate for a safer world. At HK, we're proud to support these initiatives, let's keep the conversation going and create real change!

Mark your calendars! ⚾️ Home Runs for Horton's Kids is just one month away! Join us on July 10th at 6 PM for an exhilarating night at Nationals Park. Get your tickets now and enjoy, access to the field, fun games, delicious food, and more! Click here to learn more: https://www.hortonskids.org/homeruns/

Happy Pride from all of us at Horton's Kids! This June, we're celebrating the power of being true to yourself. We've compiled a list of resources! (https://linktr.ee/hkprideresources or scan the qr code) Let's uplift and empower each other this month! +

HK Young Engineers ended out the year with a fun and engaging experiment. We used our knowledge about capillary action and how water flows upward to grow our own rainbows. All it took was some paper towel, markers and water and we saw color run from one end to the other! Who knew science could be so colorful?

It is Operation Backpack time!! Horton’s Kids partners with Sprout School Supplies to create custom school supply kits for our participants. School supplies are a key to making sure that participants are ready for success in the new school year. Learn more here: https://sproutsupplies.com/school-supply-kits/hortons-kids/

Last week, our middle & high school students mingled with Willkie Farr & Gallagher for an afternoon of fun & learning! They enjoyed games, pizza, and meaningful conversations at the Willkie DC office. Huge thanks to Willkie for giving our students such an inspiring experience and unforgettable memories!

The Spring Showcase was an absolute sensation! Our dedicated participants had the chance to display their hard work from the past semester to families, judges, and the HK community. The stage came alive with our dancers' performances, and we couldn't be more grateful to our partners Igen, WeFit, and Flagstar for coming out. We are incredibly proud of our participants – their hard work truly shined!🤩

We have so much to celebrate here at Horton's Kids! Most recently we celebrated our hard working seniors as they prepare to graduate high school and start the next part of their journey.

We are so proud of each and every one of our students and the dedication they have shown to their education and future. Here's to our proud graduates – cheers to many more celebrations to come! 🎓✨🎉

Rain or shine, our Community Engagement Team knows how to host a fantastic fair! Last Saturday marked our Annual Family Fair, featuring more than 20 program partners sharing health and wellness resources with our families. The smiles and excitement were contagious, making it a wonderful way to celebrate , wrap up the academic year, and kick off summer! Together, we're building a healthier and brighter future for our community. ❤️

We're excited to welcome Paige Hawkins as our new Youth Programs Coordinator at Horton's Kids! With her background in program management, Paige will play a key role in enhancing our youth development initiatives. Join us in giving her a warm welcome! 🤗

Belated Happy Mother's Day to our remarkable moms and mother figures!💐 Horton's Kids celebrated in style with a delightful brunch, heartwarming DIY flower bouquets, and memorable family portraits. Our incredible mothers fuel everything we do – let's cherish and celebrate them today and every day to come.🌟

We were lit for literacy on Monday night! Our participants came together for a night of celebration, creativity, and a love of books!

A big thank you to the amazing authors who joined us:

-Michael Warren () shared his heartwarming story, "A Beard Like My Dad's," and inspired everyone to create their own unique collages. ‍

-Ebony Edwards () captivated us with "The Adventures of Zy and Fuzz," a tale of friendship and adapting to change.

Everyone went home with copies of these fantastic books and a renewed love for reading!

Mark your calendars for July 10th because Home Runs for Horton's Kids is back at Nationals Park!

This is your chance to unleash your inner pitcher in the Nationals bullpen, crush it in the batting cages, AND enjoy carnival games & delicious stadium fare – all for a great cause! Every hit, homerun, and cheer helps Horton's Kids support children and families in D.C.!

Click the link to learn more and secure your spot! https://www.hortonskids.org/homeruns/

Wow can these girls code! Chasity & Khyleigh crushed our Girls Who Code app challenge where they were asked to design, build, and pitch their own app! They wowed the judges with "Candy," a social media platform for people with social anxiety. It connects friends and offers built-in mental health resources.

The girls were speechless when they learned their prize was a brand new laptop! We feel honored to support the next generation of innovators.

Horton's Kids dream big! ✨ Our future leaders explored the campus at Virginia State University, igniting their college and career aspirations. Special thanks to our amazing College & Career Readiness Manager Domina for planning this inspiring adventure!

Spring break history lesson! ️HK's middle schoolers had a blast exploring iconic DC landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial & Capitol Building and soaking up the city's rich history.

Horton's Kids Mac & Cheese Cook-Off was a delicious showdown! Our community members brought their A-game, with fancy, spicy, and classic variations of mac and cheese. Congrats to Passion, Kenzie, & Pecola for winning, and a shoutout to Shavon's honorable mention.

We're still beaming from Saturday's annual Community Cleanup! HK staff, volunteers, and community members gathered to assemble furniture, pick up litter and beautify our neighborhood. We found some wacky litter - even a shoe! (swipe for proof)

A huge shoutout to our amazing Community & Family Engagement team for putting on such an impactful and FUN event! Feeling inspired? Head to our website to learn more about ways to get involved with Horton's Kids!

Recently, our amazing Community & Family Programs team fired up the grill for the second "Resource Roundtable" where families connect with vital support services like professional development assistance, tax support, and more!

Special thanks to Legal Aid DC for joining the Roundtable and offering free legal advice to community members and helping them thrive!

A huge shoutout to our incredible Quarter 2 Star Employees!

Niamh Klein (left), Senior Manager of Elementary Academics, brings creativity and passion to our youngest learners. A coworker shared, "She's engaging and pushes students to learn and grow."

Caroline Malone (center), Corporate Partnerships Manager, has a knack for building lasting relationships. A fellow team member said, "Her acumen has a real impact on the success of Horton's Kids."

Brad Sickles (right), Senior Director of Communications and Events, is a true powerhouse! An employee said, "His expertise keeps a key component of our organization thriving."

These three are just a few examples of the amazing people making a difference at Horton's Kids!

Smell that? Our participants are cookin' up a storm with HK Kitchen, a cooking enrichment program for older youth. Kil, our Community & Family Advisor, and this week's chef, shared his Philly pride (and his secret Cheesesteak recipe!) with the crew. Shoutout to Kil and the entire Youth Programs team for creating such a delicious and impactful program!

HK Theatre shines on the national stage! Our participants were invited by the International Peace Youth Group to perform an original spoken word piece at the "Building the Minds of Peace" exhibition in Washington D.C.

This powerful event, themed around intercultural dialogue and understanding, aims to inspire peace across the globe. We're incredibly proud of our students for using their voices to promote such an important message!

Healthy eating made fun! Horton's Kids Health & Wellness team creates delicious and nutritious recipes for our participants. Big thanks to Health & Wellness Manager Kaamilah Mitchell (second photo) for this easy, yummy dish we're sharing with you!

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Today we celebrate Kariah (left) and Khamari (right), (pictured alongside our Chief Program Officer, Shandell Richards) for completing their graduation from the Capital Guardian Youth Challenge Academy!

Both have incredibly bright futures ahead: Kariah plans to enroll in the MPD Academy, and Khamari has her sights set on joining the Army. Congratulations to Kariah and Khamari on these milestone achievements!

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with WorldStrides, a global provider of educational student travel and experiential learning. The organization has awarded three of our participants with scholarships that will provide them with the opportunity to test-drive their career interests and explore their futures. Here are our amazing scholars! Envision by WorldStrides