Israel Manor, Inc. empowers the Washington, D.C., community

Israel Manor, Inc. (IMI) is a nonprofit organization that provides services to disadvantaged DC residents with support from Praxis Mutual Funds^®, a fund family of Everence^®. Offering everything from early childhood care to counseling and financial training, IMI has become a staple within the Washington, D.C., community. IMI strives to empower every resident with the resources they need to achieve their full potential.

One of their most significant community development projects, the Reverend Dr. Morris L. Shearin Sr. Community Life Center, is a 42,000 square foot facility that provides everything from comprehensive and accessible health care to a community gathering place. It also houses fitness machines, recreational areas and cultural programs. IMI has also developed affordable senior housing close to public transportation and shops. IMI also provides early childhood education to some of the most disadvantaged residents in the area.

The Child Development Center gives children a head-start 

The Child Development Center at Israel Baptist Church is located within D.C.’s Fifth Ward. In this neighborhood, over 20% of children live below the poverty level, and about 14% of adults never received their high school diploma.

Children in low-income families are significantly less likely to attend preschool than their peers from higher-income backgrounds. Without pre-kindergarten education, children tend to have a more difficult time learning new academic and social skills.

Israel Baptist Church is trying to combat these statistics with its early childhood education programs. By employing a supportive and qualified staff, the Center is able to provide DC children with the best possible foundation for the continuation of their academic careers.

95% of the students at the Child Development Center receive subsidized tuition from the DC government. The program focuses on teaching all major disciplines that kids need to do well in elementary school, including cognitive, spatial, language, and social skills. With the essential skills learned at the Center, Fifth Ward children can go to school feeling confident.

Praxis Mutual Funds supports organizations such as Israel Manor, Inc. through investments in Calvert Impact Capital, an impact-investing institution that helps people around the world through community development financing. It's part of the Praxis commitment to place approximately 1% of each of its funds to benefit neighborhoods and individuals through community development investments.