Mary's Center

I have been a patient for 10 years - a DC resident for 25 - and have had amazing care - both medical and dental - through Mary's Center. I have watched their organization grow and evolve. The doctors and nurses are competent and curtious. The desk and appointment staff and systems are top notch. There is high demand and need for these healthcare services in our community - and we citizens do deserve this care. I will do whatever I can to support Mary's Center as it faces some serious challenges in this current political climate with with leadership that wants to undermine social programs.

I've been writing fundraising copy for Mary's Center for about 6 months. As a writer, sometimes I have to divorce myself from the task: find the words, even if they are not close to my heart. That isn't the case with Mary's Center. Everything they stand for, everything they do, the clear passion the staff have for the mission, the clear impact they have in the community, make it so easy to lend my talents. The staff are easy to work with and for, the assignments are clear, and the scope of work well-defined, but Mary's Center isn't simply a copywriting client. They're an investment of my time and attention. I'm grateful to be able to assist in their success.

It has been a privilege to work with Mary's Center as a technology partner. Their staff's professionalism is second to none and their mission is so crucial, especially in these times when access to quality healthcare and social services are as important as ever.

The mission tells the story - providing healthcare, education and social services in communities that need them so badly. The bonus is that management supports the employees in fulfilling that mission; they encourage creativity and passion at all levels within the organization. The result - seeing the relief and thanks on the faces of those who have been helped - brings a deep meaning to one's work.

Mary's Center has been providing outstanding and vital health care and social services to the DC metro area community for decades. As a neighbor to and volunteer with Mary's Center, I have had the pleasure of meeting many of the staff as well as clients. The people who work at Mary's Center are experienced professionals with big hearts, and are committed to making their clients' lives better, through not only excellent and culturally competent healthcare, but also dental and mental health services, programs for teens and seniors, and community outreach and education. My children and I are also patients of Mary's Center, which accepts private insurance as well. The doctors at both the Adams Morgan and Georgia Avenue facilities we have seen have all be very good.

I worked with Mary's Center as an intern and it was a wonderful experience. Not only is the staff considerate and kind, but the work they do is extraordinarily helpful for so many people. I have seen first hand the work that goes into Mary's Center's mission to help others and it is truly inspiring.

Having had the privilege of working at Mary’s Center, I can attest to the impact this organization has on the DC and Maryland communities. It is always clear that the dedication and passion of Mary’s Center's employees is at the core of the work. Each team member goes above and beyond to deliver critical services and support to those in need. Mary’s Center is actively trying to serve those who walk through the doors, but also push for more support and positive change in the community.

This past summer, I had the exciting opportunity to work with Mary's Center as their Philanthropy Intern under the Development/Fundraising Department. This internship taught me a great deal about moves management, about nonprofit development from the ground up, and about the intricacies required of grant writing to successfully secure funding. While I was entirely virtual this summer, I never felt that the team left me out of any decisions or conversations, and my voice was always considered when my supervisors were deciding which projects to assign to me. Additionally, I greatly appreciated the work life balance of this internship; there was never any expectation from anyone that I work past the set 16hrs/week. Also, the entire team continuously gave me reassurance and showed me gratitude for the work that I was doing which made me feel very valued and respected! Overall, working at Mary's Center has been an absolute pleasure; the work that this FQHC partakes in remains incredible and inspiring for many generations to come!

Over the summer, I have had the pleasure of interning at Mary’s Center with the Marketing and Communications team. It has been a delightful experience that has expanded my knowledge of how Federally Qualified Health Centers operate and the vast array of services that Mary’s Center provides to its participants. The work environment is friendly and welcoming to new employees and interns, and an effort is made to get to know everyone and support them. Everyone truly cares about what they do, and this is reflected in the high quality of work produced. Focusing on more than just healthcare, including social services and education, shows they understand the importance of the comprehensive services they offer.

Soy paciente de Mary’s Center desde hace 36 años. Me atendí la primera vez en el basement de Columbia Road, el personal fue muy atento y dedicado. Tuve mi primer hijo saludable gracias a mi doctora de ese entonces que me ayudó y me brindó el apoyo que necesitaba porque el idioma para mi era una barrera. Ella hablaba español. Soy testigo de como Mary’s Center ha crecido y sigue apoyando y brindando sus servicios a la comunidad. No tengo dudas se que mi familia y yo estamos en muy buenas manos. Gracias Mary’s Center por cuidar a mi familia.

As a contractor working with the Mary's Center development (fundraising) team, I have been so impressed with my experience. The team is incredibly hard-working, knowledgeable, welcoming, and open. In meetings with funders, it's clear that Mary's Center's reputation is unmatched—their work and results continually wow supporters and community members. Everyone I've met holds the health, wellbeing, and care of the community close to their heart, and this shows through their innovative programs and their ability to serve tens of thousands of participants each year. I'm grateful to be a part of this work!!

I have been a patient of Mary's Center for several years now. Not only do I receive excellent health care, I feel relaxed and cared-for from the minute I walk through the door. Everybody I meet at Mary's Center is focused on making sure that the patient has what they need. Diverse language access, toys and books for the little ones while they wait, friendly smiles, efficient service, helpful referrals and world-class health care for everybody are all just part of the daily operation of a place built on a foundation of caring by Maria Gomez. Hear her story and feel the caring in the house she built and you'll realize that you don't need to go anywhere else for health care.

As a former employee of Mary's Center, I had a wonderful experience with hardworking coworkers who were passionate about the work. I was also so impressed to see the impact that Mary's Center had on the community and their commitment to approaching health holistically.

I am so grateful for the internship experience I had working with the Development Department at Mary’s Center this past summer! All of the staff I connected with were welcoming, supportive, knowledgeable, and above all: kind. Mary’s Center is home to passionate educators, doctors, administrators, maintenance staff, donors, volunteers, board members—and the ripple effect of their unwavering commitment to mission driven work led me to be a passionate intern.

