Support includes more than 40 holiday community events hosted by Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s Foundation and teams
Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2025) – The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation (MSEF) is celebrating another impactful Season of Giving, supporting neighbors across the Washington, D.C. region with nearly $200,000 in direct support, essentials, gifts, meals, and family resources throughout the holiday season. Holiday giving efforts extended across the full Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) enterprise, with the Capitals, Wizards, Mystics and Capital City Go-Go teaming up with MSEF to host more than 40 community events in November and December – doubling the number of holiday giving events held in 2024.
“Giving back is at the heart of who we are at MSE,” said Elizabeth Pace, President & Executive Director of MSEF. “Our Season of Giving unites our athletes, staff, fans, and partners to uplift communities and spread joy during a time when support matters most. We’re proud to deepen our impact each year and continue investing in the people and organizations that help strengthen the DMV.”
MSEF’s holiday giving has included:
Food Security Grants: Throughout the season, MSEF awarded $100,000 in grants to DMV nonprofits supporting food access programs that serve nearly 48,000 residents across the region.
Arena Food Drives: MSEF coordinated food drives during select Capitals and Wizards home games in November, with fans donating more than 1,300 items for DC nonprofits fighting food insecurity.
Thankful Meals: Ahead of Thanksgiving, MSEF donated $26,300 in Giant gift cards that were distributed to families in Wards 7 and 8 by MSE partners, players and staff.
Bread for the City Holiday Helpings: MSEF contributed a $25,000 grant to support Bread for the City’s Holiday Helpings program, which provided culturally inclusive holiday meal kits to more than 1,000 individuals.
READY Center Holiday Partnership: Monumental Basketball and MSEF partnered with the Department of Corrections’ READY Center to provide presents for 450 children of incarcerated parents, with Wizards players, Mystics players, G-Wiz, Pax, and Wizards Dancers distributing the gifts at a holiday celebration.
These initiatives add to the robust community impact programming each of MSE’s teams and their players have hosted throughout the holiday season. Highlights include:
Wizards
See full information on the Wizards’ Season of Giving here.
Holiday Visits: On December 8, Wizards players spread out across the DMV, making surprise appearances at Smothers Elementary and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to share holiday cheer with giveaways and meet-and-greets.
Tre Johnson Turkey Giveaway: Before Thanksgiving, MSEF and Tre Johnson partnered with DC Food Project to distribute 100 turkeys, sides, and holiday items to families at MLK Elementary School.
Gift Giving with T.A.P.S.: Anthony Gill welcomed TAPS families to Capital One Arena in early December for a courtside pregame experience and a private reception featuring food, music, and personalized gifts.
AJ Johnson Holiday Cheer Giveaway: AJ Johnson visited Walmart on Riggs Road NE in December to surprise families with free holiday gifts and meals.
Holiday Hearts Initiative: Tre Johnson partnered with Hearts of Empowerment in mid-December to deliver gifts, meals, and essential items to families at Matthews Memorial Terrace.
Bub Carrington Christmas Giving: Bub Carrington donated funds to help local families with medical expenses and, together with his family, will host two Christmas giving events in Baltimore.
GWUL Rent Assistance Game: During a Wizards home game, Marvin Bagley, Justin Champagnie, and CJ McCollum surprised Greater Washington Urban League–supported households with more than $70,000 in rent relief.
Wizards Toy Drive: Proceeds from the MSEF 50/50 Raffle at Wizards home games benefited Toys for Tots, supporting the distribution of toys, books, and essential items to children in need.
Christmas Hospital Visits: CJ McCollum visited the MedStar Georgetown NICU dressed as Santa to deliver gifts and photos, while Alex Sarr visited MedStar NRH to distribute Wizards gear to pediatric and rehabilitation patients.
Khris Middleton’s “12 Days of Khrismas”: For 12 days in December, Khris Middleton led a multi-day giving initiative featuring holiday giveaways, programming and donations supporting Monument Academy, Bread for the City, 136 Big Brothers Big Sisters, House of Ruth mothers, and more.
Capitals
Caps Care Toy Drive: The Capitals hosted their annual toy drive to collect toys for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program, which was also supported by MSEF’s 50/50 raffle at the Dec. 7 Capital home game.
Holiday Hospital Visit: On Dec. 19, Capitals players John Carlson, Brandon Duhaime, Connor McMichael, and Trevor van Riemsdyk will bring holiday cheer and goodies to youth patients at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Caps Wives Ronald McDonald House Visit: Capitals players’ and coaches’ wives and girlfriends visited Ronald McDonald House of Greater Washington in Northern Virginia in December, preparing a meal for families and leading holiday-themed ornament making and cookie decorating. Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virgina is part of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, D.C.
Future Caps Learn to Play Holiday Skate: Capitals players Anthony Beauvillier, Hendrix Lapierre, Aliaksei Protas, and Justin Sourdif joined first-time skaters ages 5-9 for a holiday Learn to Play sessionwith free equipment, instruction, and certified coaching.
Turning Point Center Partnership: MSEF and the Capitals supported families at the Salvation Army’s Turning Point Center by providing holiday gifts for all 16 enrolled families, who will attend the Dec. 23 Capitals game in a suite to receive presents and participate in meet-and-greets.
Mystics
Mystics at DC Central Kitchen: Mystics players Alysha Clark and Jacy Sheldon volunteered at DC Central Kitchen, where they packaged fruit for the Healthy Corners program, supporting fresh food distribution to 50+ corner stores in underserved communities.
Holiday Service Project: Alongside 50 fans, Mystics players assembled 1,000 snack bags and 500 hygiene kits for So Others Might Eat (SOME), and also facilitated a drive-through clothing donation.
The robust slate of holiday giving initiatives builds on MSEF’s most impactful season of community service yet in 2024-25, which saw more than $3.1 million donated to DC-area community organizations. To learn more about the Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation and find out how to get involved, visit www.monumentalfoundation.org.
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About Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation
The Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation is committed to making the region a better place for all by supporting game-changing solutions for our community. We fundraise, provide grants to nonprofits and rally Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s teams and fans to support and amplify the impact of community change agents. Together, we’re raising the game in the DMV.
