Our Story

Caroline Malone
Corporate Partnerships Manager

Caroline is excited to be growing her career with Horton’s Kids as the Corporate Partnerships Manager after establishing relationships with many of the organization’s existing Corporate supporters as she’s transitioned from Development and Volunteer Coordinator to Senior Development Coordinator into her current role.

In her role, Caroline seeks to build relationships with Corporations and Organizations in the greater DC area who share Horton’s Kids’ commitment to providing resources to children and families living in DC’s most under-invested communities. Caroline is excited about aligning the interests of our Corporate Donors with the organization’s needs through Event Sponsorships, General Donations, Volunteer Experiences, and In-Kind Support.

Originally from Seattle, Caroline has been in DC since 2016 and received a B.A. in Human Services and Social Justice from The George Washington University in 2020. With roots in DC now, outside of work, she enjoys exploring DC’s unique neighborhoods, reading, and cooking.

caroline@hortonskids.org

Tactics:

Train supervisors to identify sources of burnout among their staff and successfully execute tailored plans and resources to support employees in its alleviation.
Identify areas where the organization is under-staffed and establish targets and strengthen the process to hire and/or fill vacancies in a timely fashion.
Better utilize the talents and energy of part-time and volunteer staff.
Establish and increase the uptake of internal systems and processes that strengthen communication, collaboration, and efficiency.

Tactics:

Expand alumni programming to support the successful economic and social emotional transition of teenagers to adulthood.
Identify the most pervasive needs affecting Horton’s Kids families and increase access to services to address them through referrals and partnerships.
Leverage the Horton’s Kids network to develop opportunities for youth internships and job opportunities as well as partnerships that can help broaden the range of services for families.

Tactics:

Expand our communications and fundraising focus beyond academic achievement to include achievements in youth development, community and family engagement, and health and wellness, and accentuate the roles played by the kids, their families, and our partners.
Support and cultivate advocacy inside schools, where clusters of Horton’s Kids attend to better meet the academic and youth development needs of students as identified by parents, Horton’s Kids staff, and school staff.
Cultivate and utilize a diverse volunteer base to establish deeper relationships and mentorships with students.
Robust and routine measurement and responsiveness to indicators of program quality that ensure a Welcoming & Supportive Community, Positive Peer Connections, Engaging Learning Environment, and Teacher Effectiveness.
Leverage the Horton’s Kids extensive network to provide more exposure activities and outings for children and families that are free/affordable.

Tactics:

Increase respectful police and private security guard presence in this HK’s spaces as needed.
Strengthen the communication channels between HK, police, and private security to the benefit of HK families and staff without harm to the broader community.
Employ community-led model of increasing neighborhood safety and belonging through partnerships such as “Safe Corridors” or other restorative community safety efforts.
Establish internal policies and procedures for safety and belonging that address issues of bullying or other threats to the physical and emotional safety of student during programming.

Tactics:

Create an engaged parent advisory committee that is consulted on major strategic decision or shifts.
Ensure that staff, volunteers, and board members include people from the local community and from communities with similar levels of under-investment.
Authentically communicate the story of Horton’s Kids journey in supporting families’ agency and advocacy. Use this story as an ongoing reminder of our intentions and values.
Cultivate the community’s ownership and connection to the Hub through increasing the paid and pro bono use of the Hub space by families, community members, and partners.
Ground strategic decision-making in the values of Equity, Compassion, Connectedness, Commitment, and Integrity and use the Equity Guideposts to reject decisions that are not aligned.

Tactics:

Continue in-residence presence for accessibility, relationships, outreach, promotion, specialized programs, crisis intervention, and distribution but gradually shift major program offerings from residence-based centers to Horton’s Hub.
Execute a deepened engagement plan that increases the number of Wellington Park and Stanton Oaks families that are meeting the level of participation required to benefit from programming.
Execute a recruitment and engagement plan for new families in the Hub’s 1/2 mile radius that prioritizes families with limited access to opportunities, resources, and economic security.

