January 2026

Heartfelt Thanks to our Donors

Thank you to everyone who responded to our end-of-year appeal. Together, you contributed $168,000 and unlocked another $91,525 in matching funds. from the Cliff and Deborah White Family Foundation!

There is still time to double your impact. Make a gift by the end of January.

Family Honors Mother With New Fund

The Heiney-Gonzalez family are honoring the life of wife, mother and grandmother Carol by creating a fund to support the job training and education of Identity clients. As a social worker, private therapist and professor, Carol dedicated her life to helping youth and families through tough times. Inspired by her generous spirit, her husband Joe and sons David, Andres and Daniel have established the Carol Heiney-Gonzalez Education Fund which will help young people reach their dreams.

Coat Drive Comforts Hundreds

Thank you to all who answered the call for coats and other warm weather gear for Identity youth and families this winter, just in time for the extreme cold snap. Hundreds of new or gently used items arrived in packages large and small from congregations Beth El, Adat Shalom and St Johns of Norwood Episcopal, Georgetown University staff and students, neighborhood associations, book clubs and caring residents. The gear went directly to families as soon as they came in. Special thanks to Board members Tal Widdes and Sarah Whitesell who spearheaded the effort to make sure youth and families are not left out in the cold this winter.

Stein Sperling Treats Staff

Identity staff were treated to a delicious family-style lunch at our headquarters and in most satellite offices sponsored by Stein Sperling to “recognize and celebrate staff’s profound dedication to and tireless support for their clients and our community especially in these trying times.” Special thanks to Board members who delivered the food and Board member Yvonne Lindley for arranging and organizing this generous treat.

Neighbors Rise for Young Learners

We are so moved by our friends in Neighbors Rising, who donated workbooks, activities and manipulatives to help struggling second and third graders develop their fine-motor skills that are so critical for learning success in STEM and other areas. Their thoughtful gifts make the work of catching up on these critical skills fun!

... And for Opportunity Youth

We are also grateful to Neighbors Rising for making the holidays tasty and welcoming with gift baskets of delicious holiday food for young adults at the UpCounty and DownCounty Youth Opportunity Centers. Their yearly tradition of providing Thanksgiving meals to new neighbors makes the world a better place.

Hygiene Kits, Infant Layettes and More...

We thank the young people of Congregation Bnai Israel for gathering and packing hygiene kits including lovely letters of encouragement for the young people at Identity during their December Day of Service. We thank I Support the Girls for providing over 50 boxes of skincare and hygiene items for the Wheaton High School Wellness Center teens, spearheaded by PTSA parent Ragheb Sutton. We thank Christine Kessides and the Giving Together Giving Circle for equipment and snacks for Middle School Encuentros/Gatherings, and Stein Sperling for 25 stocked backpacks. And we also thank the Christ Child Society of Washington D.C. for infant layettes and toddler sleep sacks.

Donate

Identity
620 E. Diamond Ave. Suite K
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
United States

If you'd prefer to receive only quarterly newsletters, click here .
However, if you'd prefer, please unsubscribe.