We have continued to rise to the challenges faced by underserved communities in the local area. Our dedicated team has persevered through the pandemic in running high-quality youth development programs, fighting food insecurity, and providing emergency response resources.

Today, your support is more important than ever! The pandemic has exponentially increased the need for the services and resources So What Else provides, all while rising costs have made our efforts significantly more challenging. We need your help to keep up the work of this amazing organization.

Bring your family and friends for a night of music, and fun, and enjoy a variety of food trucks powered by Curbside Kitchen.

This year's Palooza provides various opportunities to support So What Else and promote your company. Sponsorship levels are detailed here. For more information on sponsorships or any questions please contact Bob Schless via email at robert@robertjosephgroup.com or via phone at 301-980-6181.

Ticket sales and more details to come!

We need sponsors and volunteers to help us achieve a meaningful, safe, and fun day of recreation for hundreds of our summer camp students! This is our biggest annual event for children — and it’s provided all for free!

Support the event and make a lasting impact on local students from low-income communities. To see sponsorship levels click here and click on the REGISTER button at the top left.

To sign up to volunteer email swevolunteer@gmail.com

Start your new year with making an impact!

Time: 10:00 AM 2:00 PM

Location 1: Rockville Housing - 1201 First Street, Rockville, MD 20850

Location 2: The Wingate - 4660 Martin Luther King Junior Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20032

Location 3: Cedar Heights - 1528 Butler Street SE, Washington, DC 20020

Help So What Else beautify the learning spaces and grounds at one our youth program locations —Rockville Housing, The Wingate or Cedar Heights.

Volunteers will help paint, organize, and clean the indoor learning spaces and basic gardening and clean-up of surrounding outdoor areas. We will provide tools and onsite guidance. In case of inclement weather, only the interior work will be performed.

Please contact swevolunteer@gmail.com with any questions or to confirm individual or group sign-up.

Wellness Day is an event for friends and family of the Washington View complex to learn about healthy living, in mind and body!

Volunteers are needed to help with staffing stations, aiding visitors, and assisting organizing staff with set-up and break down tasks.

The program will include:

• 30 minute guided workout

• Free giveaways

• Healthy snacks

• Two youth yoga sessions

• Literacy Block with Ladybug the Librarian

Play Golf For a Good Cause 

Mark your calendar to “play it forward” by taking part in the 5th Annual SWE/Mamma Lucia Golf Tournament at Norbeck Country Club on October 12, 2021.  There will breakfast, lunch, and prizes for all who participate.

Thanks to our wonderful 2020 sponsors and players, the tournament raised nearly $30,000 last year.  With the ever-increasing need for food security and accessible youth programming, we are counting on meeting - and beating - that target again. 

Please save the date and plan to join us on October 12th for a fun day of friendly competition, delicious food, and more.

Can't Make It?

Sponsorship and donation opportunities available for those who cannot join us! You can still help make a difference by supporting So What Else.

Checks can be mailed to:

1 Preserve Parkway Suite 150, Rockville MD 20850

You're invited to the 2021 So What Else Gala & Palooza!

Join us for a Day of Service with the Youth Service Institute! We are seeking volunteers to help us clean up our communities across Maryland and DC.

Volunteers will help pick up trash and tidy up the areas nearby. Make sure to bring closed-toed shoes and wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty - this opportunity will be fully outside. 

Sign up for each event below at the SignUpGenius links!

Day of Service Locations:

Friendship Court (4700 S. Capitol St SE, Washington DC):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-friendship

Ketcham Elementary School (1919 15th St. SE, Washington DC):

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-ketcham

MLK Jr. Elementary School (2931 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Washington DC): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-mlkjr

Oxon Hill (4420 Wheeler Rd, Oxon Hill, MD): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-oxon

Pedestal Gardens (325 McMechen St. Baltimore, MD): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-pedestal

Rockville Housing (1201 First St. Rockville, MD): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-rockville

Wingate (4680 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SW, Washington DC): 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca8a82ca5fa7-wingate

Volunteers will supervise the cash register and assist customers with their requests. SSL hours available. Volunteers must be ages 16+ and responsible!

Shift hours are flexible, ideally 4-8 hours in length.

Volunteers will receive an all-day access pass to the event, as well as food and beverage vouchers, for each day that they volunteer. 

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to signup!

Volunteers will supervise the cash register and assist customers with their requests. SSL hours available. Volunteers must be ages 16+ and responsible!

Shift hours are flexible, ideally 4-8 hours in length.

Volunteers will receive an all-day access pass to the event, as well as food and beverage vouchers, for each day that they volunteer. 

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to signup!

Volunteers will supervise the cash register and assist customers with their requests. SSL hours available. Volunteers must be ages 16+ and responsible!

Shift hours are flexible, ideally 4-8 hours in length.

Volunteers will receive an all-day access pass to the event, as well as food and beverage vouchers, for each day that they volunteer. 

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to signup!

We are in need of volunteers to support our friends at Bike to the Beach! Bike to the Beach is a community of people who combine biking, purpose, and fun to inspire individuals to overcome obstacles through personal challenge and to inspire the larger community to raise funds and awareness for Autism, the most prevalent developmental disability in the world.

Volunteers must be ages 16+ and physically fit.

Available Shifts:

1. DC Starting Line:

   • 3:45 a.m. - 5:30 a.m.

   • Location: Union Market - 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC, 20002

   • For this shift, volunteers will aid teams at the start line, set up/clean up tables and tents.

2. Annapolis, MD:

   • 6:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

   • Location: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium - 2163 Defense Hwy, Crofton, MD 21114

   • Volunteers will tag bikers to divert them to different transfer buses and load and bikes onto buses.

3. Centerville, MD:

   • 7:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

   • Location: Queen Anne’s High School - 125 Ruthsburg Rd, Centreville, MD 21617

   • Volunteers will unload bikes from buses.

4. Finish Line:

   • 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (hours flexible)

   • Location: The Lions Club of Dewey Beach - 115 McKinley St, Dewey Beach, DE 19971

   • Volunteers will set up/take down tables and tents, mark all finishing teams and help shuttle participants back to Georgetown, DE.

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to sign-up!

We are in need of volunteers to support our friends at Bike to the Beach! Bike to the Beach is a community of people who combine biking, purpose, and fun to inspire individuals to overcome obstacles through personal challenge and to inspire the larger community to raise funds and awareness for Autism, the most prevalent developmental disability in the world.

For this shift, volunteers will be organizing packets with gear and materials for each bike team, hand out packets during pick-up slots. Volunteers should be ages 16+ and physically fit.

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to sign-up!

We are in need of volunteers to support our friends at Bike to the Beach! Bike to the Beach is a community of people who combine biking, purpose, and fun to inspire individuals to overcome obstacles through personal challenge and to inspire the larger community to raise funds and awareness for Autism, the most prevalent developmental disability in the world.

For this shift, volunteers will be organizing packets with gear and materials for each bike team, hand out packets during pick-up slots. Volunteers should be ages 16+ and physically fit.

Contact Amanda Li at swevolunteer@gmail.com or call (202)515-8897 to sign-up!