Domina Glenn
College and Career Readiness Manager

Domina Glenn joined Horton’s Kids in July 2023 as the College and Career Readiness Manager. She is a native of New Haven, Connecticut and holds a B.A. in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University. She has worked in Higher Education in various roles such as admissions, retention, and placement for the past several years. She strongly believes that every child deserves the opportunity to get the education and career that they want. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, creating playlists, and spending time with her husband and her daughter.

domina@hortonskids.org

Brad Sickels
Director of Communications & Events

Brad is responsible for the planning, development, and implementation of Horton’s Kids’ marketing strategies, communications, and public relations activities, both external and internal. He also directs the planning and execution of Horton’s Kids community-facing events – and donor stewardship & cultivation events including the organization’s flagship fundraisers Home Runs for Horton’s Kids and Give Thanks & Give Back. Brad brings over 15 years of event production, strategic communications, and writing and design experience to Horton’s Kids.

Brad has worked for a variety of DC-based nonprofits including The Human Rights Campaign, The American Psychological Association, and The National Student Leadership Conference. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from SUNY Geneseo.

brad@hortonskids.org

Jasmine Stephens
Senior Manager of Youth Development

Jasmine works as the Senior Manager of Youth Development at Horton’s Kids. Jasmine is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia. She received her Bachelors in Interpersonal and Organizational Communications from East Carolina University and her Master’s in Social Work from Howard University. Jasmine has spent her career in Washington, DC as a mental health practitioner in the educational setting working with students in K-12 and is committed to creating a safe space that allows everyone to feel free from judgement while tapping into the strengths they have within themselves to become the person they would like to be.

jasmine@hortonskids.org

Treyshawn Curry
Senior Coordinator of Finance

Treyshawn is a native Washingtonian. She received her Associate Degree from the University of Phoenix. Treyshawn has five years of Finance Administration experience, and she is excited to expand her knowledge. In her spare time, she likes to read and participate in outdoor events with her teenage daughter.

treyshawn@hortonskids.org

Nadine Wilson
Senior Manager of Human Resources

Nadine Wilson, PHR, SHRM-CP, is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and has over a decade of experience managing and leading HR departments in various industries. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resources Management from St. Leo University and is dually certified as a Human Resources Professional with HRCI and SHRM. As a result of her educational background and hands-on training, she has been able to effectively manage employee relations, benefits administration, performance management, compensation, and the acquisition of diverse talent. Her passion is putting the “Human” back into Human Resources through collaboration, empathy, and inclusivity.

During her career, Nadine has committed herself to establishing a positive and inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and promotes employee engagement. She is pursuing a Master Herbalist Certification with plans to incorporate a holistic approach by encouraging self-care and work-life balance to avoid burnout among employees, management teams, and external partners.

In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering in her community and cheering her kids on at their various activities and sporting events.

nadine@hortonskids.org

Horton's Kids Donor Privacy Policy

Horton’s Kids deeply values all contributions to sustain our work. To protect the privacy of our donors and their relationship with Horton’s Kids, we maintain the following policies:

- We may request personal information, such as name, address, phone number, email address, and credit card number for the purposes of accepting donations to Horton’s Kids and remaining in contact with you.
- We will not release or use this information for any other purpose without your consent.
- We do not trade or sell your personal information with other organizations.
- We offer donors the option to be recognized anonymously.
- Donors may request, at any time, to not receive our solicitations.

Please contact Caroline Malone at caroline@hortonskids.org or by phone at 202-544-5033, ext. 18 if you would like to update, correct or remove your personal information

Workplace Giving & Horton's Kids

You can support Horton’s Kids on a regular basis through workplace giving programs with automatic payroll deductions. To learn more about how your employer facilitates workplace giving through automatic payroll deductions or if they match employee contributions, contact your HR representative.

