Calvary Women’s Services to Honor Dee Martin with 2026 Hope Award at Hope Gala
Contact: Lauren Etti, Communications Manager
Calvary Women’s Services
letti@calvaryservices.org | (202) 678-2341
Dee Martin at the 2018 Hope Gala.
WASHINGTON, DC — March 26, 2026 — Calvary Women’s Services will honor Dee Martin, a partner at Bracewell LLP and former Calvary board president, with the 2026 Hope Award at its annual Hope Gala on April 16 at The Ritz-Carlton.
The Hope Award recognizes individuals whose leadership and advocacy have made a lasting impact in advancing Calvary’s mission to empower women experiencing homelessness to achieve stable, independent, and dignified lives.
“Dee brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, deep policy expertise, and an unwavering commitment to advocating for women,” said Kris Thompson, CEO of Calvary Women’s Services. “Her leadership has strengthened our organization and expanded what’s possible for the women we serve. We are proud to honor her as this year’s Hope Award recipient.”
A nationally recognized advocate, Martin has spent her career advancing policies and initiatives that support women and families—from global humanitarian efforts to federal and state policy work. Her connection to Calvary reflects a deliberate decision to focus that impact locally.
“I’m deeply honored and grateful for this recognition,” said Martin. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked across local, national, and global efforts to support women. Calvary has given me the opportunity to apply that experience in my own community in a deeply meaningful way.”
Left to right: Dee Martin, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Hope Award honoree Dolores Huerta, former resident Betty Entzminger, and Calvary Executive Director Kris Thompson at the 2017 Hope Gala, during Martin’s tenure as Board President.
During her tenure as board president and in the years since, Martin has played a key role in strengthening Calvary’s visibility, expanding its network of support, and advancing its long-term strategy. She and her family have also remained actively engaged as volunteers, building relationships with residents and supporting day-to-day programming.
“Dee brings extraordinary leadership and a genuine commitment to serving others,” said Greg Bopp, Managing Partner of Bracewell LLP. “We are proud to see her receive this recognition, which reflects both her professional excellence and the meaningful impact she has made in the broader community.”
Her advocacy is grounded in a clear understanding of the systemic challenges women face. In Washington, DC, rising housing costs and limited access to economic opportunity continue to put more women at risk of housing instability.
“There are real structural barriers—from wages to workforce access to housing—that make stability difficult to achieve,” Martin said. “Addressing those challenges requires both policy solutions and strong community-based organizations like Calvary that meet women where they are.”
That perspective aligns closely with Calvary’s model, which provides individualized, trauma-informed services designed to help women rebuild their lives and move toward long-term independence.
“Hope is essential,” Martin added. “When you pair hope with concrete step-by-step planning, as I’ve seen Calvary do, you create real, lasting change.”
Calvary Women’s Services will celebrate Martin and her contributions at the 2026 Hope Gala, an evening dedicated to advancing solutions to homelessness and supporting women across Washington, DC.
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About Calvary Women’s Services
Calvary Women’s Services provides housing, healthcare, education and employment programs that empower women experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC to achieve stability and independence through a holistic, trauma-informed approach.