Short Film Highlights the Work of Horton's Kids in Ward 8

An Emmy-nominated filmmaker's new short documentary film will show others what many Georgetowners already knew: Horton's Kids is changing lives in DC's Ward 8. The non-profit provides tutoring and support services to 565 children and 125 families who live east of the Anacostia River.

There are kids living in the District who do not have a promise of three meals a day or new clothes and backpacks each school year. Horton's Kids meets those needs and has volunteers and staff to provide emotional and educational support as well. 

Before Henry Corra, whose films have appeared on HBO, SHOWTIME, LOGO, CBS, MTV, BRAVO, PBS and VH1, decided to step in to tell the story of Horton's Kids, Janine Schoonover was raising funds and organizing events to support the non-profit.

Schoonover is a Georgetown Business Association Board officer and a partner in JSW Group, which owns several businesses in the neighborhood.

When she learned about the non-profit and the very real need in Ward 8, Shoonover told Patch that she thought, "That is absolutely so sad. And here we are the nation’s capital an international city to the world. And in the shadow of the Capitol we have kids going to bed starving."

Last year she helped organize a fundraiser at the , inviting many of her friends and colleagues from Georgetown to attend and support Horton's kids.

“The services provided by Horton’s Kids take commitment, passion, and volunteers. More importantly, it takes money – to buy the food, for transportation, to pay utility bills and rent. We are currently serving 40 percent more kids with a budget that is operating 15 percent below last year. There’s still a lot of work to be done for these kids,” said Horton’s Kids Executive Director Brenda Chamberlain in a press release.

The film highlights several children who have benefitted from the non-profit and lets them tell the story of how their lives are different from those led by children who live just a bus ride away.

Karin Walser founded Horton’s Kids 23 years ago when she was a Capitol Hill staffer. It started with her and a few friends tutoring children in the halls of the Capitol and taking them on outings to explore opportunities beyond their neighborhood.

“I’ve always been very uncomfortable with the idea that in the face of great richness there is also extreme poverty,” states Walser in the film.

Schoonover, herself a mother, recently saw the film at a fundraiser for the non-profit.

"It was compelling and it shows how these children in Ward 8 are hungry to have a firm foundation underneath them, so they can strive to have the same opporotunities, goals and success that many of us take for granted."

To learn more about Horton's Kids, watch the film that accompanies this story and visit their website to make a donation or to sign up to volunteer at http://www.hortonskids.org/.