Throughout my role as an intern, I contributed to a number of different projects and events led by the Development Team (as well as the Grants, Individual Giving, and Corporate Partners Teams). From database management, donation processing, and prospect research to preparing correspondence for corporate partnerships, donors, and potential donors. I also had the opportunity to participate in community tabling events and corporate service days, which really allowed me see the positive impact that Mary’s Center has in it’s local DC and MD communities.

From my time spent interning here, it is clear that the participants and the local community are the first concern and top priority of Mary’s Center. The strong partnerships they have with a number of corporations (Deloitte, Capital One, P&G, United Healthcare, etc.) allow them to achieve great success in meeting the needs of the people they serve, furthering their reach with every service day and tabling event.

I would gladly welcome another opportunity to work with Mary’s Center in the future (which I hope is the case!). I would also like to thank Lauren Shutler (MC’s community engagement officer) for welcoming me onto the Development Team for the summer and making this internship such a great experience for me!

Me gustó mucho ser voluntaria en Mary's Center y agradezco que me haya abierto sus puertas para poder así ayudar a la comunidad, como por ejemplo guiar a los pacientes en cómo registrarse en el Portal, conocer al equipo, el cual todos están conformados por personas muy dedicadas con su trabajo y buena vibra, siempre con una sonrisa. Feliz también de haber realizado shadowing con la Dra. Blinkhorn y la Dra.Marquez, lindas personas y muy profesionales, siempre atentas con sus pacientes.
Gracias Mary's Center!

This past summer I was matched to intern at Mary's Center. I worked with the Marketing and Communications team. I fell in love with the staff and the organizations' mission. They go above and beyond to make sure information and services are accessible to those who need them most. I helped the team produce Spanish language communication material, but they also dedicated time to making sure their website and printed communication material was available in as many languages as possible. I visited 3 of their locations and was astonished at how much help one can receive in the same building. There were doctor's offices, dentists, nutritionists, counselors, labs, classrooms, a pharmacy, and a WIC office! As someone who does not reside in the DMV area, I really hope a community center like this is someday implemented in every state. I know my own parents would benefit from a Mary's Center. I also was able to attend their Silver Spring location anniversary; where local politicians and Maryland's senators gave thanks to Mary's Center. I couldn't believe the statistics and great impact that single location had in Montgomery County and more happy to hear that they acknowledged Mary's Center and were willing to support their work! Mary's Center is the perfect example of mission-driven work. Every single day they strive to help meet the needs of their participants- regardless of their ability to pay, racial and ethnic background, citizenship, and language. They are truly changing lives and making their communities stronger.

Our Girl Scout troop has worked with Mary's Center for a number of years and each interaction has been very positive. The staff has thoughtfully and generously involved the troop in its community outreach, which the girls thoroughly enjoy. The troop appreciates all that Mary's Center does for our community and is proud to be of service.

I worked for Mary’s Center for 6.5 years and had a great experience working alongside collaborative and supportive colleagues to do mission driven work. I continue to donate to the organization because of the great work they do to support the DC community.

Mary's Center does extraordinary work for the community in facilitating access to quality health care. As a donor, they hit the sweet spot of providing enough information for a donor to understand how our contributions are used without overloading the donor. Similarly, in terms of gently nudging donors to continue with our support. It really is a pleasure to partner with this outstanding organization.

I have worked with Mary's Center as a volunteer for over 10 years and they are a fantastic organization. Staff members are responsive and caring and hard working. Every winter I organize a new coat drive for children of Mary's Center clients. It requires a lot of work on their end for the social workers to determine specific children in need and meet with parents to determine the exact coat size that child will need for the winter. When they provide the information to me, I can get donors to buy a coat for a specific child gender/size so that we know each one will be a perfect fit. This is such a small part of the great programs that Mary's Center has to help its clients but they always make it a priority. I truly appreciate all they do.

Mary’s center is a great nonprofit. I love the fact that they accept everyone regardless if they can pay or not. They offer medical services, mental health services, social services as well as education. It’s also a great place to intern at. I learned a lot of different things that will definitely carry me throughout life.

As a monthly donor, former employee, and dental patient, I have experienced Mary's Center from multiple perspectives and have nothing less than high praise for this organization. Both the passion and dedication to patient care come through in every employee. Even after 30 years, an entrepreneurial spirit exists in their commitment to seek out new partnerships and opportunities to care for the evolving needs of DC and MD's most vulnerable communities. Additionally as a donor, despite my small-sized gifts, Mary's Center goes out of its way to make me feel like an important part of the philanthropic community and that my gifts may a difference in the lives of the people they serve.

Mary’s Center excels in both its service to patients and it’s impact through its social change model! I’ve been a patient of Mary’s Center dental services for more 8 years and have always received the best service. I consistently refer them to others because of the quality of care I receive as a patient. As a Board member for 6 years, I also understand that Mary’s Center provides so much more than direct patient care; that their focus on complete family care (that includes mental health, senior services, job access and housing access) is the key to the successful outcomes they have achieved in the Washington community.

I’ve had the distinct honor and privilege to serve on Mary’s Center’s Board of Directors for 3 terms (6 years). Mary’s Center provides comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, behavioral health, educational, and social services to families of diverse ethnic, social and financial backgrounds, and I’ve experienced firsthand how the work of its dedicated staff of professionals have positively impacted communities they serve and changed lives for the better.

Clay Harris

I love Mary’s Center! The staff always go above and beyond to make sure the community, families and children are well served. They are well organized and I have a great experience when I visit. I recommend Mary’s Center to all my friends and family.

Mary's Center is an exceptional organization with bright, hardworking staff members who care so deeply about the communities they serve. As an employee for 2.5 years, I saw firsthand how Mary's Center truly values its people - both staff and participants - by treating everyone inside and out with the utmost respect and compassion. I am excited to continue supporting Mary's Center as a donor so that I can help even more families gain access to their high-quality, comprehensive services that build better futures for generations.

