Community Partners

In order to be successful, BEST Kids works in collaboration with like-minded agencies and businesses to help build the capacity for all of us to fulfill our missions. We would like to thank the following community partners for the impact they make on our mentoring program for foster youth.
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BEST Kids is a proud partner of the United Way of National Capital Area. As a recipient of the Out-of-School Time grant and a member of the Mentoring Matters Coalition, BEST Kids is actively involved in various initiatives. BEST Kids' United Way NCA Designation Code is 8048.
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The Washington National's Youth Baseball Academy (YBA) and BEST Kids partner together to provide quality mentoring programs for DC's vulnerable youth populations. YBA provides BEST Kids with programming space, access to the Washington National's baseball games, and more, while BEST Kids provides YBA's mentors access to quality on-going training. 
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Sodexo supports BEST Kids by helping organize some of our biggest events of the year, including the annual Family Winter Celebration (FWC) and the Art of the Matter fundraiser. Sodexo's chefs volunteer to host and cook for both events, and show our youth how to prepare meals at the FWC. 
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A champion for BEST Kids, ALKU supports our organization in various fundraising efforts. Most notably, their team has raised the most funds through our Superhero 5K and Fun Run for the past 3 consecutive years. ALKU annually attends our Art of the Matter event, bringing with them a large number of attendees to support our agency. 
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As the official Virginia MENTOR affiliate, Virginia Mentoring Partnership (VMP) is an anchor organization that promotes effective youth mentoring by increasing the capacity and sustainability of mentoring programs, and providing resources to support the mentoring field throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. BEST Kids is a member of VMP and a beneficiary of their technical assistance and Quality-Based Mentoring (QBM) process. BEST Kids is the only mentoring program in the District to have QBM status through VMP. 
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The Rotary Club of Dupont Circle has supported BEST Kids by providing regular volunteers for fundraising and outreach events for our agency. They also host fundraisers for BEST Kids and are an advocate for our program.  
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DC Tutoring and Mentoring Initiative (DCTMI) is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to transforming the community and empowering students in DC. Through grassroots recruitment, DCTMI recruits volunteers and matches them with like-minded organizations to become mentors and tutors. BEST Kids is a beneficiary of their program. 
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MENTOR MARYLAND | DC’s mission is to fuel the quality and quantity of mentoring relationships for Maryland and DC’s young people and to close the mentoring gap. As an official MENTOR affiliate, MENTOR MARYLAND | DC is a champion for Maryland and DC-based mentoring organizations and works closely with BEST Kids to enhance the quality of mentoring programs in DC through policy-level advocacy. 
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MentorPrize is a connector that recruits Washington DC area volunteers and matches them with mentoring programs that serve hundreds of disadvantaged individuals- from at-risk youth to teen parents. MentorPrize actively helps recruit mentors for BEST Kids and advocates on behalf of mentoring programs in our region. 
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Learn24 is a network of out-of-school-time opportunities supported by the Bowser Administration to ensure children and youth in the District have access to quality educational and enrichment activities beyond the school day. BEST Kids is supported in part by a Learn24 grant.
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DC Campaign was founded by a distinguished group of Washingtonians who were deeply committed to cutting the teen pregnancy rate in half in order to improve the social and economic health of the city. Their organization provides on-going trainings for BEST Kids' mentors, including topics focusing on how to talk to your mentee about sex and healthy relationships.
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DC-based Technology and Gaming Labs (T.A.G.) was launched in 2013 by technology professionals who sought to transform youth learning through interactive gaming experiences. T.A.G. Labs partners with BEST Kids to host regular Peer Groups and enhance STEM in our program. 
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Project Create is a non-profit in Washington DC offering arts education to children living in emergency, transitional and long-term affordable housing. Project Create partners with BEST Kids to provide art programming for our youth and mentors at least three times a year. 
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Hoop Life works with BEST Kids annually to host the Hoop Life and BEST Kids Basketball Extravaganza- a basketball clinic and scrimmage for mentors and mentees. Every year, roughly 10-15 matches come out to learn sportsmanship, brush up on their basketball skills, and have fun!
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Packaged for Success donates backpack and purses with hygiene and toiletry items for BEST Kids youth every year to give away at our annual Family Winter Celebration. 
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DC127 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children and empowering and preserving families. We provide wraparound services to parents and grandparents who are isolated, overwhelmed, and under- resourced. We walk with foster families through every stage of the fostering process, from getting licensed to supporting a child in their home. DC127 is committed to providing prevention services and resources to stabilize families so that every family has a chance to thrive.
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CitySwing is an immersive golf experience making golf convenient and accessible to everyone. Our space was created for a wide range of golfers – from those addicted to the game to those that have never imagined themselves participating. They provide introductory golf lessons to mentors and mentees at no cost as part of their Backing Birdies program.
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At MITRE, they solve problems for a safer world. Through their federally funded R&D centers and public-private partnerships, they work across government to tackle challenges to the safety, stability, and well-being of our nation. BEST Kids and MITRE partner together on our STEM program aimed at introducing stem activities and careers to our middle school-aged mentees.
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The Mystics Mentor program, started in 2022 in association with MENTOR MDDC, is a match-making service between Washington Mystics fanbase and 9 local mentoring partners in need of mentors and support to provide role models, training, and professional development to make connections with young people in our community. 
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The Consortium for Child Welfare is a coalition of non-profit service agencies established in 1980 to improve child welfare services in Washington, DC. CCW strives to protect children and support families by facilitating communication and collaboration; promoting innovation, services, and developing resources; and advocating for the highest practice standards for children, youth, and family services.
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The District of Columbia Public Schools is the local public school system for the District of Columbia, in the United States.​
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Fit2Balance is a community-based, clinical social work practice, specializing in trauma-
informed services for under-represented D.C. residents. Services include personal
training, health coaching, and a training academy focused on trauma-informed
wellness.
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Onyx Therapy Group is a Black Woman, Veteran-Owned business who aims to address mental health issues and disparities in communities, organizations, and for individuals in need. Onyx Therapy Group aims to support and guide the healing process through a range of theoretical orientations and therapeutic interventions with the primary outcomes of awareness, empowerment, grounding, and growth. 
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Safe Shores—The DC Children’s Advocacy Center is a direct service nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and working directly with child victims of sexual and physical abuse in the District of Columbia.
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Tickets for Kids provides free access for low-income and at-risk kids to attend the arts, cultural, educational, and athletic venues of their community. Through partnerships with youth-serving organizations across the U.S., we strive to make trips to museums, concerts, ballgames, science centers, zoos, and more part of every childhood. Through access, we provide experiences that can spark an interest, ignite a passion, and shape a future without limits.​
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The Washington Lawyers’ Committee uses its legal firepower to fight discrimination. The Washington Lawyers’ Committee partners with community members and organizations on scores of cases to combat discrimination based on race, gender, disability, family size, history of criminal conviction, and more.