Thank you for that kind introduction. I also want to thank Former City Administrator Robert Bobb and Ward 4 Councilmember and Mayoral Candidate Adrian Fenty for joining us here today to show your support.

This is such an exciting day. Not only for hundreds of local children and their families…but for our entire community. And the Freddie Mac Foundation is honored to be a part of it.

Our Foundation is committed to strengthening families. We're committed to helping children and young people realize their potential. And we believe that education is the key to a bright future.

For years, St. Coletta's has filled an important educational niche in our community. That's why we have been a long-time supporter. And it's why we invested $1 million to help build this wonderful new facility.

In celebrating the opening of this beautiful building, we also celebrate the learning opportunities this new space will provide. Thanks to talents of Michael Graves and his team, many of our region's most underserved children now have a spectacular place to learn and grow.

As amazing as St. Coletta looks on the outside, what's most impressive is what you see when you walk through its doors: well-equipped classrooms, state-of-the-art therapeutic facilities, new art and music studios, and vocational training workstations.

The building allows St. Coletta to serve 260 children -- 100 more than it could last year. And it helps St. Coletta reach children where they live. Since nearly 70% of it students are in the District, the new space – in this historic neighborhood --keeps kids closer to home. And it enables families to spend more time together.

This is a new and exciting chapter for St. Coletta…and for children and families all across the capital area. With this new building, St. Coletta will be able to offer the assistance and the opportunities that our children need. And, as a charter school, it will be the first District facility to offer school choice to parents and caretakers of children with severe cognitive disabilities.

The Freddie Mac Foundation is so proud to help St. Coletta's reach out to more children and families. And we're delighted that the Freddie Mac Foundation Village Green will serve as a lasting representation of our commitment to this school and to the children and community it serves.

We're also supporting tomorrow evening's gala because we want more people to understand how critical St. Coletta is to our community. And we hope to encourage more people to join us in supporting it.

And now it's my pleasure to introduce Mayoral Candidate Adrian Fenty.