I love Mary's Center's people and mission. I have worked with Mary's Center on and off for over 10 years. I started initially as an Outreach Worker, then left to go to graduate school and came back years later as a Volunteer and Donor, and now continue to collaborate as a Contractor/Advisor to Mary's Center leadership. What keeps me coming back to Mary's Center is the people -- passionate, hard working, caring and dedicated to Mary's Center's mission to provide high-quality healthcare, education, and social services for our community. I love Mary's Center integrative approach towards health. The staff at Mary's Center truly believe and act in accordance to the Social Change Model of health where every part of the individual is considered important for an individual's success. Mary Center's leadership is dedicated to serving their community and to do that consider their staff's and participants physical, mental and social health. This is truly an exceptional organization that goes beyond the traditional health models to really care for families and communities needs as a whole.

I work at a private foundation and we have partnered with Mary's Center in various capacities over the years. One memorable project was focused on outreach for the 2020 Census. Mary's Center recognized their unique and valuable position in the community as a trusted source of information, and created a robust and multifaceted strategy to ensure that their clients got counted. When the pandemic hit, Mary's Center pivoted quickly and creatively to continue their outreach despite a myriad of challenges. They achieved amazing outcomes - reaching more than 200,000 individuals through their Census 2020 outreach. This was truly an "all hands on deck" project, and Mary's Center played a pivotal role in reaching members of the community with limited English proficiency, a key demographic for census outreach. This is just one example of the incredible impact that Mary's Center has in our community.

I have worked with Mary Center's Senior Nutrition program for over a year. My primary role has been to phone program participants and, using a survey guide, ask them for feedback on the program, learn more about their lifestyle and capacities and share information with them on related programs. Quite often, the seniors request information on additional Mary Center and other programs. I have been very impressed with my supervisor, Caroline Casey, and her colleagues as they followup within 24 hours to answer their questions about food stamps, housing assistance, legal support, clothing availability and more. This turns the Senior Nutrition program into a key connection for seniors, not only providing a twice/month food basket but also connecting them to many other valuable programs.

I have know Mary's Center for decades. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer working at The Women's Collective in Washington, D.C., in the early 2000s, I knew Mary's Center was a safe haven to refer women and families from DC and around the globe for their health needs. Since then, the services for individuals and families have continued to improve and expand- from healthcare to social change. Since becoming a professor of nursing, grounded in community/public health, I have had colleagues in leadership and multiple students in practical rotations at Mary's Center - every single one has raved about their experience and been able to realize strong contributions to Mary's Center's mission. The DC region is so fortunate to have this organization.

I like everything that Mary Center do for all community. It’s a hard work to serve a hounders of people of different cultures and languages. It’s a big responsibility that why I decided to collaborate with them to do this feedback. I feel grateful for been part to this community. My experience through all this 18 years I’ve been a patient of Mary Center it has very good. Also, I understand that to the extent that they have grown and that the needs have grown, the service to patients has seen some need to improve due to the demand they receive from people with multiple needs. On most occasions I have received excellent attention and friendly treatment. During the pandemic is where a bit of a deficiency in customer service has been seen. But I think it is understandable since this phenomenon hit all the institutions and even more so the health centers. What they are doing with this project of wanting to know our opinion, says that they want to improve and give us a better service. Telephone consultations are very good. In my personal case, I have needed a consultation in person, which I have not had yet, but I understand that my situation is not as serious as some other people, perhaps they need that consultation more than me. My husband has already received a consultation in person and he told me that the attention was very good and they have done all the necessary exams that he needed. My mother, who is in her 60s, tells me that she prefers to receive the consultation in person, she does not like it over the phone. My sister-in-law tells me that she also likes the consultation in person more and that she has not yet been able to receive it. In these last two years, what I have observed is the need for more medical and health personnel in general to attend to so many people. I hope that Mary Center reach the goals and continue to improve more and more to help more people with their health needs and others such as English classes, for young people and many more. My observation is that they can reach more needs in the community and for that, they could create information and awareness campaigns for the community where they seek to project the interest that Mary Center has towards people and make them see the hard work that they carry out day by day. , is not easy. Create more programs for youth where we can take advantage of the talents, abilities, energy and time of the youth of the community creating opportunities for them to get involved in serving their community and thus receive extra help for the services that Mary Center offers.

Over the past few years, I have had the honor of learning about and seeing the wonderful folks at Mary's Center in action, as they continue to provide Medical, Behavioral Health, Dental, Social Services, and Educational services to families all across the Washington, D.C metro area.

These services are now more important than ever, with the pandemic-induced challenges of the past 18+ months.

Mary’s Center has changed the life of so many people regardless of their age, income or immigration status. We partnered together in 2013 and have been very grateful to work with such an incredible organization that cares for the most fragile population, with such a high quality of service.
Their staff are great employees to work with, being very collaborative and supportive.
We hope our partnership can continue well into the future.

In our cancer organization, ACS, we can speak to Mary’s Center’s commitment to provide the essential cancer prevention and early detection education and referrals to participants due for cancer screenings. We have partnered with Mary’s Center for many years in the provision of funding and/or technical assistance, as they implement evidenced-based interventions to increase breast and colorectal cancer screenings and uptake of the HPV vaccine in adolescents.

Mary's Center is a committed and compassionate community partner. They are always willing to think 'outside of the box' to create and implement needed and wanted programming in the community in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. They put their clients and program participants at the center of their work. We are always excited to partner with Mary's Center!

My wife and I have known the services at Mary's Center for more than 30 years. Now with programs for newcomers, women, and adolescents that address their medical, social, emotional, and educational needs, the diverse and competent staff are totally committed to the needs of the greater Washington area under the leadership of their founder, Maria Gomes.

I have been doing work for FQHCS across the country for 17 years. Mary's Center is very special place that deeply cares about their patients. They provide so many valuable services to the Community...making them much more than just a "doctors office" I would highly recommend anyone to become a patient, or a donor to Mary's Center.

Mary's Center has been a pillar of the DMV area for health care, early childhood development, and social initiatives. I thoroughly enjoy volunteering my time personally to assist them in their mission.

Every time that I drive by Mary's Center (almost daily) I notice their parking lot is full. This was especially true during the coronavirus pandemic, when Mary's Center was actively serving members of our community most impacted by the virus. Health care is a human right for all people, regardless of income or immigration status. My wife and I support Mary's Center because their important work improves the quality of life for all of our neighbors!

