Ward 8 Nonprofit is Recognized

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CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misspelled the name of Mila Kofman, the executive director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority.

The Acee: The Firm Foundation, based in Ward 8 in Southeast Washington, has been recognized for its work in helping struggling men, women and children and families cope with the challenges of everyday life.

The foundation’s co-founders, Gwyneth and Jermaine Brown, were honored at the Power Up for Success: 2024 DC Small Business Summit and Expo’s luncheon that took place on April 30 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest. The Browns received the Small Business Non-Profit Business of the Year Award.

At the luncheon, the Browns were introduced to the luncheon participants by Mila Kofman, the executive director of the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority.

“When we heard we won the award, we were excited,” said Gwyneth, 39. “I was wondering how did these people know what we were doing? People see what we are doing and want to do more. We do need more financial resources because we are a small nonprofit with a big heart.”

A troubling incident precipitated Gwyneth to start Acee. She observed a mother slap her young son hard in public and screamed at him to “get up.”

“I said to myself, who did not teach that was not the way to treat a child,” she said. “I thought about how can I help women like that be better to their families.”

Acee focuses on spiritual, personal, professional, educational and community development. It sponsors programs such as theatre productions (Jermaine is an actor), motivational seminars, financial literacy sessions and health and wellness.

The Browns don’t have a brick-and-mortar location but have worked extensively out of the Community of Hope Church of the Nazarene for its programming. Gwyneth said spiritual beliefs guide their work.

“1 Corinthians 3:11 says ‘for no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus,’” she said. “We want to do things to help the community. We welcome any support that anyone wants to give us.”