If you or your employer are hosting an upcoming workplace giving event, Horton’s Kids would love to take part! Please contact Corporate Partnerships Manager, Caroline Malone, caroline@hortonskids.org, with more information.

Horton’s Kids is a Combined Federal Campaign Charity (CFC #86543)

How to Include Horton's Kids in Your Estate Plans

Including Horton’s Kids in your estate plans is one of the most common and simple ways to have your legacy leave a lasting impact on a non-profit organization. Horton’s Kids can be named as a beneficiary of your 401k or IRA account, life insurance policy, or be designated to recieve securities or the remaining assets of your donor advised fund.

If you are interested in including Horton’s Kids in your estate plans please contact Senior Director of Individual Giving, Ellica Church, ellica@hortonskids.org, or see below for suggested language to include in bequests:

I hereby give, devise and bequeath to Horton’s Kids, the sum of $_________.
I hereby give and bequeath to Horton’s Kids, the remainder of my estate, or _____% of the remainder of my estate.

You can also make a gift contingent upon certain events, such as:

I hereby give and bequeath $_________ to my daughter, if she is living; otherwise to Horton’s Kids.

How to Wire Donations to Horton's Kids

Electronic Funds Transfers can be sent to Horton’s Kids’ checking account at:

City First Bank of DC
1432 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Account #12526908
Routing #054001686

Please send a notice of your incoming donation to Corporate Partnerships Manager, Caroline Malone, caroline@hortonskids.org

How to Support Horton's Kids In-Kind Needs

Supporting Horton’s Kids with an in-kind donation is the perfect entry point to getting involved, whether you’re an individual, or part of a company or community organization wanting to give back.

We are in need of partners on a monthly basis to create the following family essentials distribution kits:

40 Household Cleaning Supply Bags
50 Personal Hygiene Kits
15 Family Grocery Bags

Seasonally we also hold the following drives:

May/June: Operation Backpack (School Supply Drive)
Sep/Oct: Winter Clothing Drive
Oct/Nov: Thanksgiving Drive
Nov/Dec: Holiday Helper Toy Drive

For more information about Horton’s Kids in-kind giving program and how you can get involved, please contact Corporate Partnerships Manager, Caroline Malone, caroline@hortonskids.org

How to Initiate Stock Transfers

To make a gift of stock or securities to Horton’s Kids, please contact our broker directly for transfer instructions:

Emilio Sanchez, CFP
Morgan Stanley
(703) 394-1968
Emilio.Sanchez@morganstanley.com

DTC#: 0015
Horton’s Kids Account #: 631-040719-188

Note: Make sure your broker includes your name and contact information in the text comment field of the DTC transfer screen.

We also ask that you notify us of your stock gift. Please alert Leigh Player, Chief Development Officer, of your donation at leigh@hortonskids.org so that we can properly record and acknowledge your gift.

Grants via Donor Advised Funds and IRA Charitable Distributions

Horton’s Kids is able to accept grants from donor-advised funds and IRA charitable distributions. We encourage you to contact a financial advisor or tax specialist for more information about on the tax benefits of these giving options and other impacts.

Please note that it is strongly recommended that grants from DAFs or IRA charitable distributions are not used to pay event sponsorship pledges. If you do choose to make your sponsorship pledge payment this way, Horton’s Kids can not give you the tickets allocated with the sponsorship.

Event Sponsorship Opportunities

Individual and Corporate donors are invited to become sponsors of Horton’s Kids’ signature fundraising events, Give Thanks and Give Back and Home Runs for Horton’s Kids. Event sponsorships come with an array of benefits and tickets! More information can be found on our events page.

Set Up a Monthly Gift to Horton's Kids

Increase the impact of your donation and become a sustaining supporter of Horton’s Kids by setting up a monthly gift that is processed automatically on the 15th of every month.