This summer, I worked with Mary's Center as their Communications Intern. The Communications team was collaborative, enthusiastic, creative, hard-working, and welcoming. While I was the youngest team member with the least amount of experience, I consistently felt included and appreciated. The whole team acted as role models for me, demonstrating strong leadership and explaining many lessons along the way. I felt excited and grateful going to work each day, knowing that I was assisting Mary's Center with their abundantly meaningful mission.

There is no greater nonprofit in the greater DC area for positively impacting our city, particularly for those who need it most. From healthcare to housing, Mary's Center provides services that help grow the city and our surrounding communities. It's not talking about the problems, Mary's Center is solving them.

Mary's Center is superlative in every way. Not only do they deliver high quality health care to underserved and underrepresented individuals and families, they do so, always, with a focus on personal dignity and respect. Mary's Center's relentless attention to the whole person sets them apart, their innovative and ingenuity-based approach to community health makes them wholly unique. If I was located in DC, I would make Mary's Center my medical and dental home. When I challenge myself professionally to dare to attack the nation's most pernicious, persistent, and intractable problems - I think of Mary's Center. They are the ideal partner, collaborator, instigator, innovator, and doer. Long story short, they are special. Open your hearts, open your checkbooks - Mary's Center is a FQHC, a movement really, to invest in, stand back, and watch the world change. Changemakers all, through and through. I believe in investing in high-performing and impactful organizations with a visionary leader(s), that's why I invest in Mary's Center.

I've been interning for Mary's Center for several months now, and it has been a very rewarding experience. The working environment is very collaborative and supportive. Not to mention, everyone is passionate about their work and committed to ensuring they are contributing to the nonprofit's mission statement to provide high-quality healthcare, education, and social services to all, with an emphasis on underserved communities.

We have been privileged to be donors to Mary's Center for some 20 years. A friend we met up with at a Fourth of July parade first told us about the Center and the volunteer work she was doing there. That started us on the road to continuing support for the great work done by Mary's Center and its approach to providing services and meeting needs of participants. As donors, we are very pleased to be kept informed by the Center about events and needs and are happy we can share indirectly in the services it offers to members of the community.

I have worked with Mary's Center on a project connecting community health centers to Covid-19 relief. Everyone I've interacted with at Mary's Center is exceedingly kind, competent and a pleasure to work with. Mary's Center is crucial lifeline to so many people in DC and it's been wonderful being involved in a small part of that.

I discovered Mary's Center years ago when I was looking for an organization that would help me to give back to the community where I live. Mary's Center has an unwavering commitment to improving the health and well-being of everyone in the community, especially groups that are most in need and often neglected. It provides its clients with the highest quality of care, treating them with dignity and compassion. I've been impressed with the way it approaches challenges with flexibility and creativity. We are fortunate to have Mary's Center as part of the community.

Mary's Center is the type of place that every community needs to thrive -- one focused on inclusion and ensuring those in need get all the help they need, whether it be health care, financial support, help navigating government programs, education, child care, etc. The vibrancy of my neighborhood would be nothing without Mary's Center. I am a proud donor to Mary's Center and wish every neighborhood could have a similar organization.

We've worked with Mary's Center for several years on a Fellowship program, and they have been awesome! The Fellows we've placed there have had wonderful experiences. It's a great work environment. The staff is welcoming and supportive and the work they do is very meaningful. Mary's Center plays a critical role in the Greater Washington community, especially now during COVID-19. Their integrated approach to health helps ensure that families get the care they need to live happy, health, productive lives. We love Mary's Center and feel so lucky to call them a partner!!

Mary’s Center is very near and dear to my heart because of the work the organization does to deliver healthcare along with other services to the most vulnerable folks in our community regardless of their ability to pay. As someone in the healthcare industry, I recognize the challenges that exist within the system and I am fortunate to know that there are organizations like Mary’s Center dedicated to improving access to healthcare. I am truly motivated and energized by Mary’s Center’s mission and vision.

Mary's Center impacts the lives of its participants in a total and complete approach to healthcare. If you haven't already experienced their dental offices, you should schedule your appointment today to begin care. You will be impressed with their modern and very clean facilities staffed with the kindest team members and talented doctors. And you will also be educated on how overall health begins with exceptional oral health!

I saw a therapist for about two years at Mary’s Center, Petworth. It was free with my insurance but I would have stayed with Spencer even if I had to pay. She was a great help as I went thru some trying times (work and life related). She listened, didn’t judge, and offered helpful ways of facing my issues. At one point she thanked me for teaching her some things she didn’t know about. We had an excellent connection. Overall, I am pleased with the service I received.

Marry's center has saved my life. I am from Syria, and I have arrived to the USA three years ago with nothing but hope. it has been so hard to pay for health insurance. I was about to lose my hope, the only thing was left for me to hold on, but finding Mary's Center has showed me that hope is still there. Since arriving in the US Mary's Center has been very welcoming for me and my husband. We found the support we needed there. People there are amazing and very supportive. I hope one day I can be financially stable to pay back to this awesome community. Thank you Mary's Center for everything.

After having a few rough years, I found myself broke, no job and no health benefits. Thank goodness for Medicaid m I picked my sub insurance carrier that would maintain me on my newfound insurance. I was assigned a Dr's office and told I had to get a physical within 60days or lose my benefits. Well my assigned Dr Office was Mary's Center.. was confused at first thinking I'm probably the only guy patient cause this was probably am OB/GYN office. Since I had to go, I scheduled the appt and wen to Mary's Center. Every health care worker there from the receptionist to the nurses to all the Dr's. Everyone made me feel calm and also welcome in my new medicine home. I went from " what kinda crazy kinda office is too to thank goodness I was assigned to this office. After my first appt I was already made to feel like one of the Mary's Center family . I'm grateful for being sent there and grateful I'm allowed to keep the center as my primary doctors office. I have never seen more friendly caring genuine people. Thank you Mary's Center- Your the Greatest!!

