EWDC serves children ages 5-12 from under-resourced communities, creating judgment-free reading opportunities that boost foundational reading skills, support personal growth, and foster a love of books. Its three programs fill critical gaps so that kids get a fair and equitable shot at success. Power Readers brings volunteer mentors together with students: no lesson plan; no curriculum; just quality time spent together over a book. StoryTime brings together small groups of students and special guests: guided discussions about a shared story help children open their minds to new ideas and opportunities while reinforcing core literacy skills. The Book Project helps address inequitable access to reading materials by distributing free books to families and community partners across the Washington, DC region. It prioritizes titles that elevate and celebrate diverse characters, communities, and perspectives – because all children deserve to see themselves represented on the page.

Headquarters: DC-Ward 2

Where They Operate: DC-Citywide; MD-Montgomery County; VA-Arlington County

Age Groups Served: Youth (5-11)

Population(s) Served: Students

Schools They Work In: POWER LUNCH SCHOOLS; Amidon Elementary School; Brent Museum Magnet School; Garrison Elementary School; Key School; Ludlow-Taylor Elementary; Marie Reed Community Learning Center; Ross Elementary School; Savoy Elementary; School Without Walls at Francis Stevens; Thomson Elementary School; Tyler Elementary School; Walker-Jones Education Campus


  • Number of students we serve annually:   4500
  • Number of one-on-one weekly mentoring sessions:   110
  • Number of community book distributions:   20
  • Number of FREE books distributed to children:   6000
  • Number of volunteer hours during school year 20-21:   1270

Awards & Recognition

EWDC Mentor a Finalist for D.C LEARN's Award (2009)

EWDC Receives the Mayors Organizational Volunterism Award (2008)

Executive Director Mary Salander Receives the Mike Fox Literacy Award (2007)

Everybody Wins DC a Finalist in the Giving Tree Charities, Inc WHITE HOT '07 Fundraising Event (2007)

Power Lunch Mentor Receives Bank of America Local Heroes Award (2006)

Senator Tom Harkin and Amii Young of Everybody Wins DC Recipients of MENTOR Spotlight Award (2006)

Press

Budget (FY2023)

  • $3 million or higher
  • $1 million to $3 million
  • The current budget for Everybody Wins DC is: $500k to $1 million
  • Less than $500k

Catalogue charities range in size from $100,000 to $3 million. This graphic indicates the budget range of the organization featured here. If you see an organizational budget above the $3 million mark, that is because the featured charity has grown in size since it first appeared in the Catalogue. We proudly present on our website the work of these "growth" charities.

About Spur Local

Each year 150+ community advocates review applicants on the basis of governance, equity, and impact. Each featured nonprofit has been successfully site visited and its financials given the thumbs up. Spur Local charges no fees and raises funds separately to support its work. Since 2003, it has raised over $57 million for nonprofits across the Greater Washington region.

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