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How to Donate by Check

Please make checks payable to “Horton’s Kids, Inc.” and they can be sent by mail to our administrative offices:

Horton’s Kids Inc.
Attn. Caroline Malone
2233 Hunter Pl. SE
Washington, DC 20020

An acknowledgment letter will be sent to donors within 5-7 business days of the check being received at our office. Checks will be deposited within 7 to 10 business days.

Make A Difference Today

With your help, Horton’s Kids can continue to provide essential services and programs to children and families in Wellington Park and Staton Oaks.
Your gift makes an immediate impact on the lives of the families we serve.

Chelsea Eley
Family Engagement Coordinator

Chelsea is our Family Engagement Coordinator. Chelsea holds a BS in early childhood education and family studies from North Carolina A & T State University. She has spent the last 4 years working in both the social service and education field. She believes in approaching youth development from a holistic, individualized lens for each child and family. In her free time, she likes trying new foods, spending time with family, and roller skating.

chelsea@hortonskids.org

Rahaman Kilpatrick
Director of Family Engagement & Advocacy

Rahaman “Kil” Kilpatrick joined the Horton’s Kids staff in August 2012. Kil is originally from Philadelphia, PA and earned his B.A. at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland in telecommunications. Kil has worked with youth in Southeast Washington, DC for more than 20 years & lives in Waldorf, Maryland with his wife, Tanya, and daughter, Naomi. When he’s not working with youth, Rahaman is a music producer, relationship coach, and screenwriter.

rahaman@hortonskids.org

LaToya Hackett
Health & Wellness Program Assistant

Latoya is our health & wellness program assistant. She is a devoted mother to her son and daughter, both Horton’s Kids participants. Her calm and patient personality helps her work with the children during after school meals and programs.

Kaamilah Mitchell
Senior Coordinator of Health & Wellness

Kaamilah is our Sr. Coordinator of Health and Wellness. Prior to joining Horton’s Kids, she worked with various nonprofits in the DC area teaching kids about healthy eating/gardening and writing about the latest nutrition scientific research for the everyday consumer. She oversees our health and basic needs distribution for our students and families, as well as the nutrition and physical activity programming. Kaamilah holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University and a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Nutrition from George Washington University. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and working on her various crochet projects.

kaamilah@hortonskids.org

Meghan McCamis
Director of Health & Wellness

Meghan oversees our mental and physical health and wellness programming and family essentials distributions. Meghan holds a Master of Social Work degree from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in Education from George Mason University. Meghan previously worked as a Project and Content Manager at the Interaction Institute for Social Change, supporting clients in building collaborative capacity around social justice and racial equity. Prior to obtaining her master’s in social work, Meghan spent nearly four years with Horton’s Kids working on our youth development and community engagement teams. She rejoins Horton’s Kids with extensive experience in managing and developing youth and family programs and strives to create opportunities that deepen learning, relationships, and sense of community.

meghan@hortonskids.org

Kevin Franklin
Youth Development Program Assistant

Kevin joined the Horton’s Kids staff as a Program Assistant in 2017. He is also a very engaged father of two current and two former Horton’s Kids participants. Kevin is well-known in the community and has close relationships with many of the children we serve. In addition to working at Horton’s Kids, Kevin works a full-time job in construction and is an avid Washington Commanders fan.

kevin@hortonskids.org

AJ Topps
Elementary Youth Development Coordinator

AJ serves as Horton’s Kids’ Elementary Youth Development Coordinator where he oversees the implementation of enrichment opportunities and SEL curriculum. His previous experience includes serving as an AmeriCorps member at City Year New Hampshire, and more recently as a Youth Development Professional at the Boys and Girls Club in Charlottesville, VA. AJ found his passion for developing SEL skills in youth while studying at the University of Virginia. In his free time, AJ enjoys finding new music, watching documentaries, and most of all playing sports.

aj@hortonskids.org

Tera Bee
Middle School Program Coordinator

Tera serves as the Middle School Coordinator at Horton’s Kids. Prior to working at Horton’s Kids, Tera was a K-3 STEM Teacher for DC Public Charter Schools in Ward 8. As the Middle School Coordinator, Tera will oversee the Middle School Program and ensure program delivery. Tera attended Bowie State, where she studied Psychology.