As a volunteer at Mary's Center, I am always so amazed by the community that I was able to be a part of every week. Everyone seemed to know everyone in the Pentworth location and truly cared about one another. The work that they are doing is mission-focused and driven and their mission is evident in everything that they do. In my many years of experience in healthcare settings, I have not seen any other place like it.

The Mary’s Center staff works hard and really cares about helping people holistically. They offer a variety of helpful services with care to exactly those who need it. I’m glad that they are part of my community!

Mary’s Center has done an outstanding job in serving the most vulnerable in Washington DC. They have been especially agile and responsive during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have been hyper-focused on providing quality healthcare and social services to the populations who have been the most adversely affected.

We've been working with Marys Center now for over a year and its been an awesome experience. Their social change model and ethic is really quite unique and they have been providing high-quality healthcare, education, and social services to build better futures in the communities they serve for 30 years! We've helped them re-articulate their purpose, re-brand and design new collateral, marketing materials, signage and even their annual report to engage new members of the community and unlock more funding. They really do put care at the core of the community.

My name is Ken DeMarco with Miller's Supplies and I started a working partnership with Mary's Center about 18 months ago. I have had the opportunity to work with almost every department in one capacity or another and have enjoyed their openness, professionalism, friendliness and goal oriented approach to providing the highest level of healthcare and social services to the surrounding community. Being their partner has opened my eyes to what's important in life, and that's to dedicate your time and efforts to helping those in need!

Ken

I’ve volunteered d with Mary’s Center in the past and its a great organization that does valuable work for the community.

I was an intern for Mary’s Center during my final year of my bachelor degree. I am originally from the Netherlands but Mary’s Center immediately made me feel at home when I started working there. I was fortunate enough to be a part of some amazing events like the annual Christmas Holiday Event which gave me a great understanding of what Mary’s Center does and means to the community. I mainly worked with the Communications, Marketing and Development team who have all been so kind and supportive in my learning process at Mary’s Center. What I loved most about working there was how everyone was so committed and passionate about the work they do. I have also had the pleasure of meeting staff members from other locations in some of the projects I was a part of who also treated me with the same kindness and support as the location I worked at. This made for a very pleasant and unforgettable time here.
I remember a specific instance where I got sick over the weekend from food poisoning and everyone from my colleagues to the clinical staff made sure I was take care off. I was able to go to the clinic, get a recipe, pick up medication (at a location close to my house) all in the same afternoon!

Whether I was there working as an intern, volunteering during the holidays or treated as a patient, Mary’s Center was always devoted to making sure that I was comfortable and a part of the team. All in all, I really loved my time living in D.C. mainly because of Mary’s Center and I would recommend this organization as a health center and/or workplace to anyone!

I have volunteered at the Mary's Center gala the past two years. It has always been an eye-opening experience. I have also worked with other community health centers that look to Mary's Center as an example. Keep up the good work!

I absolutely love Mary's Center. My three children are in the pediatric practice there and we have always been impressed with the attentive and reliable care that they receive. Mary's Center also offers an amazing array of services -- medical, dental, behavioral and more -- to everyone who needs it, regardless of ability to pay. They play an incredibly important role in helping residents of the DC area access vital services. And they are wonderful community partners -- always eager to team up, co-program and share space with anyone who is helping to advance their mission of communal care. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

Throughout high school, I volunteered at Mary's Center for three years and my experience with this non-profit organization has been so special. I've never come across an organization with such a tight-knit community; each and every staff member exhibits true kindness, compassion, and devotion to Mary's Center and its patients. I've been lucky to experience, first-hand, all of the hard work and dedication that's put into making each community member feel safe, cared for, and welcomed with open arms.

One of my favorite memories from my time at Mary's Center was helping coordinate a program called “Cooking Matters," which educated families on the importance of eating healthy through interactive cooking classes. Each week, families would come to the Mary's Center kitchen, where they would all help prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal. While preparing the meal, nutritionists from Mary's Center would explain the nutritional benefits of each ingredient in an effort to promote healthy eating habits. At the end of the session, each family was given a bag filled with the ingredients needed to complete the recipe, so that they could make it at home! So much thought and detail (like providing games and coloring books for the children brought to Cooking Matters) went into this program, and it truly incapsulates the love Mary's Center has for its community members.

Mary's Center is a remarkable organization -- filled with compassionate staff members and intricate programs -- that cares deeply for its community.

Was beyond excited to donate money to Mary's Center. Their work is so important to the community and the quality of it is superb. Will be donating to them again in the future.

My experience as a Mary's Center Intern was amazing and definitely eye-opening. Not only did the staff at Mary's Center make me feel like a part of the team, but I also learned so much about the empowering and important work that they are doing for the community. I was amazed by how hands-on and dedicated Mary's Center is when it comes to creating programs and events that will directly benefit the participants. I couldn't have asked for a better internship experience.

I am a psychiatric nurse practitioner that was visiting Washington DC. Frankly, I was feeling more than a little disenchanted with my current role. I had dreams that I would someday be able to work within a clinic/setting that meshed my love of children, family, and health in a collaborative dynamic. A woman that I met, and shared with me Mary's Center's brief story...told me I should just go look at it. From the moment I was let in the door by the smiling front door man (who I chatted with about Philly, was welcoming, friendly, also aware of security!) to the wonderful woman who gave me hand outs on the background of the Center, to the children laughing and playing, it was WONDERFUL! Huge kudos to the entire organization on G street, you all have knocked it out of the park. I have never understood why, especially for our mental health patients, we make things challenging...when simply coming to an appointment can be like climbing a mountain.

This is an amazing organization. I am a former employee, a volunteer and was a customer. This organization has heart and helps the community and helps women asnd families to thrive. They are mission driven and against all odds, with Maria Gomez leadership and an amazing team of loyal people, they make a difference.

