Grant Request House of Ruth
Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form
Organization Name: House of Ruth
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 5 Thomas Circle NW, 4th Floor
City: Washington
State: DC
Postal Code: 20005
Main Phone: 202-667-7001
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://houseofruth.org/
Employer ID Number: 52-1054102
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)
Proposal Information
Today’s Date: 3/13/2026
Requested Amount: $10,000
Project Title: Kidspace Child and Family Development Center
Project Description:
House of Ruth requests support for Kidspace, a nationally accredited child development center located in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 7. Kidspace transforms the lives of 84 children and 100 parents annually. The families we serve are overcoming the complex traumas associated with houselessness, domestic violence, and financial hardship. These traumatic experiences can trigger significant developmental delays; yet, families in D.C. frequently lack access to specialized programs capable of addressing such multi-generational challenges.
Kidspace is a holistic child development center that meets children’s educational, clinical, and basic needs, giving children and their families the tools they need to succeed. Our integrated model addresses mental health alongside early childhood development and academic readiness. Kidspace provides children with two nutritious meals and a snack daily, and trauma-informed educators deliver a research-based curriculum.
Our site-based clinical strategy drives our transformative work. We embed clinicians directly into the learning environment to remove barriers to accessing care. Clinicians conduct annual screenings and autism evaluations to ensure immediate intervention. This approach circumvents local waitlists that often exceed two years. These assessments guide the delivery of speech, occupational, and music therapies that our specialists integrate directly into the classroom setting. Kidspace parents have access to clinical groups and parent-child therapy to strengthen relationship quality and family stability. Services are provided at no cost to participants.
Support from the Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation will give D.C.’s most vulnerable children the therapeutic and educational foundation necessary to reach their full potential. Offering these essential tools today ensures that every child, regardless of their background, is able to reach their developmental milestones and succeed in the public school system. This investment will help break the cycle of trauma for the next generation.
Total Project Budget: $3,370,000
Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): House of Ruth’s Kidspace receives funding from governmental grants, individual donors, and foundations. In fiscal year 2026 to-date, Kidspace has received a total of $1,590,000 in funding from the Alexander & Margaret Stewart Trust, the Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott Foundation, an Anonymous Foundation, the Clark Winchcole Foundation, the Strebor Family Foundation, the TowerCares Foundation, and the D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education. To-date, House of Ruth has requested a total of $220,000 in grant funding for Kidspace from the Captrust Community Foundation, the Comis Foundation, the George Preston Marshall Foundation, the Herb Block Foundation, the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, the Qlarant Foundation, the Walter A. Bloedorn Foundation, and the Wawa Foundation.
Project Duration: January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
Geographical Area Served: Washington, DC
Age Group To Be Served: Children ages six weeks to five years and their parents
Contact Information
Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Michaela
Contact Last Name: Muttom
Contact Title: Foundation Grants Manager
Contact Phone: 202-597-5798
Contact Email: mmuttom@houseofruth.org