Announcing our Hope Blossoms 2026 Honorees!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 17, 2026 | Contact: Ellen Toups etoups@stanns.org; 301-559-5500 x187

ST. ANN’S WILL HONOR ROTARY CLUB OF COLLEGE PARK, MD & ST. ANSELM’S ABBEY SCHOOL

Organizations will be recognized for their positive impacts on St. Ann’s Center at Hope Blossoms gala

Washington, D.C. – Sister Nancy Downing, CEO of St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth & Families, announced today that two organizations – the Rotary Club of College Park, MD and St. Anselm’s Abbey School – will be honored during St. Ann’s Center’s Hope Blossoms event on Wednesday, May 13, at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, MD.

The Rotary Club of College Park will be honored with the Mary McGrory Advocacy Award. This annual award recognizes individuals who accompany, support and uplift those at the margins – including the mothers and their children who live at St. Ann's Center.

“We are so pleased to recognize the Rotary Club of College Park for their outstanding commitment 
to the families at St. Ann’s Center – especially their support of our playground renovation project,” 
Sister Nancy said. “This gift will positively impact the many families who live at St. Ann’s Center, as well as the families who count on our Child Care Center.”

Event Date and Time: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Event Location: Columbia Country Club, Chevy Chase, MD
Event Chairs: Eric, Kyle, and Thomas Heidenberger

St. Anselm’s Abbey School will receive the Michele Heidenberger Volunteer Award in recognition 
of the school’s contributions through volunteer service over decades. This award is named for beloved 
St. Ann’s Center volunteer Michele Heidenberger † (1949-2001), who devoted years of her life to caring for children at St. Ann’s – a tradition the St. Anselm’s community and student body proudly continue. 

Michele, an American Airlines flight attendant, perished during the events of September 11. 
Eric, Kyle, and Thomas Heidenberger will co-chair this year’s Hope Blossoms event in honor of 
Michele and her brother-in-law Steve Heidenberger † (1955-2020), who also volunteered in numerous capacities over many years with St. Ann’s Center.

St. Ann’s Center for Children, Youth & Families is one of the longest continuously serving social service agencies in the Washington, D.C. area. Founded by the Daughters of Charity in 1860, today St. Ann’s Center helps mothers and children overcome crisis and achieve lasting independence and stability by providing a safe and supportive home, child care, education and employment assistance, and clinical social work services within a Catholic community that welcomes all.
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St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth & Families | 4901 Eastern Avenue, Hyattsville MD 20782
Phone: 301-559-5500 | stanns.org | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

Hope Blossoms 2026
Tickets & Sponsorships - Click Here!

For highlights from Hope Blossoms 2025, click here: https://www.cathstan.org/local/st-anns-center-honors-michael-steele-order-of-malta-at-hope-blossoms-gala

About St. Ann's Center

St. Ann’s Center helps mothers and children overcome crisis and achieve lasting independence and stability by providing a safe and supportive home, child care, education and employment assistance, and clinical social work services within a Catholic community that welcomes all.