I have know of the good work of Mary's Center for a long time, mainly because a fellow parent worked there. I volunteered for the first time with Mary's Center this year. I enjoyed my experience tutoring students at Briya Public Charter School. Sincerely, Ming Lowe

I am the summer 2018 communications intern for Mary's Center. I have gotten to work with many people at Mary's Center, and it has been a wonderful, enriching experience. Everyone at Mary's Center is not only kind but is also highly skilled. Also, I have gotten to meet many people from the CEO to the doctors who work at Mary's Center, and they are all very passionate about their work and committed to helping participants improve their lives. I have had the opportunity to interview some beneficiaries of Mary's Center's services, including Teen Program participants who wouldn't have been able to go to college without Mary's Center's support in applying for scholarships. I have also interviewed some young people who are getting valuable work experience from Mary's Center this summer. This is truly an exceptional organization that is committed to developing people and I would recommend it to everyone, whether they would be a patient, an intern,etc

As a previous intern for Mary's Center, I was able to experience and contribute to their inclusive and involved culture. They strive to wrap their caring arms around their community in a way that makes Mary's Center feel like home. They do so much with the little that they have. I am grateful to have worked with such a nonprofit.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Mary's Center for its friendly customer service and its professionally staffed Georgia Avenue facility. I am one of Mary's Center's dental care customers and I can candidly state that I am always treated courteously, promptly and with the utmost respect during all my dental visits at Mary's Center. Not only are adults treated courteously and respectfully, I constantly witness young people, including toddlers, being treated warmly, kindly and gently at Mary's Center. While visiting the dentist is not my favorite pastime, entering Mary's Center always motivates me to begin my day in a positive frame of mind. I am also a member of the Bernice Fonteneau Senior Wellness Center, located at 3531 Georgia Avenue NW. Mary's Center is the managing agent of the BFSWC. The staff at the BFSWC is also customer friendly in terms of treating BFSWC members, who range from 60-96 years of age, with compassion and kindness. From my point of view, Mary's Center is the leader in customer service throughout the DC metropolitan area. And other non-profits could learn a thing or two or three, by observing Mary's Center's fantastic customer service culture.

Clarence "Buddy" Moore

I was fortunate to find Mary's Center, not only as the place that provided excellent health care to my family and me, but also because it became my workplace for many years. As an immigrant Mary's Center opened the doors for me to continue my professional career and personal growth. In addition it gave me the opportunity to connect with very valuable people. For all this I'm very grateful to Mary's Center.

This institution provides various opportunities which are accessible for the youth. These opportunities comes in forms of community service/volunteer, team-building or support groups, medical and health access, organization referrals, college admission and tour assistance. It also helps that they have several offices around the metro area. And I am glad that my child has access to these opportunities provided by Mary's Center.

I worked there for ten years and I learned a lot, my heart will always be with Mary's Center. I' m also a patient and the services are exceptional.

Mary's Center is a true embodiment of empathy-driven care. As a former employee, I was inspired on a daily basis by the incredible dedication of staff and leadership to impact individual lives, and create tangible change in our communities. I am honored to have worked in an environment where the oft-forgotten values of fundamental human kindness and respect for all beings are internalized beyond the surface level. Mary’s Center supported my personal and professional growth in ways far more than I could have ever imagined. I was encouraged to follow my passions, challenge myself, and enhance my career in meaningful ways. Mary’s Center is simply a powerhouse. Till date I have not witnessed any other organization that parallels its ability to affect change on such a multitude of issues, both an individual and large-scale societal level. Each program recognizes the intersectionality of various social issues that affect us all, and works tirelessly to address them in a culturally humble manner. The concept of a “one-stop shop” for medical, education, and social services addressed through Mary’s Center's social change model is evident in each program, the extensive nature of of inter-departamental care coordination is what makes these programs so effective for each patient that walks through the doors. I am proud to have been a Mary’s Center employee, and sincerely hope that it will continue to thrive and flourish, and reach even greater success.

It gives me great pride to say that I have been an active volunteer at Mary’s Center for over 20-years. My affiliation began as a college student in the 1990’s seeking a volunteer opportunity in the Latino community. Years later my professional trajectory allowed me to support Mary’s Center in different capacities – from facilitating focus groups to conducting training for staff and students.

I believe in the Center’s mission, commitment to community, and vision. As a longtime donor, I am delighted to see Mary’s Center continue to grow in ways that holistically serve our community.

I participated in the teen program from a young age and really received the help and assistance needed by Mary's Center. I am currently the first and only member of my family to attend college. I am originally from El Salvador and came to this country when I was only a Freshman in High School. I did not think college was an option for me until the staff in the teen program guided me through all my options and possibilities. I was able to pick the path that was best for me and my family, both in terms of where I would be happy as well as what was financially possible for me. I am grateful for those who gave me the choice to attend college and guided me through the applications, financial aid and scholarships that are now all the reasons why I am getting a secondary education.

In 1994 my entire family arrived to the USA, at that time my six siblings and I became patients of Mary's Center. I was extremely happy with how well the doctors, nurses and teen program took care of us. This wonderful experience helped me understand the career I wanted to proceed and when I graduated High School, I decided to go to nursing school at Michigan State university. Thank you Mary's Center for making a huge impact in my life!

I have been a participant, volunteer, and intern for Mary's Center since I was 14 years old. I have always come back for the summer and during the school year. Even now that I am in college. I was part of their Teen Program from freshman year in high school, till senor year. My mom passed freshman year of high school and apart from all the immediate and immense support I received from school, the support from the Teen Program was unimaginable. I received so much support from the social worker's and coordinators, who gave me motivation and a space to be me and explore my future. They also made sure I understood that I did have a future, not matter what my background was or what I was going through. They made sure all the teens in the program had help and resources at their disposal. Especially support. Now I am one of the volunteers at the teen program and being that person that gives support to teens and make sure they have what they need to succeed. Whether it be with motivation or just someone to look up too. Mary's Center Teen Program has helped me so much and I love that I am able to give back!

We are a local family with a toddler who has benefited immensely from the care that is provided at Mary's Center. The medical care itself is just as good as and in some cases better than the care we received at our previous large-scale pediatrics practice. But what really sets Mary's Center apart is how logistically easy they make managing our child's care.

