Thousands Walk on the National Mall to Help the Homeless

More than ten thousand participated in the 24th and final Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon on the National Mall in Washington, DC. on Nov. 19, 2011. The Help the Homeless program, comprised of education, volunteerism, community walks and the Walkathon on the National Mall, is the nation’s largest effort to increase awareness around preventing and ending homelessness. The Washington area has more than 12,000 homeless – more than 40 percent of which are families, 25 percent are children. The walk is designed to raise awareness and funds for Washington, DC area organizations that are working to prevent and end homelessness, with an emphasis on programs that help homeless people return to independent living. Beneficiaries of the walk will be the 97 organizations that are focused on the needs of the homeless community. Fannie Mae President and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Williams, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, (D-DC) and DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D) were on hand to kick off the 5K event. Fannie Mae plans to promote neighborhood marches in cities including Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, saying that decentralizing it will more efficiently raise money.

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