Celebrating the Season

Normally around Christmas, offices across the country reverberate with the music and laughter of holiday parties. Staffers at Fannie Mae's Multifamily Operations/Asset Management Department, however, had a different celebration in mind this year, and they called on The Center for Education Reform - and Washington DC's SouthEast Academy of Scholastic Excellence - to help them do it.

On Wednesday, December 19, the Fannie Mae folks skipped their traditional Holiday Luncheon, choosing instead to go to a local charter school and help students make presents for their families. To put it all together, Fannie Mae's Brian Hunt contacted CER Senior Policy Analyst Melanie Looney. Looney called SouthEast Academy, and arranged with Principal Nadia Casseus for the Fannie Mae staffers to visit one of the school's after-hours programs. For their part, Hunt's group brought pizza, soda, art supplies, and a whole lot of holiday cheer.

As the pictures show, a good time was had by all. Click here for a glimpse of the fun. (Please allow a few moments for the slideshow to load.)