Washington Women in Public Relations Announces Community Bridges as 2026-2027 Pro Bono Client
DMV Organization Empowering Girls to Break Cycles of Poverty Through Education Selected from Competitive Field of 34 Applicants
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) today announced Community Bridges as its pro bono client for 2026-2027. The Montgomery County, Maryland-based nonprofit empowers girls from under-resourced communities to become resilient young women who thrive as students, engaged community members, and confident leaders.
Community Bridges was selected from a competitive field of 34 applications following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed organizational capacity, impact potential, and execution readiness. The organization serves girls in grades 4-12 through year-round leadership development, academic support, and college readiness programming, last year achieving a 100% graduation and college enrollment rate for high school seniors.
"Community Bridges has the perfect combination of compelling stories to tell and the infrastructure to implement strategic communications support," said Charmaine Riley, President of WWPR. "They've built an incredible program with proven results, and their mission of transforming the lives of young women through education and leadership development aligns deeply with WWPR's values. We're excited to help them amplify their stories to attract new supporters, strengthen partnerships, and ultimately serve even more young women."
Over the next two years, WWPR volunteer members will provide strategic communications guidance and support to help Community Bridges expand its reach and visibility.
"We are thrilled and honored to be selected as WWPR's pro bono client," said Shannon Babe-Thomas, Executive Director of Community Bridges. "We believe that with WWPR's guidance and expertise, we can expand our reach, strengthen our communications capacity, and inspire broader community engagement. Ultimately, we want to enable more girls and families to benefit from our programs and help elevate the narrative around what's possible for young women from under-resourced communities."
The pro bono partnership model provides comprehensive communications support crafted to meet the goals the client identifies, which may include everything from strategic planning to support with media relations or social media. WWPR members volunteer their time and expertise to build long-term communications capacity within the client organization.
Community Bridges joins a distinguished group of nonprofits WWPR has supported through its pro bono program, including Running Start (2024-2025), New Endeavors by Women (2022-2023), Academy of Hope (2020-2021), Sitar Arts Center (2018-2019), Bright Beginnings Inc. (2015-2017), and others dating back to 2003.
The partnership officially launches this month (January 2026).
About Community Bridges
Community Bridges empowers girls from under-resourced communities to become resilient young women who thrive as students, engaged community members, and confident leaders. Through integrated 4th through 12th grade programs, Community Bridges supports girls and their families living at or below the poverty level in Montgomery County, Maryland, using a holistic, long-term approach that addresses developmental needs and breaks cycles of poverty through education. For more information, visit communitybridges-md.org.
About Washington Women in Public Relations
Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking. For more information about WWPR and its pro bono program, visit wwpr.org.
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