Washington, D.C. – September 25, 2026 -- Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) has donated $1.1 million to MedStar Health, extending a five-year philanthropic commitment first pledged in 2024 to fund maternal, infant and pediatric care programs across Washington, D.C.
MSE and MedStar Health extend a five-year funding pledge into its third year
The gift continues annual support MSE committed in 2024 to expand access to specialized health services for birthing mothers and children in the District. Since 2019, MSE and The Leonsis Family have contributed more than $13 million to MedStar Health initiatives, including pediatric community health, COVID-19 response and sports medicine programs.
Funding targets Safe Babies Safe Moms and a mood-disorder outpatient program
Part of the donation sustains MedStar Health's Safe Babies Safe Moms program, which connects birthing mothers to prenatal care, nutrition support, parenting education and mental health resources from before pregnancy until a child turns three, with additional help for transportation, housing and legal needs. A recent study cited by MedStar found that women in the program are less likely to have low-birthweight babies or preterm births. The gift also funds MedStar Health's Mother-Baby Intensive Outpatient program, which treats pregnant and postpartum mothers for mood and anxiety disorders.
Kids Mobile Medical Clinic serves roughly 800 patients annually in Wards 6 and 7
MSE support also backs the MedStar Health Kids Mobile Medical Clinic, which has delivered primary care to children in the District for more than 30 years at no cost to families. The clinic makes weekly stops in Wards 6 and 7, treating about 800 patients each year, with care teams screening for food insecurity, housing instability, education gaps, income shortfalls and community safety risks. Two years ago, MSE funding helped maintain the clinic's second wellbeing unit and financed clinical upgrades and a rebranded exterior featuring logos of the Washington Wizards, Mystics, Capitals and Capital City Go-Go.
Executives frame the partnership as a long-term community health investment
"Caring for our communities is a team sport, and alongside great teammates, we are proud to be there for our young families where they need us and when they need us," said Kenneth A. Samet, FACHE, president and CEO of MedStar Health.