Another Successful September Challenge is in the Books!

Year after year we are so incredibly grateful to you for continuing to ensure Everyone Home DC’s September Challenge reaches historic success! For the fifth year in a row, you showed up for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in DC. We reached our ambitious (and record-setting) $80,000 goal, with more than 200 gifts made throughout the Challenge. 

This successful milestone was not achieved by one entity alone. It was a collective effort of our AMAZING September Challenge Sponsors, Benefactor Circle, and Committee members, our staff, volunteers, donors, event hosts, and participants, fundraisers, online auction partners and participants, and our many social media ambassadors. The urgency to raise critical funds to support people facing homelessness has never been more pronounced, and each one of you played a vital role in ensuring this campaign’s success. Thank you.

In addition to the funds raised, check out some of the other highlights of Everyone Home DC’s September Challenge:

• In the final week of this year’s Challenge, we received nearly 100 unique gifts, raising nearly $20,000.
• We are incredibly honored to introduce one new and welcome back three Lead Sponsors this year. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Christ Church + Washington Parish on Capitol Hill, The Jeanne Phil Meg Team at Compass, National Capital Bank, and Louise Walsh & Charlie Rupp for their unwavering support. You can see all of this year’s amazing September Challenge sponsors below, and be on the lookout for our celebration advertisement in the November Hill Rag.
• The September Challenge Leaderboard had seven active fundraisers that raised more than $20,000, which is a 100% increase from 2023. This year’s top fundraisers were Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, Rifat Jafreen, Edith Shine & Mark Sherman, Alison Harwood & Chuck Rohe, Laurie Mankin, Pat Joseph, and Andy Staszak Interiors. Thanks to ALL for sharing your time, talent, and enthusiasm with this year’s Challenge!
• Everyone Home DC’s online auction raised over $11,000. This year there were 70 participants who placed a total of 228 bids. 

The need in the District is more urgent than ever, as homelessness is continuing to rise—up 14% from 2023 to 2024—and the DC government’s budget for homeless services is even more dire than many of us could have anticipated. It seems like Everyone Home DC will need to rely more on funding from private sources, such as contributions to campaigns like our September Challenge in the future. 

Thank you for joining Everyone Home DC in this critical month-long campaign to support our mission to ensure everyone in our city has access to safe, affordable, and comfortable homes. It is our collective responsibility to end homelessness in Washington, DC, and build the welcoming and inclusive community we believe is possible. Your support has always been critical to our work and allows us to be flexible in working alongside people in our programs. We could not do this work without you, and we are so glad you are here. Thank you!