Archive for the ‘What We Do’ Category

You might already know Sherry Delaney. She’s been part of the Giving Circle long enough not to be sure when she joined, been involved with the Alexandria Red Cross, the Early Childhood Commission of Alexandria and chairs the ACPS Talented and Gifted Advisory Board.  But do you know about the Safety Net Project, created by Sherry to make it easy for people in Alexandria to directly and immediately help families in need?

“The Safety Net Project is a network of community donors who commit to provide a single $25 gift card to an Alexandria City Public School when an in-school social worker identifies a family in need. These small gifts tide families through short-term emergencies until they can be connected with available social services. The program also helps working families who are over income for many social service programs, but still one illness or missed paycheck away from financial crisis. Donors receive an e-mail when their gift is needed and they deliver the gifts directly to the schools. The commitment to our donors is to ask for a gift card only once or twice in a calendar year.” There is more to this story, just make the click and find out! Read the rest of this entry »

Give the gift of literacy by supporting the Giving Circle of Alexandria’s annual book drive with Wright to Read.  The book drive runs from February 1 through March 14.  The goal is to collect books for 1200 summer reading packs to be distributed to City of Alexandria students.  What can you do to help?

GATHER BOOKS FOR THE BOOK DRIVE

Here’s the list of books we need and there are several ways to help gather the books:

• Donate new and gift quality used books (without torn pages or writing) appropriate for K-6th grades.  Bring your books to

• Purchase new books for the book drive at Hooray for Books in Old Town.  Make your purchase by phone or in person and receive a 15% discount by mentioning “Summer Reading Packs.”  Hooray for Books will store the books and deliver them to the Book Sort for you.  How easy is that?  HOORAY!

• Purchase new books from your favorite retailer.

Drop off your books, or have them shipped to Wright to Read, 414 N. Washington St., Ste.101, Alexandria, VA 22314. 703-299-9855. Note this is a NEW LOCATION.

COME TO BASKETS FOR BOOKS TO RAISE MONEY:

Join Giving Circle Members and their families for an afternoon of shooting hoops and other basketball games as they raise money to purchase books for the Book Drive.  Wright to Read can purchase books at a steep discount ,so money raised at these events will go a long way to helping us meet our goal of 1200 summer reading packs.  You may also bring your own book donations to these events.

• Sunday, February 28 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Burgundy Farm Country Day School
• Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 am to 12:00 before the St. Patrick’s Day Parade at the home of Jenny Considine, Jefferson Court, (between S. Pitt & S. Royal off of Wilkes St.)
• Hold your own Baskets for Books event.  Contact Tricia Karppi to find out how!

PACK AND SORT BOOKS:

Join us Sunday, March 14 from 1-4 pm to pack and sort the books into the summer reading packs.  Location: TBA.

As the Membership Team looks back on 2009, we feel the year was a success. Our members are engaged, consistently contributing time and money and have supported us in raising funds and reaching new members.

$50,000 is a lot of money! On behalf of the Board and Gift Committee, I thank you for making this investment in the children of Alexandria. If you have not yet made your membership investment, it is not too late.  At 70% of our goal there is still work to do, and every single dollar you give makes a difference. Our renewals by mail including reply envelopes and online donations via Paypal have made it easier than ever to join or renew.  Please send your check (our preferred form of payment), payable to WGCA/ACT to

The Giving Circle, Membership Chair
P.O. Box 1627
Alexandria, VA 22313.

Or give online by clicking the Donate button to the right.

We will continue to host parties at members homes so they can introduce the Circle to their friends, and we find it remains a solid strategy for spreading the word. Caren Camp will host the next open house at her home, 208 S. St. Asaph Street, on February 3 at 7:00 pm. Watch for the announcement!  In 2010, Pamela Larson will help us pursue some partnerships with businesses to grow the amount of money we can invest in the support programs Alexandria parents need.

Any new ideas are always welcome!  Please email me and let me know your thoughts.  Thanks, from Sue.

On November 18, 2009, Susan Kennedy, Lorelei Emma, and I presented our playgroup concept to the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s convention in Washington, D.C.

Attendees from all over the country learned about this unique parent facilitator playgroup model where parents are trained and paid a small stipend to lead weekly playgroups.  The key to the success of this model is, of course, finding great parent facilitators, but also having a staff person who oversees all the playgroups and can assist the parents in planning and providing necessary supplies.

The Giving Circle and the Alexandria Community Trust collaborate with The Center for Alexandria’s Children in providing the funds for the parent leaders and for the staff person who oversees the three playgroups currently offered through this collaboration.  This effort is possible only through the generous gifts of Giving Circle members.

Interested in volunteering or bringing your young children to the playgroups?  Please come to any of the following locations or contact Susan Kennedy at the Center for Alexandria’s Children.

Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. Jefferson-Houston Elementary School
1501 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

Thursday at 10:00 a.m. Center for Alexandria’s Children
1900 N. Beauregard St 2nd floor
Alexandria, VA 22311

Friday at 10:00 a.m.  St. Rita’s Parish Church (conducted in Spanish)
Corner of Russell and Glebe Rd.
Alexandria, VA 22305

Join Giving Circle members in supporting Healthy Families Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department Field Nurses as part of the Burgundy Farm Country Day School’s Family Day of Service.

WHO: Giving Circle members and their families. Children of all ages welcome!

WHAT: Assemble New Baby Welcome Baskets for Healthy Families Alexandria (HFA), a Giving Circle priority gift recipient, and the Alexandria Department of Health Field Nurses.

WHEN: Monday, January 18, 10:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. Lunch provided at noon!

WHERE: Burgundy Farm Country Day School, 3700 Burgundy Road, Alexandria, VA 22303

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Donate cash – if you make a pledge, we’ll buy in bulk what’s needed.
• Shop for infant items yourself. Here’s a list of the most urgently needed items for the New Baby Welcome Baskets:
  -Pacifiers
  -Burping cloths
  -Diapers (sizes Newborn – 6 months)
  -Desitin/diaper cream
  -Nasal bulb syringe
  -Infant nail clippers

Many of our members and their children have been doing DIY community service for awhile now. If you are ready to try your hand at a DIY Community Service project, check out our ideas.  If you need further inspiration to take on your own DIY Community Service activity, read on:

Hannah’s Story

Hannah Maher-Miller decided to forego two days of beach vacation in June to organize a lemonade sale for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.  She baked 160 sugar cookies and squeezed a lot of lemons to make delicious homemade lemonade.  She sold store-bought dog bones and set up water bowls for dogs out on a walk.  She gathered some toys and stuffed animals to sell as well.  She and her family sent out emails on the local listsers and to friends asking people stop by for a treat to support the AWLA.  Many generous customers insisted Hannah keep the change.  She raised $240 which she proudly delivered to the Animal Welfare League the following weekend.  Congratulations Hannah on a job well done!

Noemi and Joshua’s Story

Noemi and Joshua’s school was collecting money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and they wanted to do something besides just asking family and friends to donate money.  They made chocolate chip cookies from scratch and lemonade to sell outside the house for a couple of hours on a sunny day.  They netted $25 and felt proud of doing something good.  What a great way to meet people and let them know more about organizations that are important to you.  Way to go Noemi and Joshua!

Christine’s Story

Christine’s daughter wanted to take a collection for Community Lodgings as part of her birthday party.  Christine called Community Lodgings to clarify what items they needed and discovered there is a high need for toiletries, as people buy food before buying things like lotion or shampoo.  Her daughter’s friends brought their toiletries to the party and the girls packaged everything in gift bags for Community Lodgings.  One of the other girls decided she wanted to do a similar activity at her birthday party.  Doing good is contagious!