1. Blood-draws in-house: A huge plus for us is that they can do blood-draws at the same location, and you can easily schedule walk-ins for services like blood-draws or vaccinations.
2. The 24-hour line to make appointments is amazing. No need to call during business hours and no need to wait on hold.
3. I have dropped off medical forms for my child for completion and been called to pick them up later that day with no extra charge.
4. Our pediatrician is so kind about our emailing as-needed about non-urgent or administrative matters.

So far we have only had our son's healthcare at Mary's Center but we plan to move both of our adult primary care services there too!

I first came to Mary's Center in May 2017 as their Communications Intern. As a rising senior, I was seeking an experience that would rise above the years of internships that neither fulfilled my need for community engagement nor tapped into my skills and potential for input. Not only has Mary's Center been my unforgettable and formative experience that I've heard my mentors speak about having had at the beginning of their careers, but it is a place that I see myself working in the future as well. Not only am I engaged, but I am needed, appreciated, fulfilled, and happy with the work I do every day. Everyone at Mary's Center is here because we care about a common mission, the development of our community through culturally competent health care, education, and social services. I study public health and international affairs and focus on the social implications and determinants of chronic infectious disease. Previously, my experience was largely abroad working with public health teams in resource deprived clinics to design interventions addressing the social determinants of health and well-being. I thought that getting that close to a community and engaging with their cultural understanding of well-being and health would be impossible to recreate in the domestic public health space until I found Mary's Center. The diversity of our participants, communities, programs, staff, and goals creates a dynamic and vibrant work environment that is always moving, changing, and growing. Every week I meet inspiring individuals with careers that I didn't previously know about and now aspire towards. I have never doubted that I am supported and that my supervisors are invested in my career development. I value so highly the collaborative and interactive community that we have at Mary's Center and I truly feel there is no better organization I could spend this last academic year and the beginning of my career with.

I came to Mary's Center in 2006, to be on the after school teen program, since them I was in love with all their services they provide to the community. In the beggining I was quiet person, but Mary's center help me to descover my real me. I became a outspoken person, getting involved all kind social services for my community, cover all fields (health, social, and education) after I graduate from High School they help me find scholardship for college and some more. After I found out I was pregnant with my first baby they help with a lot source ( Prenatal care, WIC, Car Seat, Safety sleep) and finally after having my baby I was aviable to Breastfeed my baby boy for one complete year, that's when I meet WIC director she offer me a job, and I became be part of the big family of Mary's Center after 16 years being an actibe patient. In the end of this month I have one year working with Pregnant moms and children from 0-5 years. Mary's Center is not only a clinic is everything. Anyone could find a sercives may help them. From a baby throuhg early pregnancy until a senior citizen, anyone will be feel welcome to this place.

About 18 months ago, I started going to the dental practice at Mary's Center. Ever since, I've felt that my oral health is in good hands. The dentists, technicians, hygienists, and all the staff are skilled, professional, helpful, and friendly. The practice has state-of-the-art equipment. It's easy to make appointments. The health care is excellent.

Mary's Center is a fantastic organization. My whole family has benefited from their medical and educational services. The staff is courteous and attentive. The doctors are caring, respectful, and they take time to go through all your options with you. My children and my husband feel appreciated and well cared for. We have seen many immigrants become successful thanks to the advice, support and services Mary Center provides. It s a great organization that does very good work for families here in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Mireille C. W.

Since first stepping foot at Mary's Center in 2014, I haven't looked back. I spent my summer as a Communications intern and have continued to volunteer.

What isn't there to love about this nonprofit? From its history, to its mission, and from its employees to its participants, every aspect of Mary's Center provides anyone and everyone involved with opportunities to grow.

I know that once I complete my undergraduate studies, Mary's Center will be one of the workplaces I will apply to.

To anyone looking to get involved, I highly recommend their Thanksgiving and Christmas events.

As a former Mary's Center's staff, I can assure that the focus of the whole leadership is to provide the best health service to its patients. At Mary's Center, besides the fact that I had the best work experience of my life, I also had the most opportunity to grow on my career, and give fully back to the community.
I recommend you to try the services at Mary's Center. You will be heard by the staff, and have the opportunity to experience their professionalism, dedication, and knowledge.

The care at Mary's Center far exceeds our experiences at two downtown pediatric practices. Wait times are far shorter. Care is much better. Hours are more flexible. Plus, it is in the neighborhood and more convenient to our kids' daytime drop-offs. We have recommended it to all of our friends and all who have tried it, like us, have switched practices.

Thank you Mary's Center!
Jon Pogach

We tried two downtown D.C. pediatric practices for our kids ages 2 and 4 before coming to Mary's Center. From our first visit at Mary's Center, we were amazed at the dramatic improvement in every part of our experience.

First, Mary's Center is much more efficient. At private practices we would wait as long as an hour to be seen and, sometimes we couldn't even get an appointment when one of our kids was sick. At Mary's Center, we rarely have to wait, we always get in when our kid has a cold or the flu, and we can make an appointment 24/7.

In addition to the efficiency, the quality of care is so much better. We are Dr. Schroeder's biggest fans. She responds to emails, she always fits us in when one of our kids are sick, and she takes so much time to get to know the kids and us. She never rushes through an appointment. The children love her and are excited to see her. She shares her own experience with us as a mother of three and we look to her as a guide in our early years of parenting. When Dr. Schroeder isn't available, the other doctors and nurses have been great too.

We were so happy with the pediatric care, we both switched over to Mary's Center for our primary care. Being able to see a doctor on a Saturday - amazing!

We would recommend Mary's Center to anyone and we do - many of our friends have started to come based on our recommendations.

Mary's Center has helped me in so many ways. Academically as well as socially. They helped mr intergrate myself to the New culture through the teen program and supported me academically . I'm currently an intern and I'm enjoying doing different tasks that will earn me different experiences and make me a more rounded individual .

Mary's Center has helped my family and I for many years. From giving us WIC, to dental and medical help. They also helped us with English classes, to summer jobs. I have gotten a lot of support and have made many connections. For the past 3 years I have been volunteering with different parts of Mary's Center. This year I was able to volunteer with the communications and advocacy. Which is great for me because I want to study communications in college.

