Sheila C. Johnson and Michel Martin were honored by Calvary Women's Services at their annual Hope Awards Dinner recently.

Ms. Johnson, co-founder of BET and founder and CEO of Salamander Hospitality, is also the first African-American woman to be a partner in ownership of three professional sports teams. Ms. Martin, the host of NPR's Tell Me More, is a successful journalist and news correspondent with a career that spans the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and ABC's Nightline.

The Hope Awards Dinner was created both to support the work of Calvary Women's Services and to bring to the forefront of the community women who offer hope and empowerment to women in need. The event supports Calvary Women's Services' work with homeless women in Washington, DC.

Demand for Calvary's services has increased in recent months, reflecting a nationwide increase in homelessness due largely to economic stress.

For over 25 years Calvary Women's Services has been a turning point in homeless women's lives. Its three programs—Calvary Women's Shelter, Pathways, and Sister Circle—offer housing and comprehensive services to help each woman identify her strengths, set personal goals, and build the skills she needs for independent living.

Each year Calvary supports 150 women as they journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency, providing a safe, caring place for tonight; support, hope and change for tomorrow. www.calvaryservices.org. Calvary Women's Services is a 501(c)3 organization.