Click to see photos from the reception honoring the 2010 Exponent Award recipients.
The 2010 Meyer Foundation Exponent Award winners are featured in The Washington Post.
About Scott Schenkelberg
Executive Director, Miriam's Kitchen
Scott Schenkelberg is the Executive Director of Miriam's Kitchen. He is responsible for managing all administrative, financial, and programmatic aspects of Miriam's Kitchen. Scott has over 15 years of nonprofit management experience. Before joining Miriam's Kitchen, Scott was Bread for the City's Development Director and before that he was Resource Coordinator at So Others Might Eat for three years.
Throughout his eight-year tenure at Miriam's, Scott has strategically helped to manage Miriam's Kitchen's programmatic growth. In 2002, when Scott became Executive Director of Miriam's Kitchen, Miriam's had two programs: a Breakfast Program and a limited Case Management Program. The two programs served 2,000 homeless men and women each year, with an average of 140 guests served each day. The programs were operated by six full-time staff members and one part-time staff member. Today, Miriam's Kitchen serves more than 4,000 homeless men and women each year, and an average of 300 guests each day. Miriam's now has four programs: a Meals Program that provides breakfast and dinner five days a week, a robust Case Management Program, a Wednesday Cafe program, and a Miriam's Studio Program which provides therapeutic group activities to some of DC's most vulnerable men and women.
Scott's capstone achievement to date, however, has been the opening of Miriam's Evening Program in January 2010. Despite economic uncertainty, Scott worked diligently to ensure an opening of the first program of its kind in DC, regardless of the larger economic picture. Scott led early solicitation efforts to ensure that Miriam's had adequate resources to initially launch the ambitious $600,000 program expansion. The staff has grown to 15 full-time employees and three part-time employees, with impressive retention rates. Scott's ability to hire and retain the right staff members is one of his most important leadership skills.
Miriam Kitchen's commitment to quality is also reflected in recent accolades including Best Place to Volunteer in DC (2009), Finalist for the Mayor's Arts Award for Innovation in the Arts in 2009 and 2010, and a visit by First Lady Michelle Obama in March 2009. In addition, Miriam's Kitchen was the only nonprofit to be recognized as a "2009 Best Place to Work" and "2010 Best Place to Work" by the Washington Business Journal. Scott is also a tremendous fundraiser. In the eight years Scott has been Executive Director, Miriam's has experienced a 423 percent growth in revenue.
He holds a BA from Grinnell College and, in keeping with his Midwestern roots, enjoys a good bratwurst and fresh corn on the cob. He is also endlessly fascinated by his sons Jack and Alex.
Key Accomplishments
Scott Schenkelberg
Executive Director, Miriam's Kitchen
Service Area: District of Columbia
Miriam's Kitchen was founded in 1983 by a collaboration of the George Washington University's Hillel Student Association, Western Presbyterian Church, and United Church in response to an urgent need for services for the homeless in DC. It provides individualized services through its core programs: meals, case management, Miriam's Studio, and Miriam's Café.
The organization, under Scott's leadership, has seen eight years of solid growth.
Case management services have grown to include mental health services.
Miriam's Studio offers art therapy, creative writing, yoga, and knitting to clients.
Miriam's Kitchen serves 4,000 homeless men and women each year and an average of 300 guests a day.
The organization expanded its services in the midst of the economic downturn, offering dinner and other support services.
Scott has demonstrated the ability to hire—and retain—strong staff.
The organization has been recognized as one of the best places to work by Washington Business Journal in 2009.
