2023 Humanitarian Spirit Award for Volunteerism

2023 Humanitarian Spirit Award for Volunteerism: Zion Baptist Church

Since 1948, the Zion Baptist Church has been a pillar of volunteerism, community education, and outreach in Washington, DC. As a crucial NCCF community partner, the Church consistently opens their doors to serve the educational and spiritual needs of all children and youth in the region. The church provided, free of charge, use of their location to NCCF’s Freedom School in Ward 4 as well as the Freedom School Enrichment Camp this summer for some of the city’s most vulnerable population – young residents of short–term family housing facilities.

Over the years, Zion Baptist Church demonstrated its understanding of the need for family fun in stressful times by treating children and parents from NCCF’s Kennedy and Sterling Short-term Housing Programs in Wards 4 and 5 as well as students and families from the JC Nalle Community Sports and Learning Camp to tickets to the UniverSoul Circus. To ensure a truly unique experience, Zion provides transportation and dinner and arranges for all families to attend pre-show festivities where children are treated to special one-on-one interactions with the circus cast. Zion Baptist Church is a true example of how the community supports the most vulnerable in their midst.