As an intern, I have had a great experience with Mary's Center. The organization does such a fantastic job serving its patients and bringing smiles to their faces. It is beautiful to see the range of generations Mary's Center is able to help and affect. By interviewing patients about their experience with Mary's Center, I have seen the important impact Mary's Center has on the Washington D.C. community. I am honored to be a part of this wonderful organization.

We support Mary's Center Reach Out and Ready program.

The medical professionals teach the parents, teach the children how to read and then provide them with a book to take home.

Promoting literacy helps to break the chain of poverty.

Terrible Service. I am very disappointed with their service. If you have medical insurance, this is not the place for you. This is mostly for people who got their health care through Medicare or other social programs

Terrible Servicio. Si tienes seguro medico, este no es un lugar para ti. Me parece que no saben como ayudarte si no tienes una tarjeta de Medicare u otro programa social. Gente muy desagradable y majadera. Te tratan como si les pidieras su servicios gratis...

I was a patient at in the health clinic at Mary's Center two years ago and I am currently a patient in the dental clinic. My experience at the health clinic was better than I've had at private doctors' offices; they were able to see me promptly and the nurse practitioner called me to follow up. I fet like she really cared about my health and well-being. The dental clinic is top-notch with advanced equipment and excellent clinicians. As a board member, I am continually impressed by this organization and what they are able to do for patients and the community. They do so much with limited resources. The staff is dynamic and committed and is constantly finding ways to serve the community's needs.

I have been a patient at Mary's Center since I was 14 yrs old. When I first started going to Mary's Center I was enrolled in the teen program and "graduated" from that program. I am now 28 yrs old and I am still a patient there because I know that when I go there I will be treated with respect and utmost customer service. Mary's Center has helped me through my toughest times and has helped me grow into the the person I am today. Because of all the different resources available I was able to get all the help that I have needed in the past, in the present, and most likely in the future. I have Mary's Center staff to THANK for helping me in so many ways. THANK YOU MARY'S CENTER!!!

I began volunteering with Mary's Center about a year ago and I can't say enough good things about this wonderful organization. I love the holistic approach that Mary's Center uses to address the many needs of our community. They treat their patients and volunteers with kindness and dignity, and it is evident that the staff truly loves what they are doing.

During my winter break I decided to apply to volunteer at Mary's Center. In the past my mom had used the services that this clinc provides for Hispanics. I wanted to give back because Mary's Center helped my mom when we didn't have healthcare. I'm also considering a career in the health profession and I wanted to see it wasa fit for me and Mary's Center was a great place to experience it. I love that they are dedicated into helping not only hispanics but others diverse group. I thought I wanted to a dentist, but not I'm considering public health because of Mary's Center.

Mary's Center is a valuable and indispensable asset for the DC community. The staff are professional and courteous, the leadership is committed to helping local families and volunteers are appreciated.

Everyone with whom I've interacted there has been exceptionally friendly and helpful. My volunteer work at the Teen Center is personally gratifying, and the entire team is a joy to work with. From the beginning, they've embraced me as part of the Mary's Center Family, and this has meant alot to me. DC is fortunate to have Mary's Center!

Mary's center is absolutely essential to public health in the Metro DC area. When families are healthy, they can go to school and work and live to their fullest potential

I was lucky enough to volunteer with Mary's Center in a variety of roles and many different departments. I was able to do work with Development, Advocacy and Communications, and Operations as well as being able to work a few events as well. You will never meet a person at Mary's Center that isn't one of the nicest people you have ever met. They make your contributions feel like you have truely made a differnce and appreciate any amount of time you put into the organization.

I am fortunate to be an Ambassador for Mary's Center. Ambassadors are volunteers who are available to help Mary's Center staff and their clients. I am happy to assist with the baby showers they give for new moms. We have gone into different business venues to educate about Mary's Center and the work they do. From the founder of Mary's Center, Maria Gomez, to all the many accomplished staff, I am impressed by their energy and commitment to serving the community.

My second bad experience with Mary's center. The office is really dirty and unorganized. Another patients paperwork was left in front of me when I was lead into the exam room after a hour + wait. I guess they haven't heard of HIPAA. They aren't very helpful and every person you talk to tells you something different which is more than frustrating. Don't go I wish I hadn't given them a second chance. DC AND SILVER SPRING LOCATIONS.

I tired to volunteer with this organization repeatedly and found them very disorganized and unprofessional. They lost my information several times, invited me in once and couldn't meet with me when I got there and would not return phone calls. They seem really overwhelmed and need to pay more attention to those that are trying to help them.

The staff at Mary's Center does their very best to welcome everyone who walks through the doors with open arms and a great attitude. There is a wide range of services provided, and the organization continues to grow.

On summer break from my teaching at Georgetown University, I decided I wanted to volunteer at a nonprofit whose work really matters to me. I got lucky. I found Mary's Center for Maternal & Child Care, Inc. I've started working on communications with that organization, and it is a wonderful group. I have spent time in the clinics, photographing the staff as they attend to infants and children, and I see the very caring way in which the clients are regarded. I visited a dental clinic yesterday, again with the camera, and the dentist was so kind, so cheerful and reassuring to the children whose teeth he was examining. I am proud to be a volunteer at Mary's Center. I see that they are making a HUGE difference in the lives of so many people living in Washington, D.C. At at a time when the economy is ravaged, and people are losing health care, and we are generally worried about our future, it is reassuring to see that a non-profit like Mary's can be such a source of comfort, health and security. And something else: they are in so many ways, a family to the newly arrived immigrants in the community, I too am a newcomer to DC, and I'm living at a distance from family and friends. I too have been welcomed with open arms by Maria Gomez and her amazing staff. And I am grateful, and so happy that I can do a few things to help this wonderful cause!

This review was collected by the Mary's Center staff through an offline spanish language review form and translated/inputted by a GreatNonprofits intern.

This review was collected by the Mary's Center staff through an offline review form and inputted by a GreatNonprofits intern.