Ashley Ceron
Senior Manager of Academics

Ashley works as the Senior Manager of Academics for grades K – 8th. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College with a BA in Sociology and received a MAT from Relay Graduate School of Education. For the last 6 years, Ashley taught elementary and middle school students at KIPP DC. She values creating meaningful relationships with students in order to build trust and to cultivate growth. Ashley hails from the Bronx, NY and enjoys trying new restaurants and spending time with family and friends.

ashley@hortonskids.org

Rachael Sheehan
Senior Manager of Academics

Rachael Sheehan works as the Senior Academic Manager. Before her time at Horton’s Kids, she served the Jacksonville community as a City Corps member and then transitioned to being a STEM teacher. She recently graduated from American University with her masters in Education Policy and Leadership.

rachael@hortonskids.org

Joh’nita Johnson
Senior Manager of College & Career Readiness

Joh’nita joined the Horton’s Kids staff in 2016. She currently works as the Senior Manager or College and Career Readiness. She manages all college & career readiness programs including weekly CCR discussion groups, 1:1 CCR Coaching, Summer Youth Employment Program, and the Alumni Assistance Program. She worked in College and Career Readiness for 7 years. She holds a BA in Sociology from UNC-Greensboro and an M.A in Education Administration & Policy from Dakota Wesleyan University. Joh’nita is a Washington, DC native who enjoys cooking, baking, and traveling.

johnita@hortonskids.org

Rayshonna Hill
Director of Youth Programs

Rayshonna Hill is a native of Brooklyn, New York and is the Senior Director of Youth Programs with Horton’s Kids. She holds a BS from Delaware State University, and has spent her career in Washington, D.C. as a youth advocate. She strongly believes that development is only meaningful when young people are given access to opportunities and services to shape their future. She comes with 10 years of experience with DC Public Schools and most recently served as a Site Manager with DC Department of Parks and Recreation. During this time, Rayshonna has strengthened opportunities to engage young people in high-quality enrichment, academic support, and social-emotional development. She has work extensively with the community and stakeholders to create safe spaces for young people to learn and grow. When not at work, Rayshonna spends time playing flag football and has won 7 national championships.

rayshonna@hortonskids.org

Kiana Lee
Volunteer & Partnership Coordinator

Kiana serves as the liaison between volunteers and staff at Horton’s Kids. She oversees volunteer recruitment, retention, training, and creates opportunities for the greater DC community to connect with our organization. Originally from Massachusetts, Kiana graduated from The George Washington University in May 2021 with a B.A. in Organizational Sciences. Previously, she was a Volunteer Coordinator with Jumpstart at GW and has supported program implementation for various nonprofits in DC. Outside of work, Kiana loves spending quality time with friends, making Spotify playlists, and receiving mail.

kiana@hortonskids.org

Claire Levy
Data & Evaluation Specialist

Claire oversees all evaluation work for Horton’s Kids’ academic, youth development and health & basic needs programs. She has over 15 year of experience as a policy analyst with the RAND Corporation, conducting policy analysis and quantitative work. Prior to joining Horton’s Kids she spent 10 years working extensively with several direct service non profits in a volunteer capacity. She enjoys travel and is an avid Nationals fan. Claire has an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a Masters in Economics from Virginia Tech.

claire@hortonskids.org

Melanie Holland-Orr
Director of Program Operations & Quality

Melanie oversees youth development curriculums, programs, and data-driven interventions to support the social and emotional well-being of K-12 Horton’s Kids participants. Prior to joining Horton’s Kids in 2017, Melanie managed lunch-time literacy programs in DC, an after-school program in Brooklyn, NY, and social-emotional curriculum implementation at an after-school program in Charleston, SC. Melanie holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from College of Charleston. In her free time, Melanie loves to read, hike, and go to the movies.

melanie@hortonskids.org

Ellica Church
Senior Director of Individual Giving

Ellica brings nearly two decades of experience in nonprofit development and marketing, journalism and public relations to her role at Horton’s Kids. She joined the development team in March 2022 to help strengthen and expand the network of individual donors engaged with Horton’s Kids.

