Mary Ellen & Steven L. Cymrot · 1990 Honorees

A few more than 20 years ago a young couple named Cymrot decided to begin their life together in Washington on Capitol Hill. He was an attorney with a Harvard Law degree, she a Hill staffer from Texas. But he decided not to practice the law and she decided not to continue as a congressional staffer. Instead, they turned to real estate development and investment, and their success as a team has been much to the benefit of this community.

At the time they threw themselves wholeheartedly into Capitol Hill life. They resonate strongly with the philosophy that each of us has an obligation to others, especially to those who need the most, as well as the obligation to put back into life and community at least as much as one takes out. Or, as Steve himself likes to say, “you’ve got to give it your best shot.”

Nicky’s “best shots” have included involvement in the Capitol Hill Cluster School’s where both of their children, Helen and Paul, have attended (of course, that effort has always been a total family affair). Her special interest has been in volunteer work with the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) where she’s been a board member and board chair. “She's a mainstay of our program. We simply couldn’t do without her counsel and energy.” This is what CHAW colleagues say. As they tell us how she opens her home for planning sessions and how her commitment to preserving historic buildings is evident as she has led the way in renovation of the B.B. French School, home of CHAW and its art gallery. And two years ago she was key player in the formation and development of the Capitol Hill Art League. “We have,” she says with considerable enthusiasm and a hint of justifiable pride, “240 artists, 8 juried art shows each year, 3 single shows each year hung in business places on the Hill.”

Meanwhile, Steve has engaged in “neighborhood building” through the business community. CHAMPS, the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals, came int existence years ago because 4 or 5 persons, motivated by and including Steve Cymrot, got others excited about the possibility of coming together in behalf of the best welfare of their work and of the Hill. So, CHAMPS is today a reality, an organization of over 200 of our local businesses and has become a useful forum where community concerns and problems can be discussed and are addressed.

Most recently, Steve’s enthusiasm and lively concern created the CHAMPS Foundation where money contributed by businesses and interested individuals can be directed to community needs which would otherwise not be met. In 1989, the first year of grants from the Foundation, some $7,500 was distributed. This year three times that amount is anticipated. So Capitol Hill has its own “community foundation.”

Steve and Nicky, we are convinced that Capitol Hill is a better place because of your contributions to community and neighborhood.