Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Gala and $1 Million Goal

-- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016

Media contact:

Beth Lovain, Executive Director

#703-824-6730

Beth.Lovain@acps.k12.va.us

Photo: (L to R) Annie Reynolds, Sarah Gajewski, Jaime Dawson, 2016 Gala Co-Chairs Albie Dickson and Rosie Wiedemer.

Scholarship Fund Celebrates 30th Anniversary

with Gala and $1 Million Goal

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Marking 30 years of scholarship support for T.C. Williams High School students and also the high school’s 50th anniversary, the Scholarship Fund for Alexandria (SFA) affirmed its target to award scholarships worth $1 million in 2016. The SFA’s signature fundraising event, the Anniversary Gala, will be held Saturday, April 23rd at 6:00 pm at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center.

This year’s Anniversary Gala and Silent Auction will once again raise funds to support SFA college scholarships for bright, deserving T.C. Williams students. In 2015 alone, SFA awarded almost $950,000 and helped send 332 T.C. Williams graduates to college.

SFA Board Chair Kathy Conrad stated, “Thanks to the consistent generosity of the Alexandria community, over the past three decades we have awarded more than $11.5 million dollars and enabled more than 4,200 deserving students to achieve their dreams of attending college.” Conrad continued, “This year to honor our 30th anniversary, we have set the fundraising bar high and hope to award $1 million. Given SFA’s proven success in helping to close the growing gap between college cost and the financial needs of our students and their families, we believe the Alexandria community will rise up to meet or exceed that challenge.”

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Alvin Crawley remarked, “From 1986 through 2016, the legacy of the commitment of this organization and generosity of this community can only be understood in terms of giving more than 4,000 young men and women of Alexandria the hope, opportunity and higher education every young person deserves.” Dr. Crawley added, “That is thirty years of making a difference in this community and thirty years of commitment to the future of our young people. I congratulate SFA on its milestone anniversary.”

“SFA’s Anniversary Gala and Silent Auction is Alexandria’s premier social event. The crowd of over 500 corporate leaders, elected officials, parents, citizens and community supporters make this night one of the largest and most successful events of its kind in the Washington area,” said Rosie Wiedemer, SFA Gala Committee Co-chair. Fellow Co-Chair and ACPS parent Albie Dickson noted, “The evening is a great time for a great cause because all proceeds from the Gala directly support need-based college scholarships for Alexandria’s kids.”

A highlight of the night is the raffle drawing for a 2016 Toyota Rav4 LE or $25,000 in cash generously donated by Jack Taylor’s Alexandria Toyota/Scion. Raffle tickets are available now for $100. Chances to win are one out of 700, and the winner need not be present. All proceeds go directly to fund student scholarships. The public may purchase raffle tickets by contacting Executive Director Beth Lovain at Beth.Lovain@acps.k12.va.us.

Tickets to the Gala are currently available at www.501auction.com/sfa. Individuals or businesses interested in donating goods or services to the Gala and Silent Auction may contact the Scholarship office at 703-824-6730 or email Beth.Lovain@acps.k12.va.us.

The Scholarship Fund of Alexandria is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing merit- and need-based scholarships and financial aid advising to Alexandria City Public School Students. Since 1986, SFA has awarded $11.5 million in scholarships, making college dreams come true for 4,200 students.

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