Ellica has a passion for storytelling and making a difference – philanthropy allows her to do both while building relationships with supporters and the community. She has spent 15 years working with human services, environmental and health advocacy nonprofits to grow their fund development programs and create greater impact. She most recently served as Director of Individual Giving for Goodwill of Greater Washington.

Ellica is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and is excited to join the Horton’s Kids team to build a stronger future for children and families in Southeast DC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. When not at work, Ellica enjoys spending time with family, DIY projects, photography and crafting.

ellica@hortonskids.org

Andrew Hullinger
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

Andrew comes to Horton’s Kids as the next step in a career dedicated to the financial and administrative management of non-profit organizations in the DC-area, with a special affinity for those that serve children, youth, and their families. Most recently, he served as the vice president and chief financial officer at Youth For Understanding USA. Prior to that, he worked for a variety of organizations, including Alexandria City Public Schools, Washington National Cathedral, and Children’s National Hospital, with a particular focus on long-range strategic and financial planning. A Wisconsin native, Andrew has called DC home for over 30 years, having moved here shortly after graduating from UW-Madison with a bachelor’s of science in Industrial Engineering. An urban farmer in his spare time, Andrew maintains several garden plots around town, keeps bees at a local apiary, and tends to a flock of chickens at the neighborhood elementary school. A lover of nature, Andrew delights in finding the extraordinary that hides in the everyday ordinary.

andrew@hortonskids.org

Antwain Franklin
Community Center Facilities Coordinator

Antwain Franklin joined the Horton’s Kids team in 2015, first as a volunteer at the Community Resource Center. As a Program Assistant, he works at both the Community Resource Center and our evening tutoring program. He is truly a favorite of all the children in the neighborhood, and makes sure that every child’s needs are taken care of. He is the father of six children, three of whom are current Horton’s Kids’ participants. Antwain enjoys reading and research in his spare time.

antwain@hortonskids.org

Leigh Player
Chief Development Officer

Leigh is part of the Horton’s Kids executive team, ensuring the success of the organization’s fundraising efforts and cultivating a culture of philanthropy among staff and board. During her 15-year career she has raised more than $40 million for small and mid-sized non-profits with a focus on the environment, education, and public policy. Prior to joining Horton’s Kids in 2021, Leigh worked as a grant writer and strategist for advocacy organizations. Leigh has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Bradley University and is currently studying for her Certified Fund Raising Executive certification.

leigh@hortonskids.org

Erica Ahdoot
Executive Director

Prior to joining Horton’s Kids, Erica served as the Executive Director of the GO Project, an educational nonprofit in New York City serving over 700 children and their families through holistic, comprehensive, year-round programming. During her tenure, the organization doubled in size while expanding programming, partnerships, and even service areas. Prior to that, she worked at Groundwork, where she developed numerous programs to support academic, social, and emotional development of students and families. Erica served as both the Associate Executive Director and Acting Executive Director at Groundwork, successfully managing a founder transition. Erica is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience providing therapy to children and families in a variety of settings.

erica@hortonskids.org

Shandell Richards
Chief Program Officer

Shandell joined Horton’s Kids as the Elementary Program Director in 2018, after seven years of serving as a DC Public School educator and instructional coach. Currently, Shandell is the Chief Program Officer and oversees Horton’s Kids’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, expansion, and other strategic priorities. Shandell holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Lincoln University PA and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Education Policy and Leadership from American University.

shandell@hortonskids.org

Serving families in Southeast, DC for 34 years.

Brad Sickels Director of Communications & Events

Brad Sickels
Director of Communications & Events