The Ladies of IMANI (not affiliated with The IMANI Temple or any of its affiliations)is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization of professional women from the Baltimore, Virginia and Washington Metropolitan area. Founded by Stacie Lee-Banks in 1989, the Ladies of IMANI mission is to make a positive impact in the Washington Metropolitan area by sponsoring a variety of community based programs.

A major component of the Ladies of IMANI organization is their Scholarship Awards for Excellence. Established in 1990, the primary objective of the program is to reward students who strive for academic excellence, and to encourage these students to pursue their educational goals and aspirations. Each year at least three scholarships are presented to graduating seniors in the Washington Metropolitan area. To date, the Ladies of IMANI have awarded more than $39,000 to area students.

The Ladies of IMANI also sponsor several other initiatives including:

• The School Supply Fund: Since its establishment in the fall of 2001, the Ladies of Imani has donated over $1,500 in new school supplies to students attending public schools in the Washington, DC. Metropolitan area.


• The Big Sisters Program: The Ladies of Imani provides mentorship and guidance to girls in the second through fifth grades of Orr Elementary School located in SE Washington, DC.


• The Harvesting Your Knowledge Program: This program is hosted by the Ladies of Imani to provide DC area children with a safe place to celebrate the fall season and to also promote literacy among our youth. Through contributions made by USA Today's Life Section and The Washington Post Book World Section, over 1,500 new books have been distributed.
  
• Annual Thanksgiving Donation. Each year the Ladies of Imani selects a family in need and donates a full Thanksgiving meal. Through in-kind and monetary donations, the organization has been able to provide Thanksgiving meals to needy families in the Washington, DC area each of the last 16 years.


• Annual Christmas Gift Donation. Each year for the past 16 years, the Ladies of Imani have selected a family in the DC area to receive Christmas gifts. Over the past 3 years we donated gifts through the National Center for Children and Families. To date, we have donated over $2,000 to families at Christmas time.


• Annual LOI Shopping Trip: Each year the Ladies of Imani sponsors an annual shopping trip to raise funds for all our community based activities.

The Ladies of IMANI are also known for their volunteerism and consistency. For the last fifteen years, once a month members have prepared food for the needy at Martha's Table. The Ladies of IMANI have also provided mentorship and guidance to girls in the second through fifth grades, through their Big Sisters Program at Orr Elementary School.

The Ladies of IMANI have received numerous citations and awards. They include:

• 2004 Volunteers of the Year Award - National Center for Children and Family


• 2003 Volunteer Award - National Center for Children and Family


• 2003 & 1994 - Washington Post Recognition


• 2003 - Orr Elementary School Volunteer Award


• 2002 - Abe Pollin Community Service Award


• 2002 - Salute to Volunteers Award - DCPS


• 1997 through 2000 - Martha's Table Certificate of Appreciation


• 1996 - Washington, DC Board of Education Ward 7 Citation


• 1993 - Washington Association of Black Journalist Community Service Award


• 1992 - The Pittsburgher's of Washington, DC Community Service Award

For more information, send e-mail to Ladiesofimani@ladiesofimani.org